build a backyard barbecue!

Step 5 Create concrete countertop forms

create a form to pour the lower countertop surface. before pouring get your electrical and water lines to where they need to go, and make sure everything is good BEFORE pouring the concrete. make sure the forms are well braced, and won't bow with the concrete's weight. also make sure to take counter overhang into account. try to get air bubbles and pockets out, but it isn't terribly important because it will be covered with tile later. make sure to use plenty of rebar. extra rebar sticking out of the blocks can just be bent over to be cemented into the countertop.

Comments

[apefish]

This is great - thanks for sharing your experience. Did you have a wire mesh or rebar cage running throughout the concrete countertop? Also, using 1/2" plywood is fine, as long as you bolster it. A length of 2x4 screwed to the top edge would have prevented the bowing. Your foundation seems rather thin - 1 3/4" thick, and no rebar or wire mesh. Plus, you're supporting a lot of weight(blocks, 4" thick concrete top. Have you run into any foundation cracking? Your project looks great overall! Good work, and again, thanks for sharing!

[hivoltage]

i'm not sure if it shows in the pictures, but we did use rebar in the countertops. all the rebar that went up through the cinderblocks was bent over and is in the countertop, as well as some extra rebar for extra support. as far as foundation cracks, i haven't seen that any cracks have formed and seems to be holding up very well.