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Serving Des Moines, IA and surrounding areas. (515) 724-6905
Prefab kits fall apart after a few Des Moines winters. We build permanent outdoor kitchens from brick, stone, and concrete block on frost-depth footings that stay level and solid for decades.
Outdoor kitchen masonry in Des Moines means building a permanent, weather-resistant structure in your backyard using brick, natural stone, or concrete block - starting with a deep concrete footing, rising through the counter supports and surround, and finishing with the surfaces and openings for your appliances. A straightforward grill station with counter space typically takes five to ten working days once materials are on-site.
The most important difference between a masonry outdoor kitchen and a prefab kit is not how it looks - it is how the foundation is built. Des Moines clay soil expands and contracts with moisture, and the ground freezes deep in winter. A masonry kitchen built on a frost-depth footing stays level and solid through that movement. A prefab kit sitting on a shallow pad often does not survive more than a few Iowa winters. If you are already planning an outdoor cooking space and want to tie in a fireplace or pizza oven, our fireplace installation service handles those elements as part of the same project.
If every backyard cookout means multiple trips through the back door for plates, drinks, and condiments, a permanent outdoor kitchen eliminates that friction. When you find yourself wishing there was a counter, a sink, or a place to keep things cold right there in the yard, the investment pays off in daily quality of life.
If your freestanding grill cart is rusting, the wheels are corroding, or the whole setup looks rough after a few Des Moines winters, you are fighting a losing battle with portable equipment. A masonry outdoor kitchen is built to handle the same winters that are destroying your current setup - and it will not need replacing every few seasons.
If your outdoor space is already where your family and friends gather through the warm months, a masonry kitchen formalizes that space and makes it work harder for you. When you are already cooking outside regularly, the step up to a built-in setup pays for itself in convenience.
Homeowners who research prefab outdoor kitchen kits often find they do not hold up well in climates with real winters. If you have looked at those options and felt like you would be settling, that instinct is worth listening to. Masonry is the permanent solution for Des Moines conditions.
We build outdoor kitchens from the footing up using brick, natural stone, or concrete block - whichever material fits your yard and budget. Every project starts with excavating to the frost line and pouring a concrete foundation that will not shift when the ground freezes. We then lay the masonry structure course by course, create the countertop support, and leave precisely sized openings for whatever appliances you have in mind - built-in grill, refrigerator, side burner, or pizza oven. We coordinate with the utility trades for gas and electrical connections and handle all required permits through the City of Des Moines. Our fireplace installation service can be added to any outdoor kitchen project if you want a wood-burning or gas fireplace as part of your outdoor space.
If your project includes a patio, pathway, or other hardscape elements around the kitchen, our walkway construction service covers those elements so the whole outdoor space comes together in one coordinated project. We provide a written, itemized estimate before any work begins, so you can see exactly what you are paying for and make changes before the first shovel goes in.
For homeowners who want a clean, permanent grill setup with counter space and a built-in surround that will not rust or degrade.
For homeowners who entertain regularly and want a complete setup with multiple stations, storage, seating, and appliance cutouts.
For projects that include a pizza oven, fireplace, bar area, or other built-in elements as part of the kitchen structure.
Des Moines averages around 100 freeze-thaw cycles per year, and the frost line in central Iowa can reach roughly 42 inches deep in a hard winter. Any outdoor masonry structure that sits on a shallow foundation - whether it is a prefab kit on a thin pad or a masonry build with an undersized footing - will shift, crack, or lean as the ground moves. A properly built masonry outdoor kitchen here goes deeper than you might expect, because the foundation has to stay below the frost line to stay level. That is not a detail that shows in the final photos, but it is the difference between a kitchen that looks the same in year ten as it did in year one. Homeowners in Waukee and Ankeny often have additional HOA requirements for outdoor structures, which we factor into the permitting process from the start.
Des Moines also has a shorter build season than many homeowners expect - mortar cannot be applied below freezing, which limits outdoor masonry work to roughly April through October. Contractors fill up quickly once spring arrives. If you want an outdoor kitchen ready for the summer entertaining season, reaching out in late winter or early spring is the right move. The Iowa One Call service (811) must be contacted before any digging begins to mark buried utility lines - we handle this as a standard part of every outdoor project. The Mason Contractors Association of America provides the professional standards that govern the quality of masonry work in projects like these.
We respond within 1 business day. Tell us roughly what you have in mind - size, features, and a sense of your budget. We schedule a free on-site estimate to walk your yard, check the grade, and talk through your vision in detail before quoting anything.
You receive a written, itemized estimate that breaks out foundation work, masonry structure, and appliance cutouts as separate line items. Once you sign, we pull the permits from the City of Des Moines and contact Iowa One Call (811) to mark any buried utility lines before digging begins.
We excavate to below the frost line and pour the concrete footing. After the concrete cures - usually several days - the mason builds up the structure course by course, setting countertop supports and creating appliance openings. Active masonry work typically runs three to seven working days depending on complexity.
Gas and electrical connections are made by the appropriate licensed trades and inspected by the city. We do a final walkthrough with you, covering how to care for the surface and what to watch for after the first winter. Wait at least 28 days before sealing the countertop - we tell you exactly when and what to use.
We respond within 1 business day. Getting an estimate is free and comes with no obligation. After you submit, someone from our office will call to schedule a free on-site visit so we can see your yard and give you a real number.
(515) 724-6905Every outdoor kitchen we build starts with a foundation that goes below the frost line - roughly 42 inches in central Iowa. That depth is what keeps the structure level after years of Des Moines freeze-thaw cycles. It adds a small amount to the cost and a large amount to how the kitchen holds up over time.
We handle the permit process with the City of Des Moines and contact Iowa One Call (811) before any digging starts. You never have to wonder whether the work was done legally or whether a buried line was hit during excavation. These are non-negotiable steps that protect you, not optional extras.
Des Moines temperatures swing from below zero in January to above 90 in July. The mortar holding your outdoor kitchen together needs to flex slightly with those changes - a mix that is too rigid cracks within a season or two. We select materials for the climate, not just the look.
We have built outdoor kitchens across the Des Moines metro, including in communities like Waukee and Ankeny where HOA requirements add an extra step to the planning process. We factor those requirements in from the start so nothing slows the project down mid-construction.
An outdoor kitchen is a long-term investment in your property and your quality of life. We treat it that way from the first estimate through the final walkthrough - because a project done right the first time is the only kind worth doing.
Add a wood-burning or gas fireplace to your outdoor space as part of the same masonry build.
Learn moreComplete the outdoor space with a paved walkway or patio connecting your outdoor kitchen to the rest of your yard.
Learn moreBuild slots in spring fill up fast - contact us now to lock in your estimate and get on the schedule before the season closes out.