BBQ DIY Pizza Oven Parts · Example build guide

How to Build an Argentinian-Style BBQ Grill

This example shows a family-size masonry parrilla-style grill for outdoor cooking over a managed bed of embers. It explains where The Stove Wizard’s fire bricks, refractory clay and stove gloves are used, and which parts — including the adjustable grate — you need to source elsewhere.

How an Argentinian-style parrilla works

In this example, cooking is typically over a controlled bed of embers rather than a tall open flame. Wood or charcoal is burned in a side fire area, then embers are moved under the grate. The cooking grate can be raised or lowered to change heat intensity: lower is hotter, higher is cooler. A wide grate gives distinct hotter and cooler zones. The open-front masonry firebox gives direct access to the fire and embers.

This describes a practical grill layout. It is not a claim that every Argentinian BBQ is built this way.

Example grill design

The example firebox is open at the front, with a 1000 mm cooking grate beside a 400 mm side fire / ember area. The grate is adjustable. A simple rear hood is included in this example only as an optional masonry feature sourced separately — not as a specified flue system.

Example dimensions

Internal grill width
1000 mm (39.4 in)
Internal grill depth
500 mm (19.7 in)
Overall firebox width
1400 mm (55.1 in), including the 400 mm (15.7 in) side fire area
Approximate cooking height
850 mm (33.5 in) from ground to grate at a mid position
Fire / ember area
About 1000 × 450 mm (39.4 × 17.7 in) under the grate, plus the side fire
Grill grate area
1000 × 500 mm (39.4 × 19.7 in), adjustable above the embers
Side ember / fire area
400 × 500 mm (15.7 × 19.7 in) at one end of the firebox
Layout
Open-front masonry firebox with allowance for an adjustable grill mechanism sourced separately

These example dimensions are for this guide only. They are not a mandatory grill size.

Front view
Front view of the example Argentinian-style parrilla grill Open-front masonry firebox 1400 millimetres wide internally, with a cooking grate, adjustable height, ember area, side fire area, side and back walls, and a simple optional rear hood. Stand / base — source separately Optional hood — this example, source separately Ember / fire area Side fire Grill grate Adjust Grill 1000 mm Overall firebox 1400 mm (55.1 in) 850 mm

The example firebox is 1400 mm wide internally: a 1000 mm grate beside a side fire. The grate sits above the embers and can be raised or lowered. Outer masonry and the hood are sourced separately.

How to read the front view

  • Overall internal firebox width: 1400 mm (55.1 in)
  • Cooking grate: 1000 mm (39.4 in)
  • Side fire / ember area at one end
  • Example mid-position cooking height: 850 mm (33.5 in)
Top view
Top view of the example parrilla firebox Open-front rectangular firebox with a 1000 by 500 millimetre grill grate, ember zone beneath, and a 400 by 500 millimetre side fire area. Ember zone 1000 × 450 mm Grill grate 1000 × 500 mm Side fire 400 mm Open front Grill width 1000 mm Overall 1400 mm · depth 500 mm

The grate covers 1000 × 500 mm. Embers sit under most of that area. The side fire is used to burn fuel and feed embers under the grill. The front stays open.

How to read the top view

  • Grill grate area: 1000 × 500 mm (39.4 × 19.7 in)
  • Side fire: 400 × 500 mm (15.7 × 19.7 in)
  • Open front for access and airflow
  • Hotter and cooler zones across the wide grate
Side cross-section
Side cutaway of the example parrilla Foundation, supporting masonry, fire-brick lining, ember bed, adjustable grate, rear wall and optional hood. Open front at the left. Open front 1 2 3 4 5 6

Fire bricks line the fire-facing bed and rear. The dashed grate lines show an adjustable cooking height, not a specified lifting mechanism. The hood in this example is optional masonry, sourced separately.

