Island guide with BBQ grills and outdoor kitchens

When it comes to outdoor living, a gas grill is a must-have for most homeowners and having a kitchen island makes it more entertaining and functional as an outdoor barbecue cooking area. Beyond the basic five-foot-long grill island, you can add a side burner, refrigerator, sink, ice bin, countertop grill light, drawers, cabinets, and other accessories. To simplify the process of determining your needs, let’s review this list below to help you plan the perfect barbecue design.

What need or desire does it satisfy?

Are you satisfied with a portable grill that can move? Or would you prefer a grill that’s built into an island where it blends into your backyard design? Do you intend to socialize around the grill where you can entertain family and friends? Are you a gourmet chef and want all the comforts one thinks of with an outdoor kitchen?

Shape vs. function.

If you primarily want a barbecue just for grilling and then eating in, the simplest form of grill station will probably work and functionality may be the priority. How will it look on your patio when not in use? How does it fit in with the other landscape elements you may want to include, such as an outdoor fireplace, seating areas, pools, fountains, and grass areas?

Does it serve a purpose other than grilling?

Add a seating bar to a basic island to allow guests to interact with you while you cook. A countertop is also a place to place drinks, plates, and plates as a table. A built-in refrigerator or cooler adds a convenience factor by not having to make multiple trips to your indoor kitchen. It allows you to hang out outside with your guests.

How should it be positioned in your yard?

The location of your barbecue grill is always an important decision. But answer the questions above first to determine its form and function. These criteria will go into your design and configuration. If it is a simple grill station, what direction will the grill face? How close to the kitchen doors should it be? Is there adequate ventilation and separation from combustible structures? Will it be straight, L-shaped, or angled? Is there a suitable patio for circulation around and in the bar seating area?

What design options do you have? (custom vs. modular / prefab)

Barbecue islands can be custom designed and built from masonry blocks or can be prefabricated with steel posts, cement board and finished with stucco or stone veneer cladding. Today, there are many manufacturers who build islands to your specifications and then ship them to you for completion or bring them to your home in near-complete form.

Infrastructure: electricity, gas, footings, waterline, permits

Regardless of whether it is custom built or prefabricated, you will need at a minimum gas, which can be propane or natural gas. A natural gas line must be underground and cut to reach the interior of the island or enter from the rear, depending on how it is located in your yard. Propane tanks are not as convenient as having a connection to natural gasoline, but they are much less expensive in terms of initial installation.

Electricity may be required for a grill light, hood light, countertop light, rotisserie motor, or for accessory outlets on the island. Not providing an outlet to an island is a mistake, which is why many grill owners end up using battery-powered clip lights.

One of the benefits of a pre-made barbecue island is that you don’t need to lay down a significant base like you would a custom-built masonry island. A solid surface for the patio will suffice. Building permits may or may not be required for the island itself, but if you have electricity or gas, those items must require permits. Check with your building department to find out what is required.

If a sink is desired, it will be necessary to connect a cold water line and a discharge line for the wastewater. Most building codes require a sink to be connected to the sewer system, but it is generally not feasible when building an outdoor kitchen after the home’s plumbing system has been built. Typically, a small dry pit is built to allow residual water from the sink to seep into the garden or planting areas. Just don’t use your sink like it’s a real kitchen sink. Think about what is going down the drain.

Finishes: top and sides

The countertop surface can be tile, travertine, granite or stone. The sides can be stucco to match your home or a cultured stone veneer depending on how fancy you want to get or maybe tie it up with another structure like a fireplace.

Accessories and features

The size of the grill is the most important consideration when determining the size and length of the island, as it will displace the usable space of the countertop. How many people will you be serving? Side burners are available for placing pots and pans. Here is a list of some of the accessories that you can consider:

• A smoker
• A wood burning grill to go with the gas grill.
• A splash guard with raised bartop
• Cantilever countertop without backsplash
• Refrigerator
• Cooler / drink holder
• Drawers
• Access doors to the interior of the island to reach the gas shut-off valves or propane tanks
• Shelves or drawers for storage
• A tilting garbage container

Spend a lot of time thinking about what you really want in an outdoor barbecue island and whether you need all the available amenities. You may be able to calculate the cost online by researching pre-made options, but it will take a certain amount of on-site installation. Better yet, contact a local landscaper for help with your island design or construction to avoid overlooking anything.