Outdoor kitchen masonry in Lake Elsinore CA - a grill island that fits your appliances
Grill stuck on a cart, or an old island cracking? We build a block and stone island laid out around the grill and appliances you pick.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
What goes into building an outdoor kitchen in Lake Elsinore?
Outdoor kitchen masonry in Lake Elsinore is the built-in island that holds your grill, counters and appliances. We build it from concrete block on a reinforced concrete slab and face it in stone, so it's solid enough to carry heavy appliances and a stone counter.
Most people who call about an outdoor kitchen have a grill on a cart and nowhere to set a plate down, or an old island that's cracking and they want to know if it's worth saving. Before I talk price, I ask what you cook and which appliances you want, because the price mostly moves with the size and shape of the island, how many appliances go in it, the stone or brick on the face, the countertop and whether new gas, water or power has to be run to it. The schedule turns less on our block work than on the waiting around it, mainly the countertop being made to measure and the other trades fitting in between our steps, and I'll give you your own figure in the estimate once I've seen the yard.
How do you know your outdoor kitchen needs work?
Cracks in the island base
A crack running through the block or the stone face usually means the slab underneath has shifted or water has worked in behind the facing. I like to find out which one it is before anything gets patched, because an open crack lets more water in every season and the repair keeps growing.
Stone facing coming loose
Stones that rock when you press on them, or have already dropped, usually mean the bond to the block behind has let go, often where water gets in at the counter edge. Waiting tends to cost you more stones, and a loose one beside a hot grill is easy to knock off.
Scorched or warped counters
Dark marks or warping around the grill opening usually mean heat is reaching material that was never meant to sit that close to a burner, which is common on islands framed in wood. If you keep cooking on it the damage spreads, so we check what's under the counter before deciding what to rebuild.
How we build outdoor kitchen masonry
We ask you to pick your grill and appliances before we lay out a single block, because the openings in the base are sized to each one, and building around the wrong dimensions means tearing out block and paying twice. Then I read each maker's install guide so the island is built the way that guide asks, which matters more than people expect, since one grill maker's guide requires the cabinet frame, cabinet and countertop to be non-combustible, so wood framing under that grill is out. With the layout set, our crew pours a reinforced concrete slab and lays the block on it. The gas, plumbing and electrical trades run their lines to the right spots once the block is up, and after that we set the stone facing over the base so it's ready for the countertop.
An island usually looks unfinished until there's a good way to reach it, so a lot of owners pair it with walkway construction from the back door to the cooking area. If you want a backdrop behind the grill, a seat wall or some privacy from the neighbors, we handle brick wall installation too and can match it to the island's face.
Straight grill island
A single run with the grill and some counter suits smaller yards and simpler cooking. It takes the least block, facing and countertop of any layout, so it's the easiest on the budget.
L-shaped kitchen
Turning the corner gives you room for a side burner, a fridge or a sink plus real prep space, so it suits people who cook outside often. It's more block, more stone and a bigger countertop, which shows up in both the price and the schedule.
Stone or brick facing
Natural or manufactured stone gives a rougher, rustic face, while brick reads cleaner and can tie the island to a brick wall or the house. Either one covers the same block base, so it comes down to looks and budget.
Get a free on-site estimate for your outdoor kitchen
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day. I come out, look at your yard and appliance list, and give you a free estimate on site, with no pressure to book.
(951) 579-7076- Based in
- Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
- Hours
- Mon–Sun: 6 AM–11 PM
What happens after you call about an outdoor kitchen in Lake Elsinore?
Here's how a job runs from your first call to the last walk-through, and what's on you at each step and what's on us.
Call or send the form
Tell us roughly what you have in mind and we'll set a time for me to come out. If you already know your grill and appliance models, have them handy, since that's where the layout starts.
I look over the yard
I walk the spot with you, look at the patio and where gas, water or power would have to come from, and ask what you've noticed if there's an old island there. You get your estimate right there, so you're looking at a real number for your yard and not a guess over the phone.
The crew builds the island
Once you're ready, we sort out what the local office asks for, and our lead mason runs the crew through the slab, block and facing. Expect a gap in the middle while the other trades run their lines and the countertop gets made.
