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Outdoor Kitchens & Grilling in Cedar Creek Lake, TX
An outdoor kitchen is where the gathering actually happens. We build custom outdoor kitchens, dedicated grilling areas, and traditional brick pizza ovens — the centerpieces of an East Texas backyard. Stone counters, real masonry surrounds, weatherproof storage, and the right hood for the climate. Made for cooking, not just looking.
What it is
A real outdoor kitchen is more than a built-in grill. It's a working cooking space — counters with real run, storage that survives the humidity, a hood that handles smoke, and a layout that flows with the rest of the patio. We build all of it as masonry rather than dropping in pre-fab modules.
Brick pizza ovens are a signature piece of what we do. Domed brick interior, proper insulation, the right chimney draft — they are the heart of an outdoor entertaining space and they last for decades.
Why it matters
A masonry-built outdoor kitchen is built the way the rest of your home is — real footings, real materials, integrated into the patio rather than dropped onto it. Stone-built kitchens read as part of the home, hold up to weather, and become the gathering point you actually use. The pizza oven is what gets the neighbors over.
How we approach outdoor kitchens
The full project sequence is on the process page. Within that, the outdoor kitchens stage moves through four steps:
- 01
Read the site
Sun, smoke direction, prevailing wind, sight lines from the house and the lake.
- 02
Layout
Work triangle, counter height, prep flow, who's grilling and who's mingling. We design around how you actually cook.
- 03
Masonry build
Base, surround, hearth, chimney. Real stone or brick over engineered footings — not modules wrapped in stucco.
- 04
Appliance integration and finish
Grill, side burner, refrigeration, sink, lighting. Hood and venting sized for the structure above the kitchen.
Common questions about outdoor kitchens
The questions homeowners around Cedar Creek Lake ask most often. If yours isn't here, the consultation walk is the right place to bring it.
- What goes into an outdoor kitchen besides the grill?
- A working outdoor kitchen needs counter space on both sides of the grill, a prep area away from the heat, weatherproof storage for tools and gas, a sink or pass-through to the house, and proper ventilation. We design these together rather than stacking pieces — and we build them as masonry, not modules.
- Do you build the pizza oven from scratch, or install a pre-made unit?
- We build them from scratch — domed firebrick interior, refractory mortar, insulation layer, brick or stone exterior, and a chimney sized for proper draft. A real wood-fired oven cures over weeks and takes a few firings to settle in. It is the kind of build you do once and use for thirty years.
- Can you build an outdoor kitchen under a covered patio or pergola?
- Yes — and most of the kitchens we build are under cover. Cover protects the appliances and lets you cook in any weather, but it changes the venting requirements. A solid roof needs a proper hood and chase; an open pergola is easier. We design the kitchen and the structure together when both are in scope.
- What kind of grill do you typically install — gas, charcoal, or both?
- Most clients land on a primary gas grill plus either a charcoal grill or a Big Green Egg-style ceramic for slow cooking. We've installed every major brand and don't push a specific one — we ask what you cook now, what you want to cook, and design counter and venting around that.
- How does an outdoor kitchen hold up to East Texas weather and humidity?
- If it's built right, it lasts. Stone and brick are climate-stable; the failure points are usually metal cabinets, cheap stainless, and uncovered electrical. We build the structure in masonry, spec marine-grade or premium stainless for any metal, and route electrical through conduit. Twenty years of outdoor builds shapes those decisions.
- What is the rough budget range for a custom outdoor kitchen?
- Cost on an outdoor kitchen is driven by a few things: footprint and counter run, the masonry materials (natural stone vs. dressed brick vs. block-and-veneer), the appliance package (number and quality of grills, hood, refrigeration, sinks), the utility runs (gas, water, electrical), and site access for materials. We share a real number after the consultation walk and design, not a generic price list.
Often built with this
All services →Ready to talk about outdoor kitchens?
A design consultation starts with a walk of the property and a conversation about scope, materials, and budget. Family-owned business in Mabank — same crew from consult to reveal.