Outdoor kitchen masonry in Hawthorne CA - a grill area laid out the way you cook
Tired of hauling plates back and forth while the grill sits on a rusty cart? We build brick, block and stone cooking areas that last.
Custom Hawthorne Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Hawthorne. We work here and in the cities around it. We're best known for careful brick repair and solid block walls, and we bring the same care to outdoor kitchen masonry, building grill islands, counters and bar walls in brick, block and stone.
- Prep first, no shortcuts
- Layout planned around your cooking
- Site cleaned as we go
Outdoor kitchen masonry built for real cooking
Outdoor kitchen masonry in Hawthorne means building the grill island, counters and walls of your cooking area in brick, concrete block or stone. In California, that work falls under the state license board's masonry classification, fire brick included. We're licensed and insured. Most folks call us when the grill on a cart has had its last good summer.
The size, how much counter you want, the facing you pick and how far utilities have to run all move the price. Those same utility runs drive most of the schedule. I look at the job in person, and you get the price in writing. If the path from the back door is cracked or missing, we can add walkway construction so you're not crossing the lawn with a full platter.
- Layout. We plan the footprint around the grill, the prep space and the path back to the house before anything gets built.
- Block core. A concrete block core carries the counters and the grill, and it's the part you never see once the kitchen is finished.
- Heat around the grill. One grill maker requires its insulated jacket when combustible material sits within 24 inches of the grill frame, so the surround settles that part.
- Facing. Brick, natural stone or manufactured stone veneer goes on last, and veneer is a facing only that carries no load.
What goes into an outdoor kitchen
Most outdoor kitchens are a few pieces built to work together. We build each one in masonry and carry the facing across them, so the patio looks like one job.
Grill islands
We build a block island around the grill you've picked, size the cutout to fit and choose the surround with heat in mind.
Prep and serving counters
We run counters along either side of the grill, so raw food, cooked food and the cutting board each get their own spot.
Bar and seating walls
We build a raised bar or a low seat wall in brick, block or stone to match the island. For walls out in the yard, see our brick wall installation work.
Oven and smoker surrounds
We build masonry housings for a pizza oven or smoker, line them with fire brick where they face flame and finish them to match the rest.
Have something in mind that isn't on this list, like a sink cabinet or a fire feature? Ask about it at the estimate and we'll talk it through.
Why outdoor kitchen masonry is worth doing right
A well-built outdoor kitchen stays solid, keeps its looks and asks very little of you for years. A bad one is a nice plate with a bad meal under it, and you find out a few summers in.
- A packed baseWe dig out and pack the base before the first block goes down, because a shifting base cracks the counter above it.
- Full jointsWe fill and tool every mortar joint, because a hollow joint lets water in, and that's where the crumbling starts.
- Tops that shed waterWe give the counter tops a slight pitch so rain and rinse water run off instead of sitting in the joints.
- No mortar smearsWe wipe mortar off the face while it's fresh, because dried smears on brick or stone are stubborn to get off later.
How an outdoor kitchen job runs
I come out and look
You call, and I come out to look at the patio, the grill you want and what's around it, like gutters, downspouts and how the yard drains.
Your price in writing
You get a written estimate that covers the layout, the facing and the heat plan around the grill, so you know exactly what you're paying for.
Build, clean, walk through
We prep the site, cover what needs covering and clean as we go. When it's done, I walk the finished kitchen with you.
Why Hawthorne homeowners call us for this
We build an outdoor kitchen the same way we build a block wall, prep first and no shortcuts on the parts you can't see. Then we make sure it works for whoever's holding the tongs.
A cook's eye on layout
I cooked for years before I picked up a trowel, so I plan where you'll stand, where you'll set a hot pan down and how you'll clean up.
Our own crew on site
Our own crew builds it, with me or our lead mason running the job, so you know who's working in your yard.
Slow where it counts
I'd rather spend extra time on the base and the core than save a day and hand you a counter with a crack in it.
Our satisfaction guarantee
Every job is backed by our satisfaction guarantee, and the final walk-through is where you tell me straight how it came out.
Building outdoor kitchens around Hawthorne
Planning a pizza oven or a wood-fired grill? In its 2020 account of its wood-burning rule, the South Coast air district limits wood-fired cooking from November 1 through February in areas below 3,000 feet. The same account bars new wood-burning devices in developments where construction began after March 9, 2009. Check the current rule with the district before we design around wood.
Most backyards we see here and in Lawndale and Inglewood have a patio that gets sun most of the day. One builder says porous natural stone ages fast in full sun without upkeep. If you want natural stone, we'll set up a care plan with you before the first piece goes on.
Tell us about your outdoor kitchen
Send yard photos, the grill you're planning and your fuel choice. We reply within one business day, then I come out for a free, no-obligation estimate and put the price in writing.
Call (424) 307-8119Outdoor kitchen questions we hear
What does an outdoor kitchen cost in the Los Angeles area?
An outdoor kitchen in the Los Angeles area usually costs about $20,000 to $75,000 per project. That range covers the whole project, so a simple grill island usually lands toward the low end and a full kitchen with a bar toward the high end. I'll look at your yard in person and put your price in writing.
How long does an outdoor kitchen build take in Hawthorne?
One builder estimates an outdoor kitchen build at 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the utility runs. A plain island with little to hook up usually comes in shorter than a full kitchen with a sink. I can give you a clearer picture once I've seen the yard.
Does a brick outdoor kitchen need to be painted?
No, clay brick needs no paint or surface treatment. Painted exterior masonry needs repainting every three to five years, so we'd rather help you pick a brick color you like as it is and keep that chore off your list.
How do I clean manufactured stone on an outdoor kitchen?
Light scrubbing with a soft bristle brush takes the dirt off, according to one stone veneer maker's instructions. That maker warns that pressure washing or acid or petroleum cleaners may cause permanent damage and void its warranty. Efflorescence, a residue that sometimes shows up on the face, comes off once it's dry with the same brush and clean water, followed by a rinse.