Cross-section key

  1. Optional hood — this example only; source separately
  2. Adjustable grill grate — source separately
  3. Ember / charcoal bed
  4. Fire-brick lining — available from The Stove Wizard
  5. Structural masonry — source separately
  6. Foundation / stand — source separately

This open parrilla example does not use ceramic fibre blanket or calcium silicate board. Those products are for other constructions, such as pizza oven insulation, where their listings support that use.

Adjustable grill concept
Concept diagram of raising or lowering a parrilla grate above embers Three grate positions above an ember bed. Lower grate means more heat. Raise grate means less heat. This is a concept only, not a lifting-mechanism design. Ember bed Lower grill = more heat Mid position example cooking height Raise grill = less heat

A typical parrilla-style grate sits above the embers and can be moved up or down. This is a heat-control concept only. It is not a design for a lifting frame, winch or tracks — those parts are sourced separately to suit a proven grill assembly.

Materials available from The Stove Wizard

Only products with a legitimate use in this example fire-facing lining are quantified below. Insulation boards and ceramic fibre are omitted because this open parrilla does not need them.

Premium clay fire bricks

Listed size: 230 mm × 114 mm × 25 mm. Pack options: 10, 12, 15, 20 or 100. Listed for pizza ovens, BBQs, Argentinian BBQ grills and cooking applications, and food safe.

  1. Firebed 1400 × 500 mm using the 230 × 114 mm face: about 35 bricks.
  2. Back wall, three 114 mm courses on 1400 mm: about 21 bricks.
  3. Two outer sides, three courses on 500 mm depth: about 18 bricks.
  4. Divider between grate and side fire, three courses: about 9 bricks.
  5. Low open-front kerb, one course: about 7 bricks.

Estimated bricks: 90. Wastage allowance (about 20%): 18. Approximate total: 108.

Recommended approximate order: 120 bricks — one 100-brick pack plus one 20-brick pack.

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Refractory powdered fire clay

Listed use: mix with water for bedding, joining and pointing fire bricks, and as a gap filler or refractory repair mortar. Sold as a 25 kg bag. It is not a brick substitute.

Approximate kg required: not stated. The product listing does not give a coverage rate, so a responsible bag count cannot be calculated from the available data.

Existing bag size: 25 kg. Confirm the amount from your proven design and a test mix.

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Stove gloves

The Stove Wizard Stove Gloves are listed for BBQ use. They help when moving fuel, raking embers or handling tools around a hot grill. They are not for prolonged contact with extremely hot surfaces or direct flame.

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Approximate materials for this example grill

Material Used for Approximate requirement Our pack size Approx. packs
Premium Clay Fire Bricks Firebed, sides, back, divider and kerb lining About 108 bricks, order 120 10, 12, 15, 20 or 100 bricks; 230 × 114 × 25 mm 1 × 100-brick pack + 1 × 20-brick pack
Refractory Powdered Fire Clay Bedding, joining and pointing fire bricks Cannot be calculated from listed coverage data 25 kg bag Confirm from your design; do not guess a bag count
Stove Gloves Handling fuel and tools around a hot grill 1 pair as listed As sold on the product page 1

Quantities are approximate and depend on the final grill design, cuts, joints and construction method. Confirm your final design before ordering. Ceramic fibre blanket and calcium silicate board are not part of this example.

Materials and components you will need to source elsewhere

The Stove Wizard supplies the specialist refractory products listed above. We do not sell a complete Argentinian grill kit.

Foundation / base

A suitable stable outdoor support or foundation for the completed masonry grill.

Structural masonry

Appropriate blocks or bricks for the main grill and firebox structure.

Adjustable grill grate

A parrilla-style steel cooking grate and a suitable raising and lowering mechanism from a proven grill assembly.

Metal supports

Supports, tracks or a frame for the grill assembly, specified by the chosen design.

Fire / ember management components

Any metal trays, ember grates or supports required by the design.

Optional hood / chimney

This example includes a simple rear hood as an optional masonry feature. Size and whether you need a chimney must follow your proven design. We do not specify a flue.

Weatherproof finish

Appropriate outdoor finish or protection for external masonry.

