There’s nothing better than having a barbecue outside, especially when the days start to get warmer in the summer. You can quickly grill yourself and your family food throughout the week or invite people round for a big barbecue meal.
However, before you can have a BBQ, you need to put some space aside for it. This is a great way to make sure you’re getting the most out of your backyard, because you’re using some space for the BBQ itself as well as places to sit and eat.
While it might be a bit soon in the year to think about hosting a BBQ, it’s the perfect time to get your backyard ready for it.
Hardscaping Preparation
One of the most important things you need to consider is where to put your barbecue. As a general rule, you need to keep your grill away from anything that could be flammable. This means it should be away from fences, wooden structures, or even your home.
You also need it to be on a flat, fireproof surface. Grass can set alight and it’s rarely flat enough to safely support your barbecue. Decking is a flatter surface, but the wood can set alight very easily, especially on a hot, dry day. Ideally, you want to put the barbecue itself on either paving stones or concrete, as these surfaces won’t be in any danger of setting alight.
If you enjoy DIY, this can be a good outdoor project to tackle. It’s generally good to have a patio area anyway, and it’s a great idea for your barbecue area. You can look into wacker plate hire and other equipment to make sure you can flatten the area properly. This is a task you can dedicate a weekend to or even take some time off work to get sorted.
As well as the place for the barbecue itself, it’s worth putting a nearby shed up to store your barbecue and any equipment, especially over the winter when you’re not using it. This keeps your grill safe from the rain or any other adverse weather conditions while it’s not being used.
The Dining Area
The next thing to consider is where you’re going to eat the food you make on the barbecue. There are a few different ways to go about this. An outdoor table and chairs can be a nice way to eat a barbecue meal as a family or when you’re hosting a gathering.
Another option is to get a table that you can serve the food on, then allow people to use deck chairs and other outdoor chairs to sit and eat. This is better if you have a lot of people over, as they might not all fit around the table.
In any case, you will need an area that’s appropriate for people to sit and eat together. A patio is ideal for this, but you can also use a decking area for seating. While wooden decking isn’t great for the barbecue itself, it is perfect for people to sit around and enjoy each other’s company.
Invest in garden furniture that’s comfortable and hard-wearing. You should also think about adding shade to the eating area, so people don’t have to sit in the heat of the sun if they don’t want to.
While the dining area doesn’t have to be in the same space as the barbecue, it’s still helpful to have it nearby so that you can easily take food from the barbecue to the table where you’re serving food.
Don’t forget to add some lighting and heating to the area as well so that you can enjoy your garden even during the evening and on cooler days.
Your BBQ Grill
Finally, you can’t set up a BBQ area without investing in a grill. You have a few options to consider when it comes to the best grill for you.
If you don’t plan on doing anything too fancy, a small ordinary grill will work for you. Charcoal is more traditional, but it can be harder to control the temperature. Gas and electric grills are easier to use, but they are slightly more expensive and you lose some of that smokey BBQ flavor.
Finally, if you do want to try some low and slow cooking, consider investing in a smoker for delicious hot smoked food and traditional BBQ fare like slow cooked ribs and pulled pork. Yes, it takes time, but it’s absolutely worth it.
