Santa Monica · Masonry Services
Outdoor Kitchens & Fire Pits
Built-in outdoor kitchens, BBQ islands, pizza ovens, outdoor fireplaces, chimneys, and firepits.
Outdoor Kitchens & Fire Pits · Santa Monica
Outdoor Kitchen and Fire Feature Construction
An outdoor kitchen is the project that changes how a yard gets used, and in this climate it earns its cost back in evenings outside. We build masonry BBQ islands and full outdoor kitchens with counters, storage, sinks, and refrigeration, along with outdoor fireplaces, pizza ovens, chimneys, and firepits in gas or wood. The structure is block or steel stud framing faced in stone, brick, or stucco so it matches the house rather than looking like a kit dropped on a patio. We coordinate the gas, electrical, and plumbing rough-ins with licensed trades and handle the permit, because anything with a gas line or a circuit needs one.
Why Build It in Masonry
Prefabricated islands and stacked-block kits look fine for a season. Masonry construction with a proper footing, a real firebox, and a correctly sized flue lasts as long as the house and can be faced to match your existing brick or stone exactly. We build the structure, we build the fire feature to code with the clearances it needs, and we bring in licensed plumbers and electricians for the connections rather than improvising them. You get one crew chief coordinating all of it and one flat price. We are licensed and insured, and we will tell you honestly when a simpler firepit gets you most of the value for a fraction of the budget.
Reasons to Build Outdoors
The patio is under-used
A grill against a wall makes a patio a place you pass through. A built-in island with counter space and seating makes it the room the household actually uses.
You entertain and the kitchen is small
Moving cooking, prep, and a fridge outside is the cheapest square footage you will ever add to a Westside house, with no framing or foundation work.
Evenings get cold quickly here
The marine layer cuts the evening short most of the year. An outdoor fireplace or firepit extends usable hours more than any heater does.
You want a real pizza oven
Wood-fired ovens need mass, insulation, and a correct flue to work properly. This is masonry work, not an appliance install.
How an Outdoor Kitchen Gets Built
1. Design and layout
We lay the footprint out on your patio in chalk so you can stand in it, reach the counters, and change your mind before anything is poured.
2. Permits and rough-ins
Permit submitted for gas and electrical, footings poured, and licensed trades brought in to run gas, power, water, and drain to the island location.
3. Structure and firebox
Block or framed structure built to the layout, fireboxes and oven domes constructed with proper refractory materials, and flues sized and built for the appliance.
4. Facing, counters, and finish
Stone, brick, or stucco facing to match the house, countertops set, appliances installed and tested, and the site cleaned before the walk-through.
Fire and Kitchen Features
Outdoor BBQs
Built-in grill islands with counter runs, storage doors, drawers, and bar seating, sized around the appliances you actually want.
Outdoor fireplaces
Full masonry fireplaces with correctly proportioned fireboxes and flues, faced in stone or brick, often with integrated wood storage and a hearth seat.
Pizza ovens
Wood-fired and gas pizza ovens built on an insulated hearth with the mass to hold heat, either freestanding or built into a kitchen run.
Chimneys
New chimney construction and chimney rebuilds, including crowns, caps, and flashing. We also repoint existing chimneys as part of our brick work.
Firepits
Gas and wood firepits in block, stone, or poured concrete, with seat walls sized so the circle actually works for the number of people you host.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an outdoor kitchen cost?
A basic built-in outdoor kitchen with grill, countertop, and storage starts around $5,000 to $15,000. Custom outdoor kitchens with stone veneer, pizza ovens, sinks, and refrigeration run $20,000 to $50,000 or more.
What material is best for outdoor kitchen countertops?
Granite is the most popular because it is heat-resistant, durable, and handles weather well. Concrete countertops offer a modern look and can be custom-formed. Avoid marble and wood outdoors.
Do outdoor kitchens add home value?
Yes. Outdoor kitchen construction typically returns 60 to 80% of investment at resale and can increase property value by $10,000 to $20,000. They are one of the highest-ROI outdoor improvements.
Do I need a permit for an outdoor kitchen?
If it includes a gas line, an electrical circuit, or plumbing, yes. Firepits plumbed for gas need one too. We pull the permit and coordinate the licensed trades as part of the build.
Plenty more of what we get asked, grouped by trade, sits on the masonry questions page.
Most projects touch more than one trade, so plenty of clients pair this with Commercial Masonry, Retaining Walls and Brick Laying. You can see the full picture of what hardscape and masonry covers, or call for a free estimate and we will tell you honestly what the job needs.
Planning masonry work in Santa Monica?
Tell us about the project and we will come out for a free on-site estimate.
Or call us now: (310) 356-9429