Outdoor kitchen masonry in Encinitas CA - a solid block island with no wood framing
Planning a grill island and not sure how to frame it? We build it in concrete block, faced in stone, ready for your countertop.
Outdoor kitchen masonry built in block
Outdoor kitchen masonry is the cooking island itself, a concrete block base on a slab, faced in stone and ready for your countertop. At Advanced Encinitas Concrete and Masonry, we build these in Encinitas and the cities around it, in block instead of wood framing, because block doesn't burn.
Price moves with the island's size and shape, the stone and what it holds, like a grill, power or a sink. The schedule turns on the other trades and your countertop, and I'll put your price in a written estimate. We also build the walkway out to it or a brick wall behind it.
What goes into outdoor kitchen masonry
Here's what our crew builds when you ask for an outdoor kitchen, from the base up to the stone, and where the other trades fit in.
Block base
We build the island from concrete block on a slab instead of wood framing, so the frame itself has nothing in it that burns.
Gas venting
A sealed island can trap leaked propane or natural gas, which one installer warns is an explosion risk. We design yours with a way for leaked gas to get out.
Stone facing
Manufactured stone bonds straight to clean, rough block. Otherwise it goes over lath mesh and a scratch coat of mortar, and industry guidance says that lath must resist rust.
Utility window
Gas, power and water lines go in after the block is up and before the stone goes on. That's the window your plumber, electrician and gas fitter need to hit.
Tell us about your island
Send the island's spot, any nearby slope or property line, and the grill you want. We'll reply within one business day about a free on-site estimate, with no obligation.
(760) 230-9799How we build outdoor kitchens
We've been in business since 2017. Here's who builds your island and what stands behind it, so you can decide before anyone lays a block.
- Learned under a mason. I came to masonry from another line of work and learned it as a helper under an experienced mason, so I explain every step.
- Licensed and insured. We're fully licensed and insured, which matters when your island carries gas, power and water lines next to the house.
- Satisfaction guaranteed. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job, and I'd take the slow, right way on your island over a fast one that comes back.
- I come out myself. Call (760) 230-9799 and I'll look at the spot myself, then our own crew builds the island with me running the site.
Serving Encinitas and nearby cities
Advanced Encinitas Concrete and Masonry is based in Encinitas and works in many cities around it, from San Clemente down to Chula Vista. If yours isn't listed, call (760) 230-9799.
From first call to walk-through
I want you to know what we're doing and why before we start, so I explain the plan at the visit and walk the finished island with you.
Visit
I come out and look at where the island will go, the slab it'll sit on and how close it is to a slope or the property line. I tell you straight what I see, including anything that changes the plan.
Estimate
I put what I'd build and why in a written estimate, so you can see it all before you decide. Once you say go, we check with the city's building office and handle the permit application if the job needs one.
Build
Our own crew lays the block and sets the stone, with me running the site the whole way. When it's done, I walk the finished island with you and go over what we built.
Outdoor kitchen questions in Encinitas
Is a concrete block outdoor kitchen island safer than a wood-framed one?
By one installer's account, block has an edge, because an island framed in wood, or in steel studs with wood sheathing, legally needs a stainless steel insulating jacket around the grill to prevent fire, and non-combustible block doesn't. That's why we build in block.
How long does it take to build an outdoor kitchen island?
One estimating guide puts the masonry for a standard L-shaped kitchen at 7 to 12 working days. On top of that, you'll wait on the gas, power and plumbing trades, plus a 2 to 3 week lead time for the countertop to be fabricated. I'll talk through the order of work for your island at the estimate.
How do I know if I need a permit for an outdoor kitchen in Encinitas?
Plan on one if your island adds walls, plumbing or electrical, because the City of Encinitas requires a building permit for that kind of work on a structure. Even a job that skips the building permit can still need a Planning, Engineering or Fire permit. That's the first thing we check once you say go.
What does Encinitas ask for if my outdoor kitchen is near a slope or property line?
For an accessory structure permit, the city asks for a boundary certification if the structure is within 5 feet of the property line and a geotechnical report if it sits next to a slope. Most of the city also lies in the Coastal Zone, covered by its coastal land use plan. So where your island sits matters.
What license covers masonry work in California?
The state's C-29 Masonry Contractor classification covers installing concrete block, natural and manufactured stone, and walls for structures and fences. That's the block and stone work in an outdoor kitchen island, so ask whoever bids your island what license they hold.
How much does outdoor kitchen masonry cost in Encinitas?
The cost comes down to the size of your island and what goes in it, so there's no set price. A straight island with a drop-in grill takes less block and stone than an L-shape with a sink, power and a long stone face, and a spot near a slope or property line can add filings. I'll put your figure in the written estimate.
Plan your Encinitas backyard kitchen
Call (760) 230-9799 or use the form to tell us how you like to cook outside, and we'll set a time to come look.