With the help of Wojciech Średniawa, lead designer at Polbruk, we offer advice on what to consider when choosing a location for a fixed barbecue, which materials to select for this purpose, and how to create a cohesive, functional garden layout.
Step 1 – choosing a location
– When building a fixed barbecue, it is best to choose a secluded spot, away from residential buildings, so that when cooking, smoke from the fire does not drift into the house and does not become a nuisance to neighbours – explains the expert from Polbruk. – Sometimes the barbecue can also be placed on a terrace slab, but I only recommend this solution to owners of large, spacious terraces – adds Wojciech Średniawa. A brick barbecue allows you to prepare delicious grilled dishes, but many people value it above all for its aesthetic appeal and the opportunity to give their own patch of greenery a unique character.
Step 2 – choosing the material
The most important advantage of a built-in barbecue is its durability, resistance to high and low temperatures, and mechanical damage. Such a structure should serve us for many years, so – to ensure this happens – the choice of building material must be carefully considered. This could be brick, natural stone or pavers, an additional advantage of which is that they can also be used to finish the area around the barbecue. – Pavers are a material used for building terraces, driveways, paths and small architectural features, and are therefore durable. Their characteristics mean they can also be used without any issues for building garden barbecues. For this purpose, however, it is best to choose pavers that have the same texture and a similar colour shade on all sides, i.e. that are coloured on all sides, not just the top. This choice will allow us to create a cohesive composition – advises Wojciech Średniawa, an expert from the Polbruk brand.
Step 3 – preparing the base
The base for the barbecue should be compacted. Depending on the type of soil, you can use just a layer of sand and a concrete base (for sandy soil) or, if the soil is clayey, lay an additional layer of gravel or crushed stone beneath the concrete. It is worth remembering that the material used to build the barbecue can also be used to lay the surface around the structure. The arrangement can be complemented by retaining walls, a slatted fence, a pergola, as well as plants, which, combined with the brickwork, will create an eye-catching, pleasant composition.
Pavers recommended for building a fixed barbecue include, for example, Polbruk Carmino, which are multi-coloured and available, amongst other things, in a distinctive, weathered finish.
