Level Up your Braai Chimney

Braaing plays a big part in many South African’s lives. Having a built-in braai at your home will definitely level up your braai status, but it also comes with a handful of things to consider. One of the biggest issues people with indoor or built-in braais have is smoke. Smoke can be a massive hindrance and can quickly take your bring and braai from hero to zero. 

We look at the basics when it comes to controlling the smoke in your built-in braai area to level up your braai chimney.

The Flue and Cowl

The most important aspect of your smoke control lays here with the flue and cowl. The length of your flue is vital. A professional can easily assist you with this, but if you are attempting this yourself you need to do some math.   

According to Best Braais, you must take the total height of your roof and subtract the height of the first lintel and then also subtract the total height of the braai. This will give you the length of the flue needed to draw level with the highest point of your roof. It is vital to add 750mm to extend past your roof, which will be sufficient for your cowl to work properly. The cowl fitting will be on the topmost flue. 

Large trees and other higher buildings in your vicinity can cause problems for a rotating cowl. You could also consider a turbo cowl if you are worried about any of these issues.  

Fancy Brick Work

When bricking up the chimney make sure to stop the brickwork below the jenny of the last flue. If not, the skirt of the cowl might not clear the brickwork, resulting in a cowl that does not work properly.   

Allow your brickwork to dry for at least four to five days before lighting your first fire.  

Let’s Braai

With a proper idea of how your braai and chimney should function to avoid unwanted smoke, you can now enjoy it more confidently. Your braai area could be a place where you relax with your family every weekend or even a place for friends to enjoy while they watch the game.  

To create a functional space in your braai area, make sure you make use of stylish outdoor furniture to create a leisurely space. Plant herbs and a lemon tree close by for when you need to give your fresh summer salad a squeeze of lemon or when you need a sprig of rosemary for the chicken. Mint always come in handy too and is perfect for your “braai garden”.

Find a braai specialist here.