Canopy Kingpin

DIY: Build Your Own BBQ Shelter In No Time At All (Step-By-Step w/ Videos)

Do you have a big backyard?

Do you do a lot of grilling and cooking in your outdoor space?

Would you like a more comfortable place to get this accomplished?

If so, this article is here to help. Below, we’ll walk you through all the steps you need to do in order to build a great shelter for your backyard barbecue grill. No matter what size grill you have, you can adjust this guide to the perfect size to give you a shady place to grill at all times.

There are several reasons why you might want to build your own bbq shelter in your backyard:

  • Your grill will be protected from the weather by the shelter roof.
  • You won’t have to stand in the hot, direct sunlight to cook on your grill.
  • Your backyard will look more aesthetically pleasing and less cluttered with a grill shelter in place.
wooden barbecue shelter

There are a lot of other reasons why you might want to install a grill shelter, of course, so take your time and consider what it is you want out of your shelter before you get started. And don’t forget to get some help from another adult to complete his project, too!

Let’s get started!

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Materials
Steps
Conclusion
WOAH! A Bonus Video...

Materials

Depending on the type of shelter you want to build, you may need to stock up on different materials. However, the list below should help you get started on your hardware shopping. Remember to measure the grill you have and adjust the measurements of your shelter as needed to fit the space you want to work with.

  • 2 pieces of 4x4 lumber at 80” long
  • 2 pieces of 3/4” plywood at 60” long
  • 2 pieces of 2x4 lumber at 43-1/2” long
  • 1 piece of 2x4 lumber at 57” long
  • 2 pieces of 1x6 lumber at 51-1/4” long
  • 2 pieces of 1x6 lumber at 61-1/2” long
  • 6 pieces of 2x4 lumber at 41” long
  • 2 pieces of 2x4 lumber at 53” long
  • 12 pieces of 1x6 lumber at 36” long
  • 25 square feet of tar paper
  • 25 feet of asphalt shingles
  • 2-1/2” screws
  • 1-5/8” screws
  • Nails
  • Hammer
  • Power drill
  • Circular saw
  • Sander with fine-grit sandpaper
  • Stain or paint

Steps

  • 1
    Lay out the position and location for the posts using string. Be sure to double check your measurements and ensure everything is equal.
  • 2
    Cut four of your 4x4 posts to 68-1/2” height.
  • 3
    Cut the top of your 4x4 posts at 75 degrees and smooth the edges with sandpaper.
  • 4
    Use a post hole digger to dig holes for the four posts and then set four tube forms inside. Fill these forms with instant concrete.
  • 5
    Install the post anchors into the concrete and let sit until secured.
  • 6
    Drill pilot holes into the concrete and insert carriage bolts.
  • 7
    Cut your four 2x4 pieces of lumber so that the edges are at 75 degrees.
  • 8
    Fit these four rafter beams to the top of the shelter and drill pilot holes into them. Attach them to the poles using 2-1/2” screws.
  • 9
    Cut a fifth rafter and fit it to the middle of the top of the shelter using the same steps you used for the previous four rafters.
  • 10
    Use a circular saw to cut your plywood into two pieces of 24-3/4”x60” each.
  • 11
    Every 8 inches or so along the rafters, drill 1-5/8” screws into place to hold the plywood securely.
  • 12
    Cut your 1x6 lumber at 75 degrees on both ends and fit into place to serve as the trim for the rafters. Attach with nails.
  • 13
    Use a staple gun to secure tar paper to the roof of the shelter.
  • 14
    Starting from the bottom and working your way up the roof, lay down asphalt shingles.
  • 15
    Cut your remaining 2x4 pieces of lumber to serve as support beams on three of the four sides of the shelter. Trim them at 75 degrees on both ends and fit them to the posts with pilot holes and screws.
  • 16
    Cut 36” strips of your remaining 1x6 lumber pieces to serve as the vertical rails on the sides of your shelter. Screw them into place on both short sides of the grill shelter.
  • 17
    Cut top rails at 41” from your remaining 2x4 lumber and nail them into place on top of the short sides of the shelter.
  • 18
    Sand everything with fine-grit sandpaper and fill your screw and nail holes with wood putty.
  • 19
    Stain or paint the shelter.
  • 20
    Place your grill inside and enjoy!

Conclusion

Now that you’ve learned how to build a simple grill shelter, you may be interested in trying more complicated methods of construction, too. This is a very basic walkthrough, but there are tons of other great possibilities out there, and you may want to take some time perusing your options when it comes to material types and styles, too. Don’t be afraid to try other building methods if you’re interested in them, but remember that laying brickwork or masonry is going to require a different skill set than woodworking does, so you’ll want to be sure you feel comfortable working with the right types of materials and tools to get the job done safely.

With that said, keep in mind that there are some materials you should never use when building your grill shelter, and there are some safety tips you should keep in mind, too:

  • First of all, never build your whole shelter out of very combustible wood products like plywood. While it should be safe to build the roof structure with a plywood base, building the whole frame out of something like this is a big risk you just shouldn’t take.
  • Always build your shelter with plenty of space between the grill and the wood. Adjust the measurements in our guide above to make sure you have at least a foot of space between all sides of the grill and the wood (or other type of materials you choose to use) of your frame.
  • Make sure your grill shelter is well-ventilated for best results. This will keep the wood or other materials from overheating and will keep your grill running better, too.
  • Finally, make sure you position your grill away from any areas in the backyard where there’s a lot of action taking place, just to be sure no one runs into it while it’s hot and in the process of being used.

And don’t forget to keep a fire extinguisher close by, too! With the right safety tips in mind, you’ll be able to build and enjoy a beautiful backyard bbq shelter in no time.

WOAH! A Bonus Video...

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