Why does a built-in gas grill cost so much?

I'm thinking about a small "outdoor kitchen" when I add a screened porch on the house. I'd like to have a nice gas grill built into a concrete countertop, ideally with a burner on the side as well. The plan will also include a ventilation hood.

It appears the built-in models are about 2 times the cost as a freestanding grill. Can I just buy a nice webber grill and retrofit it into the space I need?

I have a natural gas line nearby, so I plan to hire an experienced plumber to connect the system up for me. Yes - I will buy the right burner elements.

Thoughts?

Reply to
paulaner
Loading thread data ...

My thought is you are comparing apples and oranges. A good built in grill is built to last a long time. Yes it is more expensive than the cheap grills at WalMart.

If you do a comparison of grill prices for Weber, the top end Summit models that are available built in or free standing are rather close in price. Take a peek here. This is where I bought my Summit S470 a few weeks ago. Good prices overall

formatting link
They have four built in models available and the prices are very competitive with the freestanding.

Reply to
Ed Pawlowski

I have a $400 Webber that is 8 years old and doing fine. I was looking at consumerreports listings and see the grills with an excellent rating are around $800 - $1000. The ones you are looking at cost $1500 and up.

Maybe I'm just cheap?

Reply to
paulaner

Then you probably won't like some of the prices here

formatting link
Be sure to marvel at the Fire Magic Echelon Diamond.
formatting link
double side burner is extra at $786. The cover goes up and down at the push of a button. Of course you'd expect that for $7100.

Reply to
Ed Pawlowski

Lol - that's amazing! I'll buy a lottery ticket with that one in mind. :)

Reply to
paulaner

On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 13:26:44 -0400, paulaner wrote Re Why does a built-in gas grill cost so much?:

Yes, that can be done.

Good ideas.

Reply to
Caesar Romano

I beleive some grills are marketed as dual use. Propane and natural gas. AFAIK its not the burner that changes, it is the input regulator.

Reply to
LouB

The burner assembly is what changes. NG requires larger orifices.

Reply to
George

Reply to
LouB

Thanks. I am thinking about a concrete countertop. from what I am reading they look pretty good. A sink is not a must have for me, but maybe a place to put beer on ice would be convienient...

Reply to
paulaner

I'll post my answer when its done :)

Reply to
paulaner

Features for an outside kitchen can vary all over the map.

As for the grill costing more, of the ones I have seen that were intended to be built into some kind of structure are substantially higher quality. Maybe it is that they know this will sit outside 24/7/365 and not be rolled in and out of shelter. I think they also followed the market knowing that people who could afford to have one mounted could afford a better unit.

My friend has an Outdoor Kitchen brand, and it is really awesome. If I hit the lottery, I'm getting one.

As for "stuff" in an outdoor kitchen, there are considerations. First, the weather. It's outside a lot, exposed to the elements, and most everyone lives where it freezes at least once a winter. So, things like sinks take special care. And sinks have to drain and have a water supply. Refrigerators, cabinets, storage, beer kegger, cutting boards, and all that stuff is best when it can be easily taken in and out for use. A sink can be rigged easily with a tank and a gravity feed, and just how much does one use a sink when cooking. So, a small tank, and a small holding tank could be made inexpensively.

Places for chilling can be as simple as making a space the shape of a common ice chest. They now have some cool looking ones at HD that are stainless top, and would look very nice set into a nook in a island.

Bottom line, it would be easy to make an island with an assemblage of lots of goodies, and not spend a boatload of money, and have the flexibility of changing it, or replacing say an ice chest.

I'm going to do this soon. We have been buying dual pane doors to make a wall as a windbreak, yet keep the view. Overhead will be sail shaped sewn Sunbrella canvas for shade, and the multiple sails will be staggered vertically so that air will circulate. I will post photos.

Steve

Reply to
Steve B

Great ideas. Good luck to you as well.

Reply to
paulaner

a small concrete countertop is pretty easy. if you want it polished, the diamond tooling for that is about $350, but you can get on ebay cheaper or resell what you do buy after you're done with it. you can get lots of colors, can mold in a sink, and insert objects before you pour the concrete for custom inlays.

Reply to
chaniarts

HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.