Building my BBQ Shack
In a period of just over one month in 2023, I set about transforming our empty, bland garden into a garden that our whole family could enjoy and the crowning feature of our new garden is my BBQ Shack. If you have landed on this page then there is a good chance you have some questions about the shack, want details on materials, measurements etc or you simply want to do some research on what I did with mine.
I will do my best to include as many details as possible. If I have left something out, please feel free to ask the question on the form at the bottom of this page and I’ll do my best to add it to the page.
Building Back | A BBQ Shack Build Series
made possible by Creative Gardens
You can follow the entire process of our garden transformation and shack build over on my YouTube Channel. I teamed up with Creative Gardens to create the garden of my dreams, transforming our garden with plants, a new seating area, outdoor heating and, of course, the shack. A huge thank you to Creative Gardens for helping to make this transformation possible. Visit their website at creativegardens.com and shop their range of outdoor furniture, BBQ’s, outdoor heating and plants.
Measurements
The corner of the garden where I was building the shack isn’t square which means no two sides of my shack are the same length but I decided to square the shack with the paving so the front of the shack follows the same line as the paving.
There is a 100mm fall in the ground going from left to right as you look at the shack. The left hand side is 2m wide and the shack is 3.6m long. Due to the fence in the garden not being square, the open, right hand side of the shack opens out to 2.3m.
The left hand side of the shack is approx. 2.1m tall and the right hand side is just over 2.2m. The roof slopes by 100mm towards the back of the shack.
Materials used
The main framework of the shack is a timber construction. I used a similar design to my previous shack with the back wall being closed in and one side being closed leaving the front and one side open. The stud frames for the walls are made with 4x2 treated timber. These stud frames are fixed to the existing fence posts and the existing railway sleeper retaining wall.
The front corner of the shack roof is held up with a 4x4 treated post and this post is attached to the stud frames with 6x2 treated timber to hold the framework of the roof. The framework for the roof is 4x2 treated timber and I opted to cover the shack with 10mm multi-wall polycarbonate in an opal finish. These are the sheets I bought for the roof. They are held on using plastic H channel running down each roof support and then the sheets are screw down using rubber buttons designed for use with Multi-wall - Similar to these. I sealed around the edge of the polycarbonate with silicone then I added a strip of 4” Clear flashing tape over the joint to make sure water doesn’t get under the polycarbonate.
There is a 5” Gutter running along the back of the shack and this runs into a downpipe that drains into a stoned area beside the shack.
The inside walls of the shack are sheeted with 9mm OSB. The floor of the shack has been left with the bare paving.
Power & Lighting
I opted for surface mounted sockets in the shack with black faceplates as I knew I was painting the shack with a dark colour. There is one double socket located on the left hand wall and another double socket located on the back wall above the worktop. My initial plans for the lighting were to have 2x 2ft LED batons in the centre of the roof as practical lights then I would add Outdoor LED tape around the edge of the roof and under the shelves to act as mood lighting however, when I installed the LED tape, I was so happy with the brightness of these, I thought it would be a waste to add the batons as I didn’t think I would ever used them.
The LED strips are controlled by a switch above the worktop. The switch that was intended for the batons is now wires to control the festoon lights that are hung at the front of the shack over the seating area.
The festoon lights are connectable lights that are hung between the shack and the fence opposite the shack. I bought a strainer kit from amazon to stretch metal cable between the shack and the fence then the lights can hang from the cable, avoiding any damage to the power cable for the lights.
Most of the items I used were bought from a local electrical wholesaler however I have had a look through amazon and listed similar items below.
Cabinets & Storage
The main storage in the shack is a 6ft cabinets that runs along the back wall. This is made up of 3x 60cm Carcasses bought from IKEA. Two of the cabinets have doors added to create large cupboards that allow me to store charcoal and larger cooking equipment. The third cabinet has been made into a set of drawers with 2 large and 1 small drawer. The doors and drawers have all been made from 18mm OSB.
The countertop has been made from 2 sheets of 18mm OSB that have been glued and screw together then sanded down.
Above the workbench, I have made a floating shelf that also hides the LED lighting strip used to light the bench. The main framework for this has been made from 3x1 1/2 timber and covered with 18mm OSB.
For hanging storage in the shack, I have installed some rails that allow me to hang my cast iron pans then above that, I have made a chunky peg board for tool storage. The pegboard was made from 18mm OSB and I have drilled 15mm holes in a grid pattern allowing me to push dowel rods into them.
Heating & Seating
A big part of the shack build for me was having some form of heating in the shack. For years I have wrapped up and braved the winter winds to shoot videos so I felt it was time I had a solution. I had considered electric heaters inside the shack but my heart wasn’t in them. I didn’t want the orange glow of a halogen heater and I wasn’t keen on ceramic heaters.
That left the option of FIRE! That is an option I liked!
I opted for the Quaruba XL stove from RB73. Creative Gardens stock the range of RB73 stoves and I liked the size of the Quaruba XL plus you can purchase the additional mobile platform which makes this stove multi-functional. How? Well the stove will mostly sit between the shack and the seating area. When I need the stove to heat the shack, it can be pushed closer to it and when we want it for the seating area, it can be pushed closer to that area of the garden.
RB73 Stoves are made for CorTen Steel which is protected by the layer of corrosion that forms on the surface. They are heavy grade steel and when they are up to temperature, they throw out amazing heat about 2-3 metres around the stove. With the tall chimney standing approx 3m tall, any smoke from the fire is taken well clear of anyone seated around the stove.
We had our original cube set that we brought from our old house but we wanted to make a new seating area at the front of the shack that would serve more as a lounging area to relax after we eat or enjoy a drink and nibbles. We decided to go for a Nova Ciara Right Hand Set with a rising table. The rising table allows us to drop the table down to coffee table height most of the time. If we need extra seating for dining, we can lift the table up. I like that fact that the Nova range can be left out all year round as we DO NOT want to be carrying the set up and down those steps at the side of the house.
Ask a question
If you can’t find the information you want in the article above, please ask a question on the form below and I will add the answer to the FAQ so everyone can read it.
note: This page contains various affiliate links for some of the products used in my build. If you buy items using these links, I will receive a small commission but this will not affect the price you pay. I can’t guarantee the prices of these links are the best, please do your due diligence and shop around for the best pricing