Half the patios on this coast get used four months a year, because they were positioned for the view and not for the wind. The fix is rarely expensive: a solid wall on the south-eastern side, a roof that is actually tied down, and a screen you can close when it is howling.
The braai itself is a flue problem. A built-in braai that smokes is a braai nobody uses, and the cause is almost always a throat and flue that were built to a picture rather than to a size. We build the firebox with the right throat, take the flue up high enough to clear the roof turbulence, and line it so it draws from the first fire.
Then it is about making the space feel like part of the house rather than bolted to the outside of it: the same floor level where possible, real lighting, power where you actually need it, and a servery that means nobody is running to the kitchen.
What we build
- Built-in braais with correctly sized fireboxes, throats and flues
- Enclosed braai rooms with glazing and stack doors
- Covered patios, pergolas and roofed entertainment areas
- Wind screening and solid walls positioned for the prevailing south-easter
- Outdoor kitchens, serveries, sinks and built-in seating
- Lighting, power, and speaker and TV provision
- Paving, decking and level transitions from the house
Our approach
Wind first, view second
We work out where the wind actually comes from on your plot, then position the solid element. You keep the view and lose the gale.
Flues sized, not guessed
Firebox opening, throat and flue diameter are related by a ratio. Build to it and the braai draws. Ignore it and you have an expensive smoke machine.
Roofs tied down properly
A patio roof on this coast is an aeroplane wing. Fixings and tie-downs get specified for uplift, not just for weight.
Where we do this
Every suburb throws up something different. Pick yours to see what we run into there.
Questions
Why does my current braai smoke?
Nine times out of ten the throat is too wide, the flue is too short, or the flue exits into turbulent air below the roof line. All three are fixable, usually without rebuilding the whole braai.
Do I need plans for a braai room?
If you are enclosing space and adding roof, yes. A freestanding built-in braai in an existing covered area usually does not need submission. We will confirm for your specific case.
Gas, wood or both?
Both is common and worth the small extra cost at build stage. Retro-fitting a gas line into a finished masonry braai is far more disruptive than running it up front.
Related services
Next step
Tell us what you have in mind. Eddie will come and look before anything gets quoted.