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The Dry Stack Barbeque Plan describes a small outdoor brick barbecue built on a reinforced concrete pad, with two cooking grates. Its stated base is 48 inches wide by 39 inches deep and 5 inches thick. It is a specific DIY plan by Tim Carter—not a complete engineered design, a tested product, or proof of compliance with your local building and fire rules. The source gives useful dimensions and a few layout details, but it does not provide an itemized brick count or a complete course-by-course specification. Use it as a starting point, and resolve those gaps before construction.
What does the Dry Stack Barbeque Plan specify?
The plan on Ask the Builder describes a brick barbecue supported by a square, level reinforced concrete base. Its key dimensions and features are:
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match| Element | Plan detail | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete pad | 48 inches wide, 39 inches deep and 5 inches thick | These are the dimensions stated in Carter’s plan, not a site-specific foundation design. |
| Reinforcement | 1/2-inch reinforcing rods, three in each direction, spaced about one foot apart | The plan describes six rods in total. It does not provide a structural calculation or detailed placement drawings. |
| Cooking grates | An upper cooking grate and a second grate below it, about 10 inches apart | The plan does not name a grate model or specify complete grate dimensions. |
| Upper grate position | Cooking surface about 2 inches below the barbecue’s top edge | Carter says the grate can slide back against the rear wall to help keep food from rolling into the fire. |
| First brick course | An alternating-pair brick pattern | The retrieved plan text does not give an itemized brick count or a full specification for every course. |
Carter emphasizes that the pad “MUST be square and level.” That matters because the pad is the reference surface for the first course: a base that is out of square or level can make it difficult to keep the subsequent brickwork aligned. The source recommends using a framing square for the form and striking off the concrete without humps or depressions.
Those details are the plan’s stated guidance, not an independent engineering determination. The source page’s original publication date was not visible in the retrieved text, so do not treat it as a current permit document or assume it reflects current local requirements.
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How should I interpret the base dimensions and reinforcement?
The plan’s pad dimensions give you a starting footprint, but they do not establish that the pad is suitable for every site or soil condition. The source calls for a 48-by-39-inch pad, five inches thick, with three 1/2-inch rods in each direction, placed about a foot apart. Whether those dimensions and reinforcement are appropriate for your location is a separate question for local requirements and qualified advice.
The plan says to pour about half the concrete, place the rods, then cover them with the remaining concrete. It also calls for a square, level form and a level finish without humps or depressions. It does not provide a reinforcement drawing, specify rod cover, detail joints, or explain site preparation, drainage, soil bearing, or curing. Do not assume those omitted details are unimportant simply because the plan does not discuss them.
For a rough materials-planning reference only, a perfectly rectangular pad with those dimensions contains about 5.4 cubic feet of concrete: 48 × 39 × 5 inches equals 9,360 cubic inches, divided by 1,728 cubic inches per cubic foot. This is a mathematical volume, not a purchase quantity or a recommendation for pad design; it does not account for uneven excavation, form variation, waste, or any additional work required by site conditions. Confirm the design and quantity with a qualified local professional or supplier before ordering.
What can I follow from the brick-laying instructions?
The plan identifies an alternating-pair pattern for the first course, but the available source text does not give enough information to reproduce a complete, verified course-by-course layout. It also does not provide an itemized brick count. That means the pattern is a useful starting detail, not a complete set of construction drawings.
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Before laying bricks, establish what the finished firebox and outside dimensions are meant to be, how the openings and grate supports are formed, and how the pattern continues in each course. The source does not fully specify those items. Do not infer them from the pad size alone: a 48-by-39-inch base does not, by itself, tell you the finished barbecue’s exact footprint, wall thickness, opening width, or grate dimensions.
“Dry stack” describes masonry assembled in courses without mortar joints as the defining construction method, but the label does not establish that any particular brick, layout, or construction detail is safe for a fire or compliant with local code. Ask a qualified masonry professional or the authority having jurisdiction to review the materials and layout before building, especially if the source plan leaves the firebox construction or support details unclear.
