BBQ Islands

The Ultimate Outdoor Cooking Experience

A custom BBQ island transforms your backyard into a fully functional outdoor kitchen, creating the perfect space for cooking, dining, and entertaining. Whether you love hosting summer gatherings or want a dedicated grilling station, a well-designed BBQ island adds both convenience and value to your outdoor space. With options for built-in grills, prep counters, and refrigeration, it’s easier than ever to cook, serve, and entertain without stepping indoors.

At California Pools & Landscape, we design high-quality BBQ islands that seamlessly integrate with your outdoor space. From premium materials to custom-built layouts, we create functional, durable, and stylish outdoor kitchens that stand up to Arizona’s climate.

Why Homeowners Choose BBQ Islands

A BBQ island is more than just a place to grill—it’s a complete outdoor cooking and entertainment hub. Instead of running between the kitchen and patio, everything you need is within reach, from cooking appliances to cold drinks. These islands extend your living space, making outdoor meals effortless while adding long-term value to your home. Beyond functionality, they enhance the overall ambiance of your backyard, blending seamlessly with pools, patios, and shade structures. BBQ islands can also increase resale value by making outdoor spaces more functional and visually appealing.

Built for Your Cooking Style

Custom-built islands ensure a perfect fit for both large entertainment areas and compact yards, allowing homeowners to optimize their outdoor living space. Built-in BBQ islands offer a permanent fixture with integrated appliances and custom finishes. Modular islands provide versatility, allowing homeowners to adjust or expand their setup over time. Portable BBQ stations are a great option for those who need mobility while still enjoying the benefits of an outdoor cooking space.

Custom Features & Layouts

A BBQ island is more than just a grill—it’s a complete outdoor kitchen. L-shaped BBQ islands maximize counter space while keeping everything within reach. U-shaped configurations allow multiple cooks to work at once and provide ample storage. Straight-line designs offer a compact solution for smaller yards, while islands with bar seating create a social hub where guests can gather while food is prepared.

Durability & Maintenance

BBQ islands are built to withstand outdoor conditions, but regular maintenance ensures longevity. Weather-resistant materials like granite, concrete, and stainless steel help prevent heat damage, moisture exposure, and fading. Routine cleaning keeps countertops, grills, and storage areas free from grease and debris. Stainless steel should be wiped down regularly to prevent discoloration, while stone countertops benefit from periodic sealing to maintain their natural look. Using a weatherproof cover extends the life of the island by protecting it from sun and rain.

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Choosing the Right Energy Source

The choice of fuel source affects cooking efficiency, maintenance, and overall convenience. Gas-powered BBQ islands provide fast, consistent heat, making them ideal for frequent grilling. Propane models offer flexibility for areas without natural gas lines, while electric grills work well in locations with fire restrictions.

Gas vs. Charcoal vs. Hybrid

The grill is the heart of any BBQ island, and choosing the right one determines how you cook, the flavors you achieve, and the overall grilling experience. Gas grills provide convenience and speed, charcoal grills deliver rich, smoky taste, and hybrid grills offer maximum versatility. Understanding the benefits of each will help you create an outdoor kitchen that fits your grilling style.

Gas Grills

Gas grills are the most popular option for built-in BBQ islands due to their convenience and efficiency. They offer fast heat-up times, precise temperature control, and minimal cleanup, making them perfect for frequent grilling. Many models feature multiple burners, side stations, and infrared options for versatile cooking. However, they lack the smoky flavor that charcoal provides unless paired with a smoker box.

Charcoal Grills

For those who prioritize flavor, charcoal grills deliver deep, smoky aromas and high-heat searing capabilities. They allow for slow-cooking meats at lower temperatures, making them ideal for barbecue purists. However, longer prep times, temperature fluctuations, and increased cleanup due to ash buildup make them less convenient for everyday use.

Hybrid Grills

Hybrid grills offer the best of both worlds, allowing homeowners to switch between gas and charcoal for maximum flexibility. These grills combine the quick-start convenience of gas with the rich flavor of charcoal. While they provide ultimate versatility, hybrid models tend to be more expensive and require additional space for dual-fuel functionality.

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See What Our Customers Are Saying

Warren Price

Excellent work and service. Had our pool installed 5 years ago. Still great.

Marc Steadman

Nicholas was the project manager for our pool/yard remodel and stayed involved from beginning to end. His design analysis and expertise was always appreciated. But most of all we were thankful that Nicholas took personal responsibility that our project would end well. We could always count on Nicholas to respond quickly, and to find the right person to get our concerns resolved. Thank you.

Michelle W.

Our pool was just finished last week and the whole project went so smooth. The most stressful part was the design but our designer, Jacob was very patient with us and helped up design our dream pool. We had absolutely zero complaints once construction started. Darrin made sure that the process was very smooth. If we had any questions or concerns he was on it and we were always able to get in touch with him. Communication was great and you can tell he really cares about the end project. California pools has a great team set up to make sure your pool is everything you dreamed of.

Gary B.

We are very pleased with the end result of out backyard. CP did our swimming pool, fire-pit and gas BBQ along with all the landscaping. I wish the builder of our home would have used them for the front yard as who else do you know that gives a 1 year plant replacement warranty? This was our fourth pool and you learn something each time you build one. So glad that I did not go with someone else. Building anything there will always be things that come up and I understand that. It was such a relief that CP took care of any concerns we had. My main point of contact was Sara who was outstanding and was able to take care of any concerns we had. She was extremely pleasant and was a joy to work with. Our construction manager Darrin was great also and went out of his way to make sure we were satisfied. CP was not the cheapest quote we received but I am so glad that we went with them as sometimes you need to pay a little more to sleep good at night.

