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Built In BBQs: Why Have a Built-In Grill?

There’s a broad range of grills on the market, but have you heard about built-in BBQs?

Our outdoor kitchens revolve around the space and the fixtures they incorporate. So on top of garden furniture, a BBQ grill is going to be a huge part of that.

There are so many different styles and types of grills out there. From charcoal BBQs and gas barbecues to smokers; there’s a great range to choose from.

But let’s suppose you decided to settle on a gas grill. Whether it’s a 3-burner gas BBQ or a 6-burner gas barbecue, you still need to decide what type of grill you want to get.

When it comes to the styles for outdoor gas barbecue grills, you have two main options:

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  • Standalone
  • Built-in

In this article, we’ll bring insight to the reasons why and the benefits you gain by choosing built-in gas grills.

Key takeaways:

  • Built-in gas grills may cost more and are semi-permanent fixtures.
  • When designing outdoor kitchens, functional fixtures are the secret of sprucing the space. Adding a built-in model BBQ grill adds functionality above everything.
  • The beauty of built-in model grills is they can be customised for maximum benefits. You can add an array of premium features or professional features around them and incorporate some awesome cooking features.
  • With a built-in gas barbecue, you get to have an outdoor cooking area. At the same time, it might even increase your property’s curbside appeal.
Outdoor kitchen island with a built-in BBQ gas grill
Image Credit: Modern Realty Guam

Outdoor Gas Barbecue Grills for Outdoor Kitchens

Setting up outdoor kitchens has become more and more trendy. With fire being the focal point outdoors, the effect of grilling makes it more worthwhile.

Outdoor gas barbecues acts as a source of warmth and entertainment. They serve as a natural focal point for people to come together and gather.

Outdoor grilling just adds a touch of class, especially when hosting alfresco dining and entertaining friends. Cooking at night paired with the warmth of the flame naturally draws a crowd, as well.

If you want to get involved in grilling and provide delicious meals for friends and family, look for ways to create a better barbecue experience. For one, redesigning your outdoor living space or patio with a built-in gas barbecue.

BillyOh Indiana 4 Burner Gas BBQ Kitchen with Sink
BillyOh Indiana 4 Burner Gas BBQ Kitchen with Sink

What Are In-built Burner Gas Barbecue Grills?

Built-in burner gas barbecue grills are exactly what they sound like. They are grills that are built into a countertop or cooking surface.

In most cases, they have an outdoor kitchen (barbecue setup) around them. This grill type is custom for your backyard barbecue set-up and cooking.

It gives you the perfect cooking surface to cook a great outdoor meal. In short, a built-in grill enables you to create your dream outdoor kitchen.

In fact, many chefs prefer in-built gas burner grills and for good reasons. Listed below are some of the top reasons why built-in model grills tout their superiority over other BBQs.

BillyOh Alabama 4 Burner Gas BBQ with Sink
BillyOh Alabama 4 Burner Gas BBQ with Sink

What Makes Built-in Model Grills So Good?

Standalone and in-built grills are both designed for convenience and are also built with high-grade materials. But built-in burner gas BBQs are more:

  • Efficient
  • Longer lasting
  • Robust
  • Able to survive harsh weather conditions

If you’re leaning towards investing in an outdoor built-in model BBQ, these reasons might help you make that final decision.

Burger patties being grilled on a gas BBQ
Image Credit: Pxhere

1.  Built-in burner gas BBQ grills are tough

Cooking outdoors means you’re battling against the elements and the weather. Seasons can be rough on barbecue grills.

Among other things, a gas BBQ (like with stainless steel burners) are exposed to high heat temperatures. And for the most part, they are left all year outdoors.

Being left outside in the sun, rain, and snow can result in many things; most of which are negative! The effect of the weather can be noticeably damaging season after season.

But built-in model BBQs tend to come out on top for quality.

For instance, standalone grills get seriously damaged by strong winds and harsh weather. But a grill built into patio benching will be a lot less exposed. For one, it’s because it has been constructed on a solid foundation.

Many of the built-in model grills you’ll find online are built with top quality stainless steel. They deliver seamless performance season after season.

You’ll surely get your money’s worth out of an excellent in-built gas barbecue. But this doesn’t mean you’re off the hook from good cleaning practices!

A black gas BBQ grill with an extendable side table
Image Credit: Rawpixel

2. Built-in burner gas BBQs reduce the hustle of cooking outdoors

Built-in grills can offer you a serious amount of cooking space and power. Unlike standalone mobile barbecue grills, cooking with built-in models is generlly less hectic.