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How are the two grates positioned?
The plan describes an upper cooking grate and a second grate beneath it, separated by about 10 inches. The upper cooking surface sits about two inches below the top edge. Carter also says the grate can slide back against the rear wall to help keep food from rolling toward the fire.
The plan does not specify the grate’s full width and depth, a commercial model, a material, or a support detail. Measure the finished opening and verify the grate dimensions before buying one; do not assume a grate will fit because it is described as a barbecue grate or because its nominal size looks close. Consider how it will rest securely, slide as described, and be removed for cleaning—but have the support arrangement resolved in the construction plan rather than improvising it after the masonry is built.
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The roughly 10-inch separation is a plan dimension, not evidence that the grates are adjustable or that every food, fuel, or cooking method will work at that spacing. The source does not identify a fuel type or give cooking-temperature guidance. Choose compatible fuel and cooking equipment only after checking the applicable manufacturer instructions and local fire rules.
Is this plan a complete construction or permit specification?
No. The source provides a basic layout concept and selected dimensions, but it does not establish a complete engineered design, a full materials schedule, or permit approval. It does not resolve every site condition or construction detail needed to determine whether the barbecue is suitable for your yard.
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Before construction, ask the relevant building or fire official whether a permit or inspection is required and whether the proposed location and materials are acceptable. If the plan’s missing details prevent a clear answer, get the design reviewed by a qualified professional rather than filling in structural or fire-safety assumptions yourself.
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What should I check before lighting a backyard fire?
Check current local rules and fire bans before each use. Keep the fire away from combustible structures and overhanging vegetation, follow the instructions for the fire equipment you use, supervise children and pets, never leave a lit fire unattended, and keep firefighting equipment nearby. These are general precautions; local restrictions and the equipment manufacturer’s instructions take precedence.
Bunnings New Zealand’s fire-pit guide offers general outdoor-fire advice, but it is not a substitute for rules in your jurisdiction or instructions for this barbecue. The U.S. Access Board’s guidance for outdoor developed areas concerns accessibility in its defined settings; it should not be presented as a universal residential barbecue construction requirement.
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What should I settle before starting the project?
Use the plan as a concept and close the information gaps before committing to materials. A practical pre-build checklist is:
- Confirm the location. Check local building and fire rules, fire bans, and the proposed clearances from structures and vegetation.
- Review the base for your site. Confirm whether the stated pad dimensions and reinforcement suit the location; the source does not provide a site assessment or structural calculation.
- Get the full masonry layout. Resolve wall dimensions, the complete course pattern, opening and firebox details, and the method for supporting both grates. The source does not provide a full course-by-course drawing.
- Choose and measure the grates. Confirm their actual dimensions against the finished opening and agree on a secure support arrangement before laying the surrounding masonry.
- Verify materials and construction requirements. Ask a qualified local professional or the authority having jurisdiction about materials, code scope, permits, and inspections.
- Plan for safe operation. Check the rules and any equipment instructions before use, and have appropriate firefighting equipment nearby.
This checklist does not turn the source into a complete build manual. If you cannot determine a safe, code-appropriate detail from the plan and local guidance, pause and get qualified advice instead of guessing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many bricks do I need for the Dry Stack Barbeque Plan?
The plan text available here does not provide an itemized brick count, and the base dimensions alone are not enough to calculate one. You need a complete layout—including the finished wall dimensions and course pattern—before you can make a dependable count.
Can I build this barbecue on an existing patio?
The plan does not assess existing slabs or say whether they can support the barbecue. Have the slab, its condition, and the proposed load reviewed by a qualified local professional before building on it.
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Can I make the grate wider or move it higher?
The source gives approximate grate positioning but does not validate alternative dimensions or positions. If you change the opening or grate placement, have the revised layout and support details checked before construction.
