Outdoor kitchen masonry in Midland TX - a counter that fits your grill and sink

Most people who call G&R Midland Concrete and Masonry about this have a patio, a grill and a plan that's mostly in their head. The price moves with the size and shape of the island, the finish you pick, how many appliances need openings and how far the spot sits from water, power and gas. The schedule usually turns on things that aren't block, like when your appliances show up, when the other trades run their lines, how long the countertop takes and whether the city wants a permit. When a job calls for a permit, we handle the paperwork and wait for it before we start, and your written estimate spells out what's included.

It starts before any block. Bring us your appliance list and sizes first, because rebuilding a counter around the wrong grill costs money and isn't much fun for anybody. With those in hand, we lay out the island, pour the slab and build the concrete block structure on it with openings sized to your real appliances, not a catalog's best guess. Build guidance calls for non-combustible insulation, a layer that won't burn, between a built-in grill's firebox and the masonry around it, which is one more reason the grill's real sizes matter. Once the block is up, the gas, electrical and plumbing lines go in, and then we set the stone veneer or brick and get the top ready for your countertop.

A kitchen out back usually needs a decent way to get to it, so we can lay walkway construction from the back door to the slab while we're there. If you want a low wall to close in the space or back a bench, our brick wall installation can match the island.

The City of Midland requires residential building permits, and its list names new construction, additions, remodeling, repairs and detached accessory buildings, but not outdoor kitchens. I won't guess on that, so before we start we check with the city's building permit office whether your job needs one. If it does, we handle the paperwork and wait, since work can't begin until the permit is issued. A plan reviewer usually takes about 5 to 7 business days with the plans, so that goes on the front of your schedule. After that, construction has to start within 180 days and can't stop for more than 180 days in a row, or the permit expires and you apply again. The city also expects most construction work to be done by a contractor who's licensed, bonded and registered with the city, so that's worth checking with anyone you hire.

We're based in Midland and work in Odessa, Big Spring, West Odessa and other cities around Midland. We see the same backyard setup on jobs in Odessa and Big Spring, a patio, a grill that's been rolled out for years and a spot picked for the view more than the plumbing, so we walk the yard with you before anybody falls in love with a corner.