We walk through it together
I come back and go over the finished island with you, opening by opening. We don't call it done until you've seen it.
Why Lake Elsinore homeowners call E&M for outdoor kitchens
The owner gives your estimate
I'm the one who comes out, asks the questions and works up your price, so the person planning your island is the person who answers for it. Most outdoor kitchen trouble starts in planning, and I'd rather catch it there.
In business since 2013
I started out mixing mortar and hauling block on a masonry crew before I ever laid a course, and I've run this business for 13 years. That's a lot of time spent seeing how block and stone hold up outdoors, and where they don't.
Licensed in California, insured
We're fully licensed and insured. You're covered while our crew is working on your property, so a problem on the job doesn't land on you.
A lead mason, then my check
A lead mason runs the crew on site every day, and I come back to check the finished work with you. Your satisfaction, guaranteed.
On an outdoor kitchen, most of the job is decided before the first block goes down, so the best next step is to ask for an estimate or call (951) 579-7076 with your appliance list in hand.
Outdoor kitchens, walkways and walls in Lake Elsinore
In Lake Elsinore, the city takes building permit applications through its building department, and its standard handouts name patios, decks and garden walls but not outdoor kitchens. That list doesn't settle whether your island needs a permit, so it's a question to put to the city for your project. We're based in Lake Elsinore and work across the cities around it, including Wildomar and Canyon Lake, and depending on the address, the office in charge can be the city or the county. We find out which one covers yours, take care of the permit paperwork when the job needs it and plan the build around inspections.
The city also sits within high fire hazard severity zones, and it says homeowners in those zones must meet home hardening requirements and make sure new construction and renovations follow the Wildland-Urban Interface codes, the building rules for homes near wildland. Before we plan an island, we check whether your address falls in one of those zones and what that means for the build.
Questions about outdoor kitchens in Lake Elsinore
How much does a built-in grill island cost in Lake Elsinore?
Across the US, a built-in grill island usually costs about $3,000 to $10,000 per job, installed. That's a national figure and not our price, and it assumes the patio and the gas, water or electrical lines are already in place, so new runs come on top. Your own number comes from the estimate once I've seen your yard.
How long does outdoor kitchen masonry take?
One pricing guide puts the masonry for a standard L-shaped outdoor kitchen at about 7 to 12 working days, with 2 to 3 weeks of lead time to have the countertop made. The whole job runs longer than the masonry days, because the gas, plumbing and electrical trades have to be scheduled in between.
How do I apply for a building permit in Lake Elsinore?
You apply with the city's building department, and its application asks for a detailed project description plus any electrical, mechanical or plumbing permit entries. For an outdoor kitchen, that means having the layout, the appliances and the utility lines worked out before the form is filed.
Who defines masonry contractor work in California?
California's Contractors State License Board does, and its masonry classification covers installing concrete block, natural and manufactured stone, and fire brick. That's the block base and stone facing of an outdoor kitchen, so it's fair to ask any contractor you're considering how they're licensed for it.
How do I find out which subcontractors will work on my outdoor kitchen?
Ask your contractor, because California law requires them to disclose any subcontractors on a home improvement contract when you ask. You get each one's name, contact information, license number and classification, and the prime contractor stays responsible for the whole project.
How do I vent a gas grill island?
Follow your grill's install guide, because that's where the venting requirements come from. One gas grill maker's guide calls for vent openings in the island, both high and low, so air moves through and leaked gas doesn't collect inside. We set those openings in the block where your grill's guide puts them.
Related masonry work for your outdoor kitchen
Walkway construction
A firm, even path from the back door gives you somewhere safe to carry hot pans and plates, instead of crossing lawn or loose gravel after dark.
Brick wall installation
A brick wall behind or beside the island can block wind from the grill, give guests a place to sit, and screen the cooking area from neighbors.
Service areas for outdoor kitchen masonry
E&M Lake Elsinore Concrete & Masonry is based in Lake Elsinore, California, and builds outdoor kitchens across the cities around it, from Murrieta to Menifee. Each of the 12 areas below has its own page, and they aren't the only places we work.
Lake Elsinore, CA
Send us your appliance list and yard layout
If you send your grill and appliance models ahead, I can read their install guides before I come out and spend the visit on your yard.