I Built a Luxury $20,000 Outdoor Kitchen

When it's nice outside, I absolutely love grilling for my family in the backyard. But as you can see, my grill station setup is really basic. It's basically a grill sitting against the wall, which majority of you probably experience the same thing. Well, in today's video, we will be building the most epic built-in grill station that is the most ideal for entertaining guests and will be the talk of the neighborhood. Let's get into it. We're going to make sure we do this right and build this thing out of steel. All right, so here's what we're working with. We've built this beautiful rough sawn pergola right here on our last video and it looks absolutely incredible. Well, today we're going to take this thing across the finish line and build this most epic outdoor built-in grill station that you could ever imagine. And so here's what we're working with. So right now we just simply have a grill sitting against the wall, right? And we got to create an intentional space and here's what I'm thinking. We're going to start with countertops. Countertops are everything, especially for us to put everything that we were to cook on top. We're going to have big ones on the left, big one on the right here. And because I have the space here, we're going to create an L-shape that we can put either a pizza oven on top or a green egg on it or maybe even a Blackstone. We don't know. The possibilities are going to be endless for us. Now, on top [snorts] of that, we're going to need some storage. So what I want to do is one of my big pet peeves is having all these blood soaked or dirty barbecue sauce towels. So I need to throw them away. So we're going to put a metal cabinet that's going to draw out our um trash chute. We're going to have another cabinet here that's going to have paper towels and pull out drawers for all our utensils. And then we're going to have a big cabinet right here and that's where we'll be able to store propane tank to fit anything that needs to sit on top of these countertops. Now, we also need to have a little bit more excitement that's going to be on this wall here. I want to create some kind of accent wall. Ideally, maybe some floating shelves are going to completely across, but definitely we're going to hit this thing up with some countertops going across. I'm thinking granite countertops, maybe even quartz. We'll see how the day it That's my plan. That's what we're thinking. So, the first thing we're going to start doing is start chopping up our metal studs and putting the base frame of these cabinets right in place. Let's get to cutting. 36 and 1/2 Well, my big question here is I don't know how I'm going to do the countertops in this L-shaped cuz I don't know how I'm going to position this post right in the middle of the granite countertop. Unless we create like a U around it and then put a filler piece, which I don't know how that works. But, we sure as hell going to figure it out. Overall height I want it to be 36 in, but I just realized I'm not considering the height of the cabinet or the countertop. So, the countertops quartz or granite is usually inch and a quarter. So, I got [snorts] to take an inch and a quarter off of this thing and that should basically have the finishing countertop me come flush with the grill when it's open. Hey, ask me why I'm using metal studs for this build. Why are you using metal studs? Great question. Least likely for this thing to catch on fire when the studs are made out of metal, obviously. I really picked the best day to do this. It's just pouring rain harder and harder with every minute. Anyhoo, I apologize about that. I was rudely interrupted by the rain doing my project. But, so yeah, it's a fire hazard, but also uh moisture-wise, you know, it's going to get piled with more rain like this and this stuff will actually sustain versus pressure-treated lumber, you can still do it. It's just you know, there's this weird feeling about building it with pressure-treated wood while this thing is going to get hot. So, I don't know. Are the metal studs a lot more expensive than standard? No, they're pretty close. >> [music] See, the problem with patio stuff like this is all the patio stuff is meant like the slabs, the floor, it's meant to slope away from the house. And so, >> [snorts] >> you know, you cut all your pieces completely straight, but then you're going to have to uh level them because you don't want to put like an egg or anything on top of your countertop and have it you know, roll off and whatnot. >> [snorts] >> So, we're doing quite a bit of stuff here. A lot of variables, but we're getting through it. Nothing else to do it but to do it. Very nice. By golly, we done it. So, we still need to reinforce a few more spots. Um not too sure if with stud metal stuff if it's still 16 on center. I'm going to treat it that way. Uh so, I'll throw one here, possibly two