Grill Islands & BBQ Stations in West Palm Beach, FL

Grill islands and BBQ stations are the most common first step into outdoor cooking. Instead of a rolling cart that rusts in the rain and blows around in a storm, the grill drops into a solid island with counters on each side and storage below. A grill island can be as short as six or eight feet, or it can grow into a bar with seating on the far side. It is also the easiest outdoor cooking project to add to later: we plan the base so a sink or refrigerator can come in a second phase.

Choosing the grill

Built-in gas grills are sold as heads that drop into an island cutout, and quality varies a lot. In a salt-air yard, the details that matter are the steel grade of the body and hood, the burners, and the grates. Look for 304 stainless at a minimum and 316 near the water, and ask what the manufacturer's warranty covers on burners and the body, since those terms vary by brand. HomeGuide lists built-in grills from about $3,000 to $20,000 at the high end, and HomeAdvisor shows a wide range from budget heads to customized built-ins.

Gas: natural or propane

If your home already has natural gas, a line to the island means you never swap tanks. A gas plumber runs the line to code, it is pressure-tested and inspected, and a shut-off valve goes at the island. HomeGuide lists gas line work at roughly $12 to $50 or more per linear foot depending on the run. Without natural gas, propane is the usual choice: a built-in tank compartment with ventilation keeps the cylinder out of sight. Grills are set up for one fuel or the other, so decide before ordering.

Beyond the gas grill

Many BBQ stations now pair a gas grill with a second cooker: a kamado-style ceramic smoker, a pellet grill, a charcoal grill, or a flat-top griddle. Each needs its own cutout or shelf, its own clearances and, for a kamado, a heat-resistant surface around it. Side burners are useful for sauces and boiling seafood. We plan the station around what you actually cook on weekends.

Built to sit through hurricane season

A block or steel island bolted to a concrete base will not move in a storm. The grill head itself is heavy and fixed into the island. What blows away are covers, cushions, propane cylinders and loose accessories, so we include storage inside the island for anything you would otherwise leave on the counter when a storm is forecast. We also slope the base slightly so rain does not pool under the grill.

Upgrading from a rolling grill

If you love the grill you have, Fixr notes that a built-in BBQ surround can be built around an existing rolling grill for about $400 to $600 per foot. That keeps your grill and gives you counters and storage, though a true drop-in grill usually looks cleaner and seals better against rain.