I just bought a bit of a fixer upper house with this masonry structure in the back patio. I think it's for a built-in grill which I have no experience with. Can you tell me what I would need to do to get it ready to install and operate a propane grill/BBQ? Also, what kind of built in is needed? Does it have to have special venting or lining? There is no gas connection, but there is an electrical outlet.
Thanks so much!
by Comfortable-Knee8852
10 Comments
You need to research and purchase grills that are designed for an outdoor kitchen
I’d start by having the electrician replace that conduit. EMT isn’t rated for direct contact with earth. That dirt in the planter will grow higher and it will rust away like it was never there.
Should be RMC or pvc.
Hold on here. Are you SURE there’s no gas line? Could it be buried or hidden? I cannot imagine someone would put in an outdoor grill and NOT run a gas line. Makes no sense. The electricity is probably for turning a rotisserie motorized spit inside a gas grill. Maybe the electric is for the ignition starter? Most are battery, but some are electric.
Here is a pic of the original set up.
For reference https://imgur.com/a/zhDF4Ik
Easiest way is to ask them what grill they had in there before. Virtually every brand has different cutout requirements so either you put in what it was made for or you search through built-ins to find another that will work with that cutout.
Looks like it was propane, not natural gas. But I would want some ventilation where the tank is stored so I’d install a couple foundation vents (made for crawlspace of house).
Seriously have an electrician redo or rip out all of that shoddy work. The EMT isn’t rated for that, and the Romex to an indoor box is just chefs kiss
You 100% need to add venting to the cavity under the grill, if there isn’t some already. The manual for whatever built in grill head you buy will specify the area of the venting holes.
Otherwise it looks like it’s all non-combustible material which is great!
If you find any wood in there (framing) just use a “zero clearance liner” for the grill.
Great idea on the foundation vents.
I just built a similar concrete kitchen on my back porch. Propane needs to be vented and the cutout may be specific to the brand of grill that was installed. Not all built ins are the same size cutout. For example, I have a Blaze built in and it has a notch out in the front so that it fits flush. I would definitely try to buy the same grill. [https://imgur.com/gallery/backyard-kitchen-fSxJ38b#VJ2ThdN](https://imgur.com/gallery/backyard-kitchen-fSxJ38b#VJ2ThdN)
They maybe had a pellet style grill- no gas needed?