Pitfalls to avoid? Brick BBQ rebuild

[cshenk]

I'd appreciate any tips or good web sites to check on this.

Situation is the built in brick BBQ in the backyard has sunk in at the center. Most likely was sand filled with fireplace bricking over the center and that center has now leeched down. Also some of the bricking along the top (about 4 or 5) that makes a sort of '3 sided box' that rises up to hold the coals safely have come loose. (there's a longish front and you set the coals to the back).

All I know really is to make sure it's built of stone/brick meant for this sort of use. We can actually salvage the center portion stones that sunk in as they are not broken. JUst time made the mortor 'fade' so water got in to what seems a sandy substrate under.

Is this a reasonable DIY sort of job?

[Bill]

Just go ahead and fix it as best you know how. Then if your repair work later has problems, you can always do it over and make changes/improvements.

This is how I learn to do these things. I do something once and might not do it exactly right or may have considered something like a bit of a slope so rain water will drain out or whatever. Then when I fix it the second time, the repair is just right!

[ransley]

Top row bricks that are uncapped easily fail where daily freeze-thaw cycles in winter ruin mortar. Even at 0f outside at night the sun during the day can raise brick temperature above freezing , at night it refreezes and what melted freezes and loosens the mortar. Cap the top with Copper, aluminum or stone.