Tools & PPE

Relevant masonry tools and protective equipment when cutting bricks.

What The Stove Wizard supplies — and what to source elsewhere
Split of parrilla materials from The Stove Wizard versus materials sourced elsewhere The Stove Wizard supplies fire bricks, refractory clay and stove gloves. Foundation, masonry, adjustable grate, metal supports, hood, weatherproof finish and tools are sourced elsewhere. This is not a complete grill kit. From The Stove Wizard ✓ Fire bricks ✓ Refractory clay ✓ Stove gloves Not a complete grill kit Source elsewhere • Foundation / base • Structural masonry • Adjustable grate and metal supports • Ember trays / fire components • Optional hood / chimney • Weatherproof finish, tools and PPE

The Stove Wizard supplies fire bricks, refractory clay and stove gloves for this example. We do not sell a complete Argentinian grill kit.

Example grill build sequence

  1. 01

    Plan the grill

    Finalise width, depth, fire area, grill height range and whether the design uses a hood or chimney.

  2. 02

    Build the foundation

    Construct a suitable stable outdoor base or support.

  3. 03

    Build the masonry structure

    Construct the outer grill and firebox structure according to the selected proven design.

  4. 04

    Install relevant refractory materials

    Use fire bricks and refractory clay only where appropriate to the fire-facing areas and the product listings.

  5. 05

    Fit grill supports

    Install the metal support system required for the adjustable cooking grate.

  6. 06

    Install the grate

    Fit the parrilla-style grill assembly from a proven supplier or design.

  7. 07

    Finish the firebox

    Complete relevant fire-facing lining and jointing work.

  8. 08

    Weatherproof external areas

    Finish and protect suitable external masonry for outdoor use.

  9. 09

    Dry / cure

    Follow the instructions for all products and materials used before bringing the BBQ into service. Do not use a universal curing timetable.

  10. 10

    Cook with embers

    Parrilla cooking in this example is based on a managed ember bed and controlling grate height: lower for more heat, higher for less. Use the grill only outdoors on a complete, stable structure.

Frequently asked questions

What is an Argentinian-style BBQ grill?

In this guide it means an open masonry grill for cooking over embers, with a wide grate that can be raised or lowered. Designs vary; this page is one example only.

What is a parrilla?

Here, parrilla means that practical grill style: a grate over embers, often with a side fire to produce those embers, and usually an adjustable cooking height. It is a layout description, not a claim about every traditional build.

How large should a parrilla grill be?

This example uses a 1000 × 500 mm grate inside a 1400 × 500 mm firebox, including a side fire. Choose a proven design and a size that suits your space. These dimensions are not mandatory.

How many fire bricks do I need?

For this example lining, about 90 of the listed 230 × 114 × 25 mm bricks, plus wastage, leading to a recommended order of 120 bricks (one 100-brick pack plus one 20-brick pack). A different size changes the count.

Do I need refractory clay?

Use it to bed, join and point the fire bricks, as listed on the product. Bag coverage is not published, so we cannot quote a number of 25 kg bags from the available data.

Do I need insulation?

This open parrilla example does not use ceramic fibre blanket or calcium silicate board. Those products are for other constructions, such as pizza oven insulation, where their listings support that use.

Why is the grill height adjustable?

In this example, lowering the grate increases heat at the food; raising it reduces heat. That is a cooking-control idea only. The lifting parts themselves are sourced separately.

Can I cook with charcoal as well as wood embers?

This example is an open charcoal/wood ember grill. Either fuel can be used to produce a managed ember bed if that matches your chosen design and outdoor use. Follow ordinary outdoor fire safety practice.

What materials does The Stove Wizard supply?

For this example: Premium Clay Fire Bricks, Refractory Powdered Fire Clay and Stove Gloves. Foundation, structural masonry, the adjustable grate, metal supports, optional hood, weatherproof finish and tools are sourced elsewhere. We do not sell a complete Argentinian grill kit.