there, and then another one here. Um granite is heavy, so I want this thing to be upright. But by the time we put fiber board and stone around it, it should be plenty of strength. Man, it's so exciting when everything comes to plan. We got the first frame done. It looks great. The most important part is square. And the way you want to do it is measure from corner to corner, 65 and 1/2 to 65, hopefully 1/2, 65 and 5/8. So, we're just off by an eighth. And then I got everything squared, everything leveled. I think I got enough studs going vertically. This one is not on yet just because I have storage stuff that's going to go in, which once we build everything out, I will show you and then we'll install them. And I think I need to create maybe a couple of braces here cuz by the time the quartz or granite goes on top, I'm afraid these will start pulling out. I don't know. That's just what I'm thinking. [music] But we're going to create the same exact damn thing over here, and then future Alex, which means few hours from today, is going to have to figure out how to work around this post to create more space here. Man, future Alex or tomorrow Alex has a lot on his hands. >> Yeah, I'm told for this. >> [clears throat] >> Psycho millennial as hell. Kyle asked me how much more expensive metal studs are compared to regular wood studs. I thought you said they were about the same price. I lied to you. They are not. So, they actually come in two different parts. So, the studs are seven bucks a stick. I think eight foot long stick, which I think a Douglas fir is like between four and five bucks depending on the market. And then I also [snorts] have to have the track, which is the bottom plate essentially and the top. And that is I think 10 bucks. So, almost half the price more. Uh so, on the pricier side. Second [snorts] thing that I've learned uh is if you use a bit like this uh which is magnetized and it has a really fine tip, it's a lot easier to install these phosphate coated screws. That way you're not trying to hold them and they're punching. So, they're like self-tapping without actually being self-tapping. Uh and then lastly, cutting them with a portable bandsaw or maybe even a skill saw or circ saw with a metal cutting bit on it is so much easier than trying to use an angle grinder. I've done that before. I did a fire pit video. It was hell on wheels doing it cuz it takes a lot on the cutting wheel to move all this metal. So, portable bandsaw is clutch. No sparks, no heat pieces being shot at you. Actually not a bad good time. That sentence made no sense. Not a bad good time. This is how you know that I'm just losing my mind. Not a bad good time. What are you doing? >> What you doing? Uh building an outdoor kitchen. That's awesome. I really like Sprigola. Well, yeah. Well, what do you think about the rest of this? >> [laughter] >> I >> That was the easy part, believe it or not. >> the easy part? >> That was the easy part. It's straightforward. I mean, the video wasn't that easy, but uh this is definitely the hardest part is trying to figure out this cabinetry stuff. Are you just doing this or like an L? Uh what would you prefer? I think an L because here's my thought process. >> Okay. We like to entertain here during the summer times or just easy meal making things. Grill, set our condiments on this table here. People make themselves a plate and go sit down and shut up. What are your thoughts? I like it. Are you going to So, you would just extend it out the same thing or a different table? No, I would extend this all completely through. I'd build cabinetry going completely through here. I like it because it kind of creates a corner like it's like closed off from like everything. >> That's true. But what if you need to grab this garden hose real quick? You have to go around. >> [laughter] >> Sorry. You have to go around for like an extra 5 seconds. >> Sorry, the perimeter is closed for renovations. >> Not allowed. Uh and then at the same time I was thinking with this section here, we could put maybe like a pizza oven on top cuz kids [music] work Are you going to build one? Not going to build one. I'll probably buy one. But you know, cuz they have like counter top ones. And then you can put a propane tank underneath the counter top. I like that. >> So that'll be kind of cool. >> Summer pizza nights. >> Yeah. Or >> like our Friday pizza nights. >> We do like our Friday pizza. I'm too old for how it digests in my tummy, but >> Well, sourdough. It's true. Sourdough is really good pizza. So yeah, I mean I'm going to continue that. I am going to do a couple of little hidden compartments. I'm going to have a stainless steel cabinet that opens up here, which is the trash bin. Oh. Okay. I like that. >> Then I'm going to have another that pulls out same size, same size. Pulls out it's three drawers. The top one's going to be like paper towels, then utensils and all that stuff. And then one big one and that's where the propane tank. So I'm kind of thinking it through there. You should Yeah, that's a good idea. Question for you is I want to create an accent wall here. Any thoughts, emotions, feelings, concerns? And really I'm looking for ideas. >> [laughter] >> Like accent wall like tile? Like I don't know what you're trying to say with accent wall. >> maybe like floating shelves. >> Oh. >> [laughter] >> I was like backsplash? Is that what you wanted? I'm going to go graffiti wall. I'm thinking putting [laughter] tiles. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fighting bad guys. >> I like it. You should ask our kids. They can tell give you all the ideas. I kind of like the shelves idea. >> That'd be kind of nice. Put some plants, whatever. >> Yeah. That'd be kind of nice. Warm it up. >> have something go like vines going up. I was thinking about vines. See, I felt like an idiot. But vines would actually be pretty slick. >> Yeah. Like you can get like the trellis things and then have the vines going up. >> woman right after my own heart. You know I like greenery. All right. Well, you look cold, so >> I'm really cold. >> Well, >> Why is it so cold today? >> I don't know. We need to bring in some warm weather. All right, thanks for coming out. >> Better be look good. Well, if I won't if it doesn't then we'll burn it down to the ground and start all over again. [laughter] For the most part I got all the framing kind of complete. I still have to do the back part here and a couple of openings. However, I think it's a good idea to reinforce the top from like splitting open. So, my fear is and I might be just over exaggerating is when you put the counter tops on top, these might start spreading out. So, I think by putting a brace there it'll kind of hold the thing from going completely wide on us. So, the way I'll do that is I'll take this channel that uh we use for our track and we'll snip off this and we'll have to do a little bit origami on it and by origami I mean let's see if we can still do this. We'll snip this like that. >> [snorts] >> Come on. I haven't done this in a few years now, so I'm a little rusty and these shears suck. All right, that's cut. That's cut. And then what we'll be able to do is bend [snorts] them like this and secure them from the inside in there. And that should work. >> We are officially ready for some cement board and this part is going to be the fun part because we're going to actually going to see these cabinets come together. Now, there's a couple of different cement boards out there. Hardie board is my favorite, but it's not rated for the outsides. I don't know why. So, we're going to use a classic cement board. This stuff is pretty, I don't know, the Hardie board's easier to cut. This part is a little bit, I don't know, brittle. It's got a mesh netting inside to keep it together. I think I'm going to try the classic [snorts] utility knife scorching and see how it goes. If that's problematic, maybe we'll throw like a carbide tip metal cutting blade on my recip saw or circular saw, and that should definitely work just fine. 33 33 That's not bad. Not It's not the greatest, but it's not the best, but it'll do. Can we just send a huge appreciate to this nice weather we're having today? We went from having a tsunami of a rainfall to now having this beautiful gorgeous weather all by lunchtime. I'm going to get a recip saw. Got the big boy blade on. Kyle, cue the epic slow-mo sequence. [music] >> The blade wasn't adjusted all the way down, so how embarrassing. Drill. I need [music] a drill. You know, I feel like there's room for like more storage in these countertops. I know that's going to be maxed out. This is maxed out, but I On the back of this one, there's definitely room over there. I just don't know what to put there, and I also think it might be a little bit overkill when it's just flooded with metal cabinets and then there's really no stonework, but it was just weird. Like [music] I didn't know what kind of storage I even wanted. Hey, we're currently live streaming right now on our Builders Lodge private community. It's a community where like-minded individuals like us that come build, share stuff. We answer each other's questions. We help guide some people on their projects. I have work courses that you guys can learn different [music] things. It's an awesome place to hang out and get a hold of me and get questions and answers. It's just an awesome hang. Uh we do monthly happy hour live streams, but there's so much footage over there. Go check it out. I'll put a link right here or link in description. I'll see you there. In the meantime, [music] we'll catch you guys on the next one. I think we got everything we need here. Dude, it's crazy. Like we went from having pouring down rain to beautiful sunny skies and t-shirt weather now. Spring's officially here and I feel like everybody is busy building in their backyard right now. I know I'm building my outdoor kitchen. Let me know what you guys are working on cuz spring time is crazy. I feel like every Saturday I just have an endless list of honey do list of taking care of the stuff in the backyard including this. Let me show you. >> [music] >> So, if you have an inground pool or above ground pool, doesn't matter, you know what your weekends look like. You're spending hours cleaning it with a vacuum like this or you're walking around with a net try to catch all this debris. And guess what? It gets old very quick. My wife keeps telling me I need to hire somebody to come and clean the pool for me so I can get some of my time back, but it's not in the budget or the cards. Besides, my entire channel, we build things without hiring the guy. We are the guy. So, I found a perfect solution. I got the iGarden M1 robotic pool cleaner. AI and robots are here and they're here to get our weekends back. So, here's what got me. It's [music] got dual AI cameras. Now, what it does is it creates a 3D rendering map of your entire pool. And it precisely, strategically examines where the debris is and plans it route efficiently to go get it. Versus other older robots that I've had in the past, they do this random zigzag pattern that sometimes they get stuff and sometimes it doesn't. Not anymore. This thing does all the calculation and it's laser precise. Let's talk about the suction power, the most important part. 7,000 gallons per hour. And it's got dual force which iGarden is calling it 300% turbo action. That means leaves, hair, fine particles, all gone. It's got a large 4 and 1/2 L filtration basket that has dual layers on the mesh that's collecting such fine particles that up to 16 microns small. It's getting stuff that you can't even see in your pool. Check this out. Look at all that dust and sand that settled at the bottom. Let's go wash this out. And what really separates the M1 from its competitors it's autonomous scheduling. You set it once and it regulates those sleep wake cycle by itself under the water cleaning your entire pool in just 20 minutes all while being 10x more efficient than some of its competitors. There's no pulling it out every night and resetting it up every morning. It just handles it with a battery run time of 9 hours and with a 20 hour run time on some of its premium models like the Pro Max. It works on above ground pools, in ground pools, floor, walls, waterline. It does it all with zero blind spots. iGarden's been doing this since 1999. They offer a 3-year warranty, 30-days risk-free returns. They just won the CES 2026 Innovation Award. They really know what they're doing. So, if you've been manually cleaning your pool every single weekend, you need to stop. Go check out the iGarden robotic pool vacuum. It's available on Amazon or you can simply click the link in the description. Trust me, you'll thank me later. Everything's turning out awesome. Now, let's go figure out what we're going to do with this cabinet situation. Cuz they just got delivered and I'll show [snorts] you how I was able to save a little bit of money and which ones I got. So, for cabinets, I went on Amazon and there was a couple of different versions. There's the really expensive cabinets for outdoor kitchens and there's VEVOR. Now, we know that VEVOR is a budget brand. Sometimes they're not known for having the best uh I guess materials that are they're built out of the best quality. So, here is my first time ever opening these and um we're going to see how flimsy or maybe we'll be pleasantly surprised. Okay, so this is for the doors that we just built that little compartment area. This is still plastic wrapping on it. But, I mean, it's not bad. So far, that looks like anything else and I think this piece is just 80 bucks. So, it's going to secure and I'll be able to open it. Uh let's see what the rest of it It like. Oh yeah, don't mind my Skye the PAW Patrol balloon. That's my daughter's favorite. I'm pleasantly surprised. No assembling required. So, this was originally supposed to be like a time-lapse sequence cuz I was planning on assembling all these together, but since we don't have to do it, we're saving a bunch of time. So, we can just go see if they fit. However, I don't know what these grates are for. Each one of these cabinets has one. I'm assuming it's like a ventilation thing, but it seems excess for a bunch of them to have it. Um I don't know. Well, the instructions aren't very clear about it. Um the next question I have is do I need a reinforcement at the bottom or can I just attach this right into the actual cement board and um the metal studs? I don't know. A lot of unanswered questions. Let's just go throw it on and go from there. Oh, this is the wrong one. Where is it? What's going on here? I looked on the websites the exact measurements. What the hell is going on here?…