Outdoor Kitchen Islands FAQ

Yes. Outdoor kitchens increase the overall square footage of your living space, which raises your home’s value.

Based only on the materials and structure itself, a modular outdoor kitchen will typically cost around $250 to $475 per linear foot. A completely custom-built outdoor kitchen will usually run between $320 and $670 per linear foot. This does not take into account labor, shipping costs, and other factors.

Ready-to-assemble barbecue island kits can take as little as two hours to put together with two people. Depending on the size and type of island, some can take up to a weekend’s worth of work to fully install.

BBQ grill islands don’t necessarily have to be installed permanently. For instance, many of them can disassemble into their individual component pieces. These overlap with models on wheels or casters. Others are built to stay where they are. Ready-to-assemble islands aren’t made for the pick-up-and-go crowd, whereas a Blaze BBQ island can be easily broken down and rebuilt elsewhere.

Our grill islands are framed with stainless steel and aluminum. Stainless steel carries a known quality pedigree; aluminum frames have a similarly solid reputation — plus, they don’t rust and are lighter and easier to move.

These are complete islands that arrive with all components necessary. Now, one size doesn’t fit all, so we do offer upgrades — expect these to include covers, extended warranties, and grill accessories tailored to the specific grill included. Of note, warranties are usually offered per component, whereas the grill warranty covers the island.

Plumbers are a requirement for natural gas islands, but there’s no need for one if all you need to do is fetch a standard propane tank… well, with one caveat. If you want a sink — which means running water and drainage — then check out our Sink FAQ and get yourself a good plumber. Electricians aren’t usually necessary unless you’re working with Coyote Outdoor Living’s electrical systems. Those need 120V power, which is better off in the hands of the professionals.

Generally speaking, all components arrive together — especially with Coyote Outdoor Living, TEC, Blaze, Weber, Tytus, and on. Mont Alpi will occasionally ship components separately. Arriving together isn’t always a guarantee (after all, life happens), but, based on the manufacturer, it’s a pretty safe bet.

Uncrating and setting up a BBQ island will always require at least one other pair of hands, but the exact number of friends you’ll need to bribe will vary on the brand. Some are simpler than others, but each component still arrives in its own box and needs assembly. With those heavier grills, you’ll absolutely need a solid lifting buddy.

Every BBQ island we ship will arrive curbside. In most cases, the islands will be packed onto one or two pallets. You can expect those to be fairly heavy. Be certain to inspect all components for shipping damage — the last thing you want is to order a grill island in April, not get around to installation until August, and encounter an issue!

Complete BBQ islands vary in weight and difficulty of maneuverability. What we can tell you is that this is mostly a materials situation: aluminum is light, whereas stone-faced isn’t. We list out the product weight in the shipping dimensions of every grill island we sell; some of them require serious heavy lifting. In rare cases, you’ll probably need a forklift. While we understand the thrill of opening boxes, we heavily recommend first fetching a friend to help move everything to the area where you plan to install your island.

Yes, the BBQ islands on casters definitely lock into place. We don’t want those rolling off somewhere or taking a dip in the pool.

Some BBQ island brands utilize normal feet for all models and don’t offer casters.

We don’t carry any BBQ islands that require hard wiring — you can plug them all into any standard 120V electrical outlet.

If it complies with the required clearance to combustibles of the individual components, then you can install your grill island against a surface (for example. Blaze grills require a 16” clearance of open air from the grill back). It should come as no surprise that installing a gas grill up against anything combustible is a terrible idea in all cases. If there will be a structure overhead, you’ll need to follow your local code and regulations on vent hoods (and we can teach you how to buy a vent hood). The owner’s manual will list instructions for each of the individual components included in the island.

Any BBQ islands we offer with countertops made of materials that need sealing will arrive pre-sealed upon delivery. Most of our BBQ Islands on offer are made from materials that do not require sealing, such as stainless steel. Learning more about countertops for your outdoor kitchen can teach you similar pros and cons.

Generally, no, BBQ islands don’t include leveling shims. Refer to your owner’s manual, but most BBQ islands specify that they should be placed on level ground — which means no leveling feet or leveling shim.

While this depends on the brand — for instance, Blaze cabinets don’t, whereas Weber does — the models with casters are more likely to have a floor. You have to bolt the casters to something, right? Some models are designed to be purposefully open bottom.