It is the dream of every outdoor cook to build their own outdoor kitchen. The central piece of the grilling Mecca is the outdoor built in BBQ grill. Before beginning this construction project you will need to follow the following steps. First you will need to create plans that detail how the grill will look and function. As part of the design process you will need to decide to decide what basic design to follow and how to customize that design to fit your style. The second part of designing a backyard grill is choosing the type of BBQ grill insert to use.

Sure you could purchase some plans online or from a home improvement store, but they will be designed to fit someone else?s style. Designing your own grill will ensure that it fits your grilling style and vision. You can use either a simple pen and paper to draw a few sketches of your plans or you can use computer aided design software. There are a many good software packages available; some are even free such as SketchUp. Use the method that you feel most comfortable with.

There are three basic designs to start with. You can customize them once you have decided on a basic design. The first design is a simple island. It can be as long and deep as you like, but the minimum size is really six feet long by two and a half feet deep. The second design is an L. A bar extends perpendicular to the island. This allows for a bit more counter space. The third design adds another bar on the other side of the island forming a U design.

To help in deciding which design to choose make sure to measure the space where you will put the grill. If the space is rather small then a simple island is probably the design of choice. If there is a large square space available then you could build a rather large U design.

The next step is to customize the design that you have chosen. To do this, ask yourself two questions. First, what and how much will I barbecue? Second, what do I want it to look like? If you will be cooking a variety of foods on a regular basis you will want plenty of counterspace and maybe a build in a sink. Counters can be built out of any type of stone or stone tile. The d?cor can be either stucco, brick, or rock; all styles will hold up well under the elements.

The last choice that you will need to make in the planning process is the type of grill insert to use. Most people choose to go with a stainless steel gas insert, but you can choose a cast iron or charcoal model as well. If you choose charcoal and are low on funds, you can just brick in a grilling area and purchase a couple of grates to finish it off.

When shopping for a gas grill insert it is easy to get sucked into purchasing the largest and most powerful unit. Look for a model that fits your grilling style. If you cook large roasts and whole poultry on a regular basis you will want a model that has at least four or five burners. For a small to medium family a model with four to five hundred square inches of cooking surface will suffice. Have the insert handy when beginning construction to ensure a good fit.

The proceeding steps will help you to plan and design your own built in barbecue grill that will bring years of outdoor grilling bliss.