Shelter for the Grill and the Cook
The inspiration for this project came to me when I was standing with my friend on his small, elevated deck, enjoying a beverage while our dinner cooked on the barbecue. Then, we watched as his neighbours came outdoors to enjoy their backyard pool right in our view. My friend quietly mentioned that it would be nice to have some type of a screen for privacy, and our conversation quickly changed to creating a barbecue shelter that would offer privacy and protection for both the grill and the cook.
I suggested adding movable fence louvers into the back wall for privacy, and continue the louvers onto the roof panels for ventilation and adjustable protection from rain, snow, and sun. The shelter could be incorporated into an existing railing, or be a free-standing unit that could be anchored as needed.
With this idea in mind, along with the measurements, a sketch, and a list of materials, I headed to my local Home Hardware Building Centre. While at the store picking up lumber, fence kits, and hardware, I found railing brackets that would conveniently install the horizontal rails to the vertical posts.
A visit to my local Home store is not complete without a visit to the paint department to pick up Thompson’s WaterSeal products to protect my project from the elements. The lumber for this project is standard green pressure-treated lumber. For best results, clean lumber with Thompson’s WaterSeal Deck Wash prior to applying a waterproofer. It is important to prepare the surface for protection to create a good bond and allow penetration into the wood surface. To add beauty and protection to the barbecue shelter, I applied one thin coat of Thompson’s WaterSeal Waterproofer Plus in a Desert Brown colour to protect against water and UV damage.
Now the shelter is complete and the cook is ready to grill and enjoy, no matter what the weather and the neighbours are doing!
