The barbecue pit

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33092, 6 December 1972, Page 10

The barbecue pit

Here is an exciting way of enhancing your back garden with a useful and decorative focal point — a barbecue pit It will give the whole family a lot of pleasure and besides being used for barbecue will be just right for lazing about in the sun. Although it looks difficult to construct it is not. You begin by staking out the area you want the pit to cover. Dig out the soil to a depth of 12in. Square the sides and level the floor roughly. Cover the floor with heavy duty polythene sheeting and add a three-inch layer of l|in round, smooth stones. Drive 15in groundcontact treated 4in by 2in pegs into the perimeter of the pit. Nail 12in by 2in boards to these pegs and fit tightly into the hole to form the sides of the pit area. Leave 3in of board above the top level of the pit area.

Fill in the gap between the soil and the frame with gravel. The seats rest on 2in by 4in timber placed on edge set 4ft on centres. These supports rest on concrete blocks at the back and are skew-nailed to the 12in by 12in frame. They overhang the pit by Bin. Assemble the seat by nailing 6in by 2in boards to the 4in by 2in seat supports. Make sure the finish is smooth and no nails protrude. Add the back rest. The uprights are twin 4in by 2in members nailed or bolted each side of the 4in by 2in seat supports. The back—an Bin by 2in board—is nailed to the uprights. Sand all exposed surfaces carefully to prevent splinters or snagged nylons. Stain or paint to taste. Form the fireplace from a dozen chunky rocks.