Brick Outdoor Kitchen

Hi All;
I have been working on my new outdoor kitchen for the better part of the summer.
Now I am working out of state again.
I had intended to wait until it was completely finished before posting the saga but...
It is apx 90% finished and other than the metal roof the rest may take until next spring to finish up.

It all started last Christmas when Liz bought me plans for a Walker BBQ black and white oven.
Here is a link to the oven build       https://permies.com/t/164923/rocket-ovens/Build-Black-White-Rocket-Oven
The spot I wanted to build in was a mess.  My 1938 Hudson car was sitting directly in front of the build site.
After 20 years of no time or no money to work on it . I decided to let it go.  Needless to say it sold as fast as I could put it up for sale.
Now I had the financing to buy needed supply's.  First I concentrated on buying the materials for my Walker  oven.   Quickcrete for a pad, 300+ clay bricks,  Luckily RMH supplies are plentiful here at Dragon Tech so ceramic blanket , doors , air supply tubes, fireclay, RA330 all were on site!

My original plan was to build a wooden building.  Then the stupid crazy lumber prices hit... 2x4x 8'  went from $2.50 each to $8.00 !  Plywood was over $70 a sheet...
Clay bricks however never changed, they were a whopping .48 each...   #100 of Portland cement was $13, #100 sacks of clean builders sand were $11 , Lime was $5 a sack...  These prices sounded something like a guy could build with without having to get a bank loan!
I had never built a brick building before but...
No reason I can't reach back thru time to my Italian ancestors and make myself into a modern day Italian Brick Layer!
I hand dug a footer and started pouring a foundation.
String lines were laid out in the hope I could build a square... yeah right...
The walls slowly started rising.  My "plan" called for 3' walls with 5' columns  to support the roof.
I was building my oven and building walls at the same time.
The lowest section of my BBQ are Portland cemented. When I reached the bottom of the core I switched to all clay sand mortar for the BBQ.
The walls and columns of the shack are exposed to snow and rain so they are traditional Portland mortar all the way.

Let me tell you that working with clay mortar is SO nice.... smooth, good for your hands, rinses off  easily...
Working with Portland mortar , I wore rubber gloves and long sleeves , your hands were chapped and dry...  
No matter, as the result was way better looking than a plain old wooden shack and way cheaper to boot!

Out west this year it has been HOT.  I would work on my brick smoke shack early in the morning, then find a roof to get under for the rest of the day.
Slowly things started rising out of the duff.  
One day at the local landfill. I helped a guy unload some things from his trailer.
He then asked if I would help unload this brand new 30" pine door with full frame included from the back of his truck...
Oh did I want it he askes?   He bought it for his new home but got the wrong size...  Was taking it to the dump??? Some people have more money than sense!
Ah Yeah, we can load that in my truck directly. Thank You very much...   My new brick smoke shack got its new door!

In the last month lumber prices have started returning to earth.
It is still higher than it was, but I could stomach $3.50 a 2x4 , a whole bunch better than $8.20 !
4x6 beams for the roof, 4x4 's for laterals and 2x4's for rafters.
Between the lumber and the yet to be bought metal roofing. The roof has cost more than my humble brick building!
I will admit the wood parts look as good as the brick ones do!

When it is finally finished. My original metal 1/2 barrel bbq/smoker will be inside.
Our 2 burner cast iron stove top will be inside as well.
Solar panels will supply lighting inside and solar motion detector lighting outside.
I'll throw down grass seed later this fall as the snow starts falling.  Next spring it will green right up!

This project has been great FUN .
I hope my ancestor's are proud that I could continue in their footsteps!

I have (behind the scenes) been watching Thomas's build of his smoke shack for a while now and have enjoyed every step of the way. The most impressive part is that he did it without a lot of experience and just plowed forward knowing that things would work out - I mean, who can ever 'plan' to go to the dump and find a door? WTF!!?
My only regret is that the border is closed and that I couldn't go over there and help him. Being vegetarian, I would turn down most of the products that comes out of his cookstove, but have heard that he makes a killer smoked potato!
Watching your progress online is still very inspiring and satisfying to watch.
 Keep up the great work Thomas!

That's gorgeous. I want one.

Wow, that door is gorgeous!  I mean, the whole thing is awesome, but I can't believe someone was throwing that door away.  I can't wait to see how it looks when you've finished it.

It never fails to amaze me what targets of opportunity can produce.  Love the door!!!

Beautiful work, as always!
I am surprised you included walls at all instead of going for maximum ventilation and minimum thermal mass.
The high roof surprised me at first, but it should provide plenty of ventilation and places to air dry foodstuffs.

I'd LOVE a summer kitchen!! It's on my 'maybe someday' list, but I highly doubt mine will get anywhere close to this beauty!

Metal has finally arrived and my brick smoke shack has a roof!!! Whoo Hoo!
The metal 1/2 barrel grill is inside and the two burner propane is as well.
It will be next spring before I polish up all the little details but for now...
LET IT SNOW!
My all season outdoor kitchen is open for business!
Burgers were cooked last night on the grill and today a Hutterite chicken will be stuffed and slow smoked all day... hmmm good!

Fantastic! Nicely done sir.

SERIOUSLY LOVING this!! Thomas, this is a beauty, and I'm so stinking green!

That really is beautiful.  Bravo.

I'd better not show this thread to my Dear Wife. It would be added to The List.

Great job Thomas!

that's fantastic, just about puts to shame the outdoor kitchen Thomas Edison required at the old Edison home in Fort Myers

That is absolutely fantastic! I've got two pallets of bricks (I'm ashamed to say how long I've had them) waiting for a project - this very well may be it! Thank you for the inspiration!

Awesome job, Thomas, and hope it provide you many years of productive use! I'm looking forward to building an outdoor kitchen/grill/canning/garden produce processing area within the next handful of years. I'm leaning towards using the roof and partial sides of an old grain bin or corn crib and running water and electric to it. Include a sink, counter top, and possibly a cob or stone rocket oven for cooking and canning.  Anyway, your build is definitely an inspiration to me.