With standalone units, you have to move between the indoor kitchen and the patio to get everything. Then after cooking, you’ll have to carry everything back to the house and store the grill.

With built-in grills  you don’t have to. You can even add a touch of class with an outdoor dishwasher and storage cabinets to your outdoor kitchen, along with the integrated grill.

As a result, you can save more time, and focus on improve your cooking because you won’t have to leave the grill anymore. (Our dream!). What’s more, ample space for both grilling and food preparation is very rewarding for BBQ enthusiasts – as anyone who’s cooked in a cramped kitchen will know.

3. A built-in gas barbecue BBQ grill is customisable

If you cook meals for friends and your family often and love doing so outdoors, you need a dedicated space where you can do all that. And the beauty of built-in model grills is they can be customised for maximum benefits.

Grills built into your patio can be customized to complement your cooking needs. Some of these customisations include:

  • Adding drawer components (e.g. powder coated twin storage drawers) for your barbecue tools.
  • Matching the colour with the theme and style of your outdoor setting.
  • Picking your choice of stone (or brick) and choice of accessories.
  • Add an array of premium features or professional features (professional touch) for a more modern design. A great example of this is a wood pizza oven – anthracite colour with a ceramic heat deflector.
  • Incorporate awesome cooking features. It could be electric cooking lights or a digital microwave (built-in grill microwave).

Considering all these, you can personalise the colours to match the décor on your brickwork or around your patio. This way, your outdoor space will scream elegance.

The customisable feature of built-in BBQ gas grills is one of the best ways to make the most of your outdoor grilling and barbecue experience!

A group of friends enjoying a garden BBQ party
Image Credit: Pexels

4. A built-in gas barbecue BBQ grill defines and extends your entertainment space

The interior of a home has walls and flooring, which helps in defining each space. If you have an open design, you know where your living room starts and where your kitchen stops.

But outdoors, you have to create and define your own spaces. A built-in grill can be your starting point for your backyard kitchen.

Without much effort, a fixed gas grill and other awesome cooking features can help you create the ideal place for cooking at night or all day long!

Making a built-in grill patio also is an excellent way of ensuring that everyone has a place to sit and enjoy your garden. It’s a perfect barbecue set up for entertaining friends and guests outdoors.

Having an extended outdoor entertainment space could be a dream come true. Not only does this provide you with a modern garden design but also your dream outside kitchen!

5. Built-in burner gas BBQs could save you money

In-built gas grills can help you save money in the long run in terms of repair and replacements. A built-in grill in the patio ensures that there’s no need to worry about replacing them.

All you have to do is to perform maintenance services to keep the grill running. Unlike, potentially, standalone grills that can get damaged easily and often lasts only a couple of years.

An in-built gas barbecue with griddle, in contrast, should last longer. As mentioned earlier, it can withstand harsh weather conditions, including hurricanes.

With less repair and replacements and minus restaurant bills, you can save money in the long term. Plus, you can serve tasting meals for friends and your loved ones whenever you want.

BillyOh Montana Black Dual Fuel Gas and Charcoal Hybrid BBQ
BillyOh Montana Black Dual Fuel Gas and Charcoal Hybrid BBQ

6. Built-in burner gas BBQ increases the value of your home

When talking about a property’s curb appeal, one of the effective ways to boost its value is focusing on your outdoor space. By this, we mean renovating your backyard.

In addition to doing repairs and touch-ups, adding in garden furniture and some awesome cooking features like built-in grills is the best way to do it.

A built-in grill in the patio is a great option for home improvement, ensuring that your property gains value. This griddle could also play a big role if you plan to sell your home in the future.

For one, it could allow you to increase the asking price considering the whole outdoor renovation. The built-in gas grill itself makes an excellent addition to your home as you wait for a potential buyer.

In-built stainless steel burners also are a great investment, whether you’re selling your home or not. Their cooking power alone makes them worthwhile and useful for years to come.

Top tip: If you decide to create a built-in outdoor grill with a sink, burners, and counter space, you can achieve the dream outside kitchen. But most importantly, this aspect is a major plus for buyers who love outdoor cookouts.

A person grilling meats on a gas BBQ
Image Credit: Pexels

Things to Consider When Buying Built-in Model Grills

Built-in burner gas BBQ grills sure have fantastic benefits! If the reasons above have convinced you to invest one soon, here are a few things you need to consider.

