Project description
I want to build a proper outdoor kitchen in my backyard and I am looking for someone who has actually done this kind of work before, not just poured a slab and stacked a few blocks. The space is roughly 12 by 8 feet along the back patio, currently bare concrete with a gas line stub already run to the approximate grill location. I am picturing an L-shaped island: one leg housing a built-in gas grill (I already own the grill head, a 32-inch drop-in unit, so it needs to be sized to that cutout), the other leg giving me at least six feet of usable counter space for prep and serving.
The island itself should be framed in either concrete block or steel stud with cement board, then finished in a stone veneer or stacked ledgestone to match the existing retaining wall along the side yard — happy to discuss options and I can send photos of the wall for a color match. Countertop should be a durable outdoor material: concrete, granite, or porcelain slab, something that will not crack after a few winters here. I would like a stainless steel access door and a couple of pull-out drawers built into the non-grill leg for tools and utensils, plus rough-in for a small bar sink and a compact outdoor fridge (I can supply both units, just need the box and utility rough-ins done correctly).
Electrical: one weatherproof outlet on the counter side for the fridge and another under-counter for future lighting. Plumbing: cold water line to the sink location and a drain tied into the existing yard drainage — I know this may need coordination with a licensed plumber, and I am fine hiring that separately if you do not carry that license, as long as you can manage the schedule and rough openings so nothing has to be torn back out.
What I am looking for in a freelancer: someone with real photos of finished outdoor kitchen or BBQ island projects, comfortable pulling any required permit for the gas connection and structure (I am told our county requires one for permanent gas fixtures), and able to walk me through the framing plan before any block goes up. I would like a firm quote broken into materials and labor, plus a realistic timeline — I am aware weather can push things around, so I just want honest expectations rather than a rushed guess.
Please include in your proposal: your approach to the grill cutout and ventilation clearance, how you would handle the veneer transition to match the existing wall, and whether you have handled the sink/fridge utility rough-ins before. References or past project photos will move your proposal to the top of my list.
The island itself should be framed in either concrete block or steel stud with cement board, then finished in a stone veneer or stacked ledgestone to match the existing retaining wall along the side yard — happy to discuss options and I can send photos of the wall for a color match. Countertop should be a durable outdoor material: concrete, granite, or porcelain slab, something that will not crack after a few winters here. I would like a stainless steel access door and a couple of pull-out drawers built into the non-grill leg for tools and utensils, plus rough-in for a small bar sink and a compact outdoor fridge (I can supply both units, just need the box and utility rough-ins done correctly).
Electrical: one weatherproof outlet on the counter side for the fridge and another under-counter for future lighting. Plumbing: cold water line to the sink location and a drain tied into the existing yard drainage — I know this may need coordination with a licensed plumber, and I am fine hiring that separately if you do not carry that license, as long as you can manage the schedule and rough openings so nothing has to be torn back out.
What I am looking for in a freelancer: someone with real photos of finished outdoor kitchen or BBQ island projects, comfortable pulling any required permit for the gas connection and structure (I am told our county requires one for permanent gas fixtures), and able to walk me through the framing plan before any block goes up. I would like a firm quote broken into materials and labor, plus a realistic timeline — I am aware weather can push things around, so I just want honest expectations rather than a rushed guess.
Please include in your proposal: your approach to the grill cutout and ventilation clearance, how you would handle the veneer transition to match the existing wall, and whether you have handled the sink/fridge utility rough-ins before. References or past project photos will move your proposal to the top of my list.
Other / Miscellaneous Cash, Bank transfer