Cynthia Graham

Our pool project was just completed. Cal Pools helped us with design, materials and all labor. Chuck, the project manager, was knowledgeable and professional; terrific to work with. Donna, our job coordinator, answered all our questions promptly, and made the whole process enjoyable. Work with them again in a heartbeat! BEAUTIFUL pool.

Kate L.

Our supervisor was Nathan Reyes and he is my reason for this 5 star review. Nathan was truly the best!! Our designer left half way through the project but Nathan never missed a beat and got everything done and more!! Thank you Nathan and California Pools did an amazing job.

Carol P.

California Pools completed our pool project last year in less than 2 1/2 months. We were very pleased. Only one day off schedule. This year we have had an issue with our heater. Cari Grossman has been our customer service rep and has always gotten back to us with status of issues. When no service tech's were available, our warranty manager came to get things going.Today Trevor and Manny were here to assess our problem further. They quickly diagnosed the issue and handled it. Thanks so much guys.We have had a great experience with California Pools. We highly recommend them.

Carolina S.

Our pool project is finished just in the last couple weeks. We are very happy and I waited to write this review a couple weeks after the pool was finished to see how any minor issues would be resolved. As expected, and through the whole process, Ron Arden, Marcee Walker, and Richard Bustos all were and continue to be exceptional! We had a larger than usual pool, no play pool here and with all their efforts the pool was finished on time and is beautiful. I knew I was probably paying a little more than some pool companies, but this is why I paid the extra money. To be treated like a VIP customer. I definitely recommend California Pool and spa for your next pool project. They have surprised me many times over in a positive way on taking care of the usual issues projects this big create. Thank-you

Marilyn

We love our pool. Steve ,our construction manager, is a stickler for detail. Making sure everything is done right. Answering our concerns. And making sure everything was done to our liking. It was a pleasure working with both Steve and Jessica. I think the scheduling could be a little tighter but we would recommend California Pools to anyone looking to build their dream pool.

Craig Noel

I am one that rarely gives reviews because of their subjective nature but in this case as a business owner who understands the value of those reviews, I just had to give one and 5 stars it is. From the competent staff to communication up front and throughout the process, was remarkable given the large project at hand. The results are even better than the design and I could not be any more elated. I also will say that as we compared pricing before committing, my advice would be that you can't put value or quality in a "low dollar amount" as the final product and experience holds that for us. Absolutely must recommend California Pools!

Greg Ridgley

Cole Marvin is an asset to California Pools ! Cole is very knowledgeable, Great designer and Knows the Pool business prompt, returns calls & always on time. Good Person

Ron and Linda Uhle

Design of our pool and spa by Cal Pools was a work of art! The construction of the pool and spa took 7 months and had its ups and downs with construction quality . These issues were fixed by Cal Pool during the construction period. With about 1.5 months left to complete the pool, the Cal Pool construction manager quit or was let go. Cal Pool provided us with a fantastic new construction manager (Stephen Dreher) and he got our pool and spa construction back on track. Stephen provided us with clear explanations of the final steps to complete the project. He also explained in detail how the equipment worked and gave us tips on pool maintenance. Stephen Dreher rocks!

Quinn W.

We are totally satisfied with our new pool, spa and landscaping. California Pools was outstanding to work with and everyone is so friendly. Our project was done on time and came out exactly as it was drawn up. A special shoutout to Brian, Adam and Vina for making our entire project so seamless as they all went out of their way to make this to make sure we were satisified every step of the way. I would highly recommend and would not hesitate to use them for future projects.

Katherine Regier

I have really enjoyed working with Nathan. He is knowledgeable and professional. California pools and landscape is very fortunate to have him as an employee .

Jill Raeburn

You will not be disappointed if you choose Cal Pools and Landscaping for your pool and yard project. They were all great to work with. From designer Robby to Stephen the project manager, it was an awesome experience. Thanks for making everything beautiful at my home and thank you for all the hard work!

Rana K.

Update: Gor the word that they are fixing asap and we do not have to pay extra!!!!! Thank you CPL. Steve our project Manager is the man!!!!! Thank you. Update: Got a call from our Project Manager. Up a star for that. The team is trying, but I still believe I should not have to pay extra to fix the issue we are having with irrigation system being broken during excavation.

Colin G.

California Pools built and entirely custom pool, deck and gazebo for us for our vacation property in Arizona. Building a pool remotely is challenging but they provided good updates and made the process enjoyable. We had some challenges with the pool after year one but when we contacted the owner they engaged an amazing support team that provided a detailed and through repair inspection and part replacement process to solve the problems. Gabe and Jessie were both outstanding and went above and beyond to solve the problems immediately with detailed communications. They stood behind their products and did not charge us for any repairs regardless of warranty policies. We would definitely recommend them to anyone and would ONLY use them to build another pool!! Thank you Gabe and Jessie for your outstanding customer service!!

Herb H.

We have had a California Pool for nearly twenty years and have always enjoyed the use over this time without concern. When we were planing and did our homework we selected California Pools because of the reputation, warranty and top reviews. We were very fortunate because over the years the quality and low maintenance proved itself. In the very few times we have needed their attention, it was responded to with the customer in mind and immediate. We are pleased to recommend California Pools when you want a quality pool built.

Chuck 7.

Excellent they did a professional install, we would highly recommend Cal Pools. It is important you get a professional company for your pool install and repairs.

Ginger S.

I am completely impressed with their customