Outdoor kitchen masonry in Bellingham WA - a block base built to fit your grill
Thinking about a grill station but unsure where to start? We plan it in the right order, so it fits the first time.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
What does outdoor kitchen masonry involve, from the slab to the stone?
Outdoor kitchen masonry in Bellingham means building the base, counters and stone face that hold your grill and other appliances, all on a reinforced concrete slab, so you get a solid cooking area that stays outside year round. It usually comes with gas, electrical or plumbing work from other trades, and often a path or a low wall around it.
Most people who call us have a patio and a picture in their head of a grill, some counter space and maybe a sink or a fridge. The price mostly turns on how long the base runs, how many appliance openings it needs, which stone you pick for the face and how easy it is to get material to the back yard, since carrying block through a side gate takes a lot more work than unloading in the driveway. The schedule mostly comes down to how soon your appliances are picked and when the gas, electrical or plumbing work can fit in. When I come out, I'll walk the spot with you and put what I'd do in writing, so you have a figure for your own yard to work from.
How do you know it's time for a masonry outdoor kitchen?
Wood counter going soft
An outdoor counter framed in wood stays damp most of the year here, and you start to see swelling, dark stains or screws that won't hold. That usually means the frame is rotting from the inside, and every season you wait it gets harder to keep the grill level and steady.
Water sitting under the grill
Puddles under an existing grill station or against the house after rain mean the water has nowhere to go. Left alone, that water soaks into the base and freezes in the joints over winter, which slowly works them loose.
Loose or cracked stone
On an older outdoor kitchen, stone that sounds hollow when you tap it or mortar joints that have cracked usually mean water has gotten behind the face. Resetting a few pieces early is a much smaller job than taking the whole face off once it starts letting go.
Work that often goes with it
Walkway construction
A firm path from the back door to the grill keeps you from carrying hot pans across wet grass and gives guests a clear way back inside.
Brick wall installation
A low brick wall can close in the cooking area, block the wind and give you a spot to set plates down without building more counter.
How we plan and build outdoor kitchen masonry
I ask you to choose your grill and any other appliances before we lay out a single block, because the openings get built to those sizes and fitting them the first time costs far less than cutting block out later. At that same stage we plan where the water will drain and when your gas, electrical or plumbing people need to come in. Then we pour the reinforced concrete slab, and our masons build the base from concrete block, what masons call CMU. Once the block is up we stop so the other trades can run their lines into place, since everything has to be in before the stone covers it. After they're done we set the stone veneer, a facing layer of natural or manufactured stone, put the countertop on and clean up the site.
Most outdoor kitchens need a good way to reach them, so homeowners often have us handle walkway construction from the back door at the same time, which saves bringing the equipment back for a second job. If you'd like the cooking area closed in a little, brick wall installation gives you a low wall or a backdrop that suits the house.
Single grill counter
A straight run of block with one grill opening and some counter space suits a smaller patio or someone who mainly grills. It's the simplest layout to plan, with fewer openings and less stone to face.
Full island with sink or fridge
An L-shaped or U-shaped island suits people who cook outside often and want a side burner, a sink or a fridge close at hand. It takes more block, more stone and more coordination with the gas, electrical or plumbing trades.
Get a written estimate for your outdoor kitchen
Send your request and we'll reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out. The estimate is free, with no obligation, and you can call (360) 255-7006 instead.
Call (360) 255-7006Why Bellingham homeowners call Allied Bellingham Concrete and Masonry for outdoor kitchens
I come out and write it
I look at every job myself and write the estimate, then check in with our masons and with you while they work. You aren't passed between people, and the person who drew up the plan is the one watching it get built.
Selling brick before laying it
I spent my first years selling brick, block and stone, then learned the trade beside experienced masons and started this business in 2013. I'd rather explain why I'd pick a certain mortar or stone twice than have you feel rushed into a yes.
City or county, we ask first
The City of Bellingham notes that many Bellingham addresses are actually outside city limits, in unincorporated county land. We work on both sides of that line across Whatcom and Skagit counties, so we find out which office covers your yard before anything gets built.
Licensed and insured, with a guarantee
We're licensed and insured, which is worth asking any crew that'll be working in your yard. Our work is also backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
On an outdoor kitchen, most of what matters gets decided before the first block goes down, so send us a request or call (360) 255-7006 when you're ready to talk it through.
What happens after you call about an outdoor kitchen?
Call or send a request
Call (360) 255-7006 or use the form, and we'll get back to you to set a time for me to come out. If you've already picked a grill, have the model handy.
I walk the spot with you
I look at where the kitchen would go, talk through the layout and your appliances, and answer whatever you want to ask. You get a written estimate of what I'd build and what it costs, so you can compare it or sit on it.
We check, schedule and build
Once you're ready, we check what the office for your address needs, set a start and work out when the other trades come in. Our masons do the work, and I keep you posted until it's done.
Common questions
Do I need to choose my appliances before an outdoor kitchen is built?
Yes, you should buy or at least pick your appliances before the block layout is final. A base built around the wrong dimensions means costly rework, because the openings are sized to the grill and anything else going in. If you have model numbers, bring them to the estimate visit.
How much does outdoor kitchen masonry cost in Bellingham, WA?
We give you a price once I've seen the spot, because the cost comes from your layout, appliances, stone and access rather than a set rate. You get it in writing at the estimate visit, and I'm glad to price a smaller version next to the one you're picturing.
How do I know if my outdoor kitchen needs a permit in Bellingham?
Ask the office that covers your address, because the City of Bellingham lists electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits applied for through its TRAKiT permit portal, and that list doesn't name outdoor kitchen masonry. Before work starts we check with that office and tell you what it says, and if a permit is needed, we help you sort out the application.
What is the best way to keep water from pooling around an outdoor kitchen?
Slope the concrete slab away from your house and leave drain holes in any closed-in sections of the base, so water has somewhere to go. When you're comparing contractors, ask each one how their design handles drainage, since it's easy to skip on paper and hard to fix once the stone is on.
Which mortar holds up best to freeze and thaw?
Mortar made with air-entrained cement, which has tiny air bubbles mixed in, or with lime generally holds up better to freezing and thawing, but it grips the block less firmly. Masonry cements are easy to work and stand up well to freezing too, though their grip may be weaker. I pick the mix for where your kitchen sits and what it has to carry, and I'll tell you why.
Can I burn wood outdoors during a burn ban in Bellingham?
No, both stages of a burn ban stop outdoor burning. The Northwest Clean Air Agency calls bans when air pollution reaches unhealthy levels, and a Stage II ban also stops burning in wood stoves, fireplaces and pellet stoves. Before you light any outdoor fire, the city's outdoor burning page points you to the county's burn ban notices, air quality readings and the Fire Marshal's guide to recreational fires and outdoor fireplaces.
Tell us about your outdoor kitchen plans
If you send your appliance picks, a note on how we'd get material into your yard and whether you're inside city limits, I can come out ready to talk specifics.