Built-In Grill Buying Guide
Discover the best built-in grills to incorporate into your outdoor kitchen design.
Become the ultimate grill master when you take your deck or patio and transform it into an outdoor kitchen, complete with an exceptional built-in grill. These top-quality built-in outdoor BBQs are designed to become part of a custom outdoor kitchen BBQ island or custom outdoor kitchen design, elevating your outdoor dining experience. Discover how easy it is to make the most of your space with these built-in grill ideas.
What is a Built-In Grill?
Built-in grills are specifically designed to be incorporated into the structure of an outdoor kitchen design. Freestanding BBQ grills are built on top of a base that supports the grill at a comfortable standing height. Built-in BBQ grills ditch the base and boast a design you can nestle directly into your countertop and cabinet surround. The result is a seamless look as elegant as any indoor kitchen because you’re only limited by your own built-in grill ideas. Fortunately, we break down all the ways to choose and use an outdoor BBQ in your space.
3 Benefits of Built-In Grills
Once you understand all the ways upgrading your grilling set-up can improve your cooking routine, you’ll be planning your outdoor kitchen design.
Seamless Design
When you choose built-in BBQ grills over free-standing grills, it gives your deck or patio a seamless, custom look.
Increase Resale Value
Make your home the most appealing listing in the neighborhood by offering things other homes don’t, such as a custom outdoor kitchen, complete with a built-in outdoor BBQ island, where you can become a grill-master.
Convenience
When you incorporate a built-in BBQ grill in your outdoor kitchen design, it becomes part of a fully functional area. It’s easy to provide ample counter space to the side for prepping and working with the food you’re grilling when you install a BBQ island. You can also incorporate a range of other features and appliances into the design, including ranges, warming drawers, outdoor refrigerators, and even a sink.
2 Ways to Feature a Built-In Grill in Your Space
Once you’ve decided to install a built-in BBQ grill on your deck or patio, you have two main strategies to choose between:
Built-In Grill for a Custom Surround
Create an outdoor kitchen that’s perfectly tailored to your needs when you choose a custom design option. These outdoor kitchens and BBQ islands often require the work of a professional contractor. With their help, determine a layout for your outdoor kitchen and determine how much space you’ll have available for built-in grills and other outdoor appliances.
Complete BBQ Island Packages
When you don’t have the time or the desire to go through the customization process, there’s an easier solution that provides the same look. Shop for complete outdoor kitchen BBQ island packages that come with everything you need. Not only do you know that everything is going to come together for a perfect fit, but they come in a variety of different sizes, styles, and arrangements. These outdoor kitchen BBQ islands are also a great way to build an outdoor kitchen on a budget because you know your total cost from the beginning and won’t be surprised as the different material and labor costs start rolling in. With so many different sizes available, you can even get an idea of how to feature built-in grills in small outdoor spaces.
Finding the Best Built-In Grill for Your Outdoor Kitchen
So what size outdoor built-in BBQ do you need for your outdoor kitchen or island? The answer has a lot to do with how much space you have available and how many people you want to serve when you fire it up. When it comes to designing an outdoor kitchen, the outdoor grill is often the most integral part of the design, which means it is where you should start shopping.
Choose the Right Size
Before you make a costly mistake by choosing the wrong size, take a few minutes to consider the layout of your outdoor kitchen and take careful measurements of that area. These measurements will give you something to compare the dimensions of the grill to as you shop.
Consider Brand
All the top name brands produce long-lasting, top-quality outdoor BBQs, including:
Check Out the Special Features
The outdoor BBQ grill you choose should meet all your grilling needs. As you shop, take a few minutes to check out all the special features of each design, such as:
- BTUs
- Rotisseries
- Smoker Box
- LED Lighting
- Infinity Burners
- Digital Touch Controls
Heating Sources of Built-In Grills
When it comes to purchasing outdoor BBQ grills, there are three primary sources of heat to consider, with clear pros and cons to the different heating sources. There are even some designs that boast a dual-fuel design.
Natural Gas
If you use natural gas for other appliances throughout the home, it should be easy to add a natural gas line that runs directly to your gas BBQ grill. Natural gas lines mean you’ll never be stuck with an empty propane tank. They also make it incredibly quick and easy to achieve the desired temperature.
Propane
When you don’t want to go to the expense of adding a natural gas line, propane tanks make a convenient alternative. Tanks for your propane BBQs are easy to trade out and make firing up your grill fast and easy.
Charcoal
When you want that authentic grilled flavor, there’s no beating a traditional charcoal BBQ grill. Of course, these can be less convenient because they take some time to light and get up to temperature. If you choose a charcoal grill, you may also want to work some charcoal storage into your outdoor kitchen design.
Consider Safety
Safety is key when it comes to installing a built-in grill as part of your outdoor kitchen design. All built-in grills should be positioned at least 24 inches away from the home and any other flammable or combustible materials. When you’re embedding the built-in grill with your outdoor kitchen cabinetry, make sure to select an insulated jacket for your grill. There are proprietary insulated jackets for each of the major brands to ensure a great fit.
How to Plan & Execute Your Outdoor Kitchen Design
Ready to transform the functionality of your deck or patio? Installing an outdoor kitchen is very similar to planning a normal kitchen remodel, just on a much smaller scale. It all starts by getting a few built-in grill and outdoor kitchen ideas to use as inspiration and then building your ideal space from there.
Step 1: Make a Plan
Before you can build an outdoor kitchen, you need to take careful measurements of the space you have available and come up with a plan for the design. The room you have will help you determine how many components and how much counter space and cabinetry you can incorporate into the design.
Step 2: Choose the Outdoor Kitchen Components
The outdoor BBQ you select is just one of many outdoor kitchen components you can include in your custom outdoor kitchen. Think about the dishes you like to cook and choose additional components that will make the space as convenient and functional as possible. With so many different outdoor cooking and BBQ island components available, you really can tailor your space according to the way you like to entertain and the built-in grill ideas you have for your deck or patio.
Step 3: Determine a Design Style & Add Finishing Touches
Once you’ve made a plan for the kitchen and chosen the components, it’s time to bring it all together. Build the outdoor kitchen structure (or rely on a professional installation) and install all of the components you’ve chosen into the design. Just like your indoor kitchen, an outdoor kitchen can range in style based on the finishes used. Countertops, BBQ island surrounds, backsplashes, and even the components themselves come together to deliver style to the space.
Step 4: Create a Dining Space Near Your BBQ Island or Outdoor Kitchen
Now that you’ve taken the time to install an outdoor kitchen, you’re going to want an area to dine al fresco. Incorporate an extended countertop for dining into the kitchen design itself, or choose an outdoor dining table and chairs set to feature near your outdoor kitchen or outdoor BBQ island.
Once you choose the built-in BBQ grills, BBQ islands, and other outdoor kitchen components you’ll add to your design, all that’s left is stocking up on outdoor BBQ accessories that will have you flipping burgers and spinning rotisseries like a pro. You aren’t limited to these built-in BBQ ideas; you can also use outdoor pizza ovens and outdoor stovetops to create your favorite meals. If the backyard isn’t the only place you like to whip up a delicious grilled meal, shop for portable BBQ grills with an efficient yet compact design that makes them ideal for tailgating, beach days, and camping trips.
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