Outdoor kitchen masonry in Rockwall TX - a grill island that's solid all the way through
Unsure what's behind the stone in your outdoor kitchen bids? We build the island solid masonry on a firm base, cut to fit your grill.
What does it take to build a grill island that lasts?
Outdoor kitchen masonry in Rockwall, TX means building your grill island out of block, brick or stone with noncombustible counters like granite or marble on top, so it holds the grill safely and still looks right years from now.
Most people call us with a grill picked out, a patio they want to cook on and a few bids that all show the same nice stone. What you can't see in those pictures is what's behind the stone, how the grill vents and what the whole thing sits on, and that's what decides how long it lasts.
The stone you pick moves the price more than anything else, then the size of the island, the counters and what your grill needs built around it. The schedule mostly turns on having your grill chosen and the permit check for your address, and the estimate gives you the plan and the price for your yard.
- A level, solid pad under the island, with the ground beneath it planned first.
- A block core faced in brick or natural stone, topped with noncombustible counters.
- A grill opening cut to your model, plus vent openings when it runs on gas.
What happens after you call about a grill island?
Here's how it goes from your first call to the final walk-through. I'm the one you talk to, the one who looks at your yard and the one on site with the crew.
Call and tell me the plan
Call (972) 961-1232 and I answer, so you're talking to the person who'll actually build it. Tell me the grill you have in mind and whether a patio cover is in the plans, and we'll set a time for me to come out.
I look at your yard
I come out myself, look at where the island would sit and give you a straight read on what it needs. You get a written plan and price, so you know the number before you agree to anything.
We check permits and schedule
If you say go, we check on permits for your address and get the work on the calendar. Having your grill picked out by then keeps the schedule from waiting on it.
We build it and walk it
I'm on site with our crew while the island goes up. Before we pack up, we walk the finished kitchen with you so you can check the grill fit, the vents and the counters.
Brick and stone outdoor kitchens and the masonry behind them
These photos show the kind of grill islands, counters and stone faces masons build across the trade. They're here to help you picture finishes and layouts before we talk about your yard.
Outdoor masonry fireplace built from tan stone anchors a patio, with wood storage niches and a timber pergola nearby.
Multicolored brick paver driveway leads to a two-car garage, bordered by lawns.
Outdoor kitchen with a stainless steel grill, stone veneer counters and wall, and stainless drawers beneath a covered porch.
Raised gray paver patio and step beside a house with a pale stone veneer wall.
Newly laid tan and gray paver driveway leads to a house, with unfinished soil beds and yellow caution tape along the edges.
Gray paver driveway and walkway leading to a white house with a wooden garage door and planted borders.
Get a written plan and price for your grill island
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out for a free estimate, with no obligation. Have your grill choice, yard photos and any patio cover plans handy.
(972) 961-1232Questions homeowners ask about outdoor kitchen islands
These are the questions I hear most when someone's planning a grill island. Where an answer comes from a maker's instructions, I've said so, since those decide how the island gets built.
How much does an outdoor kitchen cost around Rockwall, TX?
A stone veneer outdoor kitchen with a built-in grill, installed, usually runs about $14,000 to $22,000 a project across the Dallas-Fort Worth area. That range covers the foundation, framing, stone labor, concrete counters and basic gas and electrical rough-in, meaning the first run of the lines. Your own number comes from the written estimate after I see your yard.
What is the best way to frame an outdoor kitchen island under stone?
Build it out of masonry or concrete block, not wood. One grill maker says wood or any other material that can burn isn't acceptable for the grill structure, and stone over a wood frame is still a wood frame. When you compare bids, ask each builder what's behind the stone.
Does a brick outdoor kitchen need to be painted?
No, clay brick doesn't need paint or any surface coating, because its color is built in and lasts. Painted outdoor masonry is another story, since most paint experts expect it to need repainting every three to five years, so leaving the brick bare keeps your upkeep down.
Why should I pick my grill before building an outdoor kitchen?
Pick it first so the island's opening gets built to fit that exact grill. One grill maker's guide says the built-in grill should be on site before construction starts. Decide on an insulated jacket or liner, a shell that goes around the grill, at the same time, because for some brands it changes the size of the cutout.
Can I put a built-in grill under a patio cover?
Only if your grill's manual allows it. One maker's manual says not to run its grill under any construction that can burn, and another allows it only with an approved vent hood directly above the grill. Read your manual before we plan the island and the cover together.
What causes an outdoor kitchen island to crack or lean?
Usually it's the pad or the ground under it moving. One grill maker's guide calls for a level, smooth pad of solid material on properly packed ground so it doesn't settle or heave, and researchers report that clay that shrinks and swells as it dries and wets strongly affects whatever's built on it. That's why we plan the pad and the ground under it before any stone goes up.