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them,” he said, but “they take a different skill set. You have to learn to cook on them.”
Part of buying the right barbecue grill is getting the one that fits one's needs. The large, decked-out grills are impressive, but if storage space is in demand, or barbecuing is generally done for five or fewer people, that over-sized grill could be a burden. Parsons said that, beyond space issues, a major problem with buying a grill that’s too big for the number of people normally being cooked for is that “you’ve got all this dead space where that heat’s going to dissipate,” so gas is wasted and hot and cold spots cause foods not to cook properly. No matter what size grill is purchased, buyers need to remember to look for quality. Though there are more expensive brands, said Parsons, those brands that the average person will look at start at the high-price end with Weber, then step lower with Kenmore, Char-Broil and then cheaper brands seen more at discount stores. Parsons also said that people need to be aware that name-brand manufacturers also carry different models and some of them can look like a more expensive model but are priced lower because the quality is lesser. It can pay to do some comparison shopping that includes an inspection of the grills and not just the price tags. Comstock recommends starting with a simple “shake test.” “Grab the grill by the handle and shake it back and forth. If you can feel it giving, then it’s a cheaply made grill that’s probably not going to hold a lot of heat because the materials are thin,” he said, but the better-made grills “are very solid, and the entire unit will move, the hood won’t rattle around.” The cheaper grills have a place because not everyone can afford high-end prices, he added, but people should study the products and buy the best quality grill they can afford because the quality of materials and construction do make a difference when cooking and with longevity of use. “At the end of the day, buy what you can afford,” he said, “because if you buy a good grill, it can last you up to 10 years. It’s a long-term investment rather than a disposable item.” 10 LIVING MAGAZINE April 2014
Outdoor Living Space While it’s certainly possible to enjoy barbecuing with just a grill and a lawn chair — and maybe a cooler, too — it can be easier than it might first seem to upgrade outdoor living space to increase that enjoyment. Troy Seaberg, a Havre contractor with more than 20 years experience, said that with the wide array of products available nowadays and the diversity of acceptable styles, including reusing and repurposing items, people have great opportunities to make creative and personalized backyards. Seaberg recommended searching the Internet and talking to people who have expanded their outdoor space to get ideas for what appeals to them, possibilities for design and tips on what works and what hasn’t. For the do-it-yourself types who want a little more structured guidance, Keith Smith of ProBuild in Havre said Rockwood produces a line of products that can make anyone sprucing up their outdoor space look like a pro. These products are made of cement, but look like pre-cut paver stones, and they come in complete kits for a fire pit with a cooking grate and a barbecue grill built into a stone cooking area, he
said. To go with these cooking facilities, the product line also includes patio stones, a fireplace with smoke stack and fire brick, seating, lighted pillars, a table set, water falls, and different sized bar and grill areas that can include plumbed-in sinks and dishwashers, he said. Although Smith said ProBuild employees can offer advice for installation, the kits have a complete set of instructions and all the materials packaged together. But if hiring the work done sounds like a better route to take, Bob Brewster said area contractors and landscapers, like his employer Frontier Lawn and Landscaping, have experience designing and creating outdoor spaces, including built-in barbecue grills and cooking areas. Both Brewster and Seaberg said that it’s important for people to have an idea of what they want to create and how much they have to spend before getting started. “I’ve seen a lot of people turn their backyards, without a lot of work, into a nice usable area and some people go the other way and spend a lot of money … ,” Seaberg said. “Your only limit is your imagination and your money.”
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