The size and space of your garden or patio

The size of your outdoor kitchen should be your top consideration when selecting a grill. This also includes the size of the space in which you intend to use it.

Larger outdoor spaces can accommodate a bigger built-in grill. Meanwhile, smaller patio areas are better served with a small-scale in-built gas BBQ.

34 to 40 inches is the standard size for built-in grills. This would give you three burners on the smaller end.

You also need to ensure there’s enough space for the grill head (BBQ grill heads/grill cover) to open. We recommend at least 3.75 inches behind the grill’s surface so the grill head won’t bump into anything (e.g. a wall).

Leaving about 4 inches should suffice, depending on the grill you purchased or wish to invest.

Top tip: Draw your layout physically or digitally to know what other accessories you can fit into your built-in grill and outdoor kitchen.

Cooking surface area on built-in burner gas BBQ

Another consideration in the size of the built-in grill is the cooking area itself. The more space for cooking, the more you can cook meals for friends and family. You could even handle and host a quiet big backyard bash!

We recommend using a built-in warming rack or investing in a warming drawer on your kitchen island for a larger party. This enables people to serve themselves away from the flames or the extreme heat of the grill.

Intents of use

This is another major factor in relation to the size. How do you intend to use your built-in grill for your classic or modern design outdoor space?

Are you planning to host big parties or small get-togethers often? Do you have a large family who usually comes over for dinner or al fresco dining?

Do you grill at least once a week? No matter how you intend to use your integrated gas BBQ, this can affect your grill selection, so make sure to consider it.

If you plan to use the grill for a mini gathering exclusive for your family only, a small grill will do the work. Anything from a 30-inch to a 36-inch would suffice.

But if you have a large family who comes over once a month or per week for dinner, a larger grill will suit your needs best. Top tip: If you have to host a larger BBQ party, you can use the internal warming rack to keep food warm.

Check out this awesome built-in grill this guy made!

Recap: Built-in Barbecue Grill/Burner gas BBQ

An outdoor kitchen complete with a built-in burner gas BBQ grill is a dream come true. It gives your outdoor living space a luxurious vibe with linear design and a touch of class.

It enables you to create your dream outside the kitchen and makes your barbecue experience more eventful and satisfying. On top of that, here’s a quick recap of how beneficial and investment-worthy a built-in grill is:

  • Built-in burner gas BBQs are tough. They can withstand strong winds and harsh weather, including hurricanes. Available in an extensive range, some built-in models even come with a 10-year limited warranty.
  • They reduce the hustle of cooking outdoors. It lets you focus and improve your cooking because you won’t have to leave the grill anymore. Plus, the intense heat perfect for massive grilling backyard bash!
  • They’re customisable. Built-in grills can be customised for maximum benefits. For instance, you can add drawer components (e.g. powder coated twin storage drawers) for your barbecue tools. Or incorporate awesome cooking features, such as built-in grill microwave or a digital microwave.
  • Built-in gas grills can help you save money. With less repair and replacements as well as minus restaurant bills, you can save money in the long term.
  • It increases the value of your home. A built-in grill in the patio is a great option for home improvement, ensuring that your property gains value.

If you want to have maximum utility in your outdoor kitchen, what are you waiting for? Invest in a built-in burner gas BBQ now!

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FAQ

Both are made with cast iron and can withstand high heat. The difference is that a griddle is flat, whereas a grill is rigged.

Yes, especially if you're serious about grilling! Although there's a wide range of grill on the market, a built-in gas BBQ grill is an ideal choice if you want all the bells and whistles in your outdoor kitchen.

It's a worthwhile investment (and some even have lifetime warranties!)

It's because the built-in gas BBQ grill can accommodate more burners (rear burner) - thanks to their large cooking area. Plus, their solid build allows for more gas power, which helps the grill retain more heat than a standard grill.

Yes! As mentioned earlier, integrated gas BBQ grills are built with high-grade materials (e.g. stainless steel). Unlike standalone grills, built-in models are able to survive harsh weather conditions.

The overall structure is robust, delivering seamless performance season after season.

Building an open-air kitchen with a built-in grill takes some time. But according to This Old House, if you have the right planning, you can do it in two weekends.

 

To set up the outdoor grill island, begin with a simple frame. Next is to cover it in faux stone or your choice of stone. Then nestle the gas grill in the centre.

 

You can follow this helpful guide for an in-depth tutorial and instructions, courtesy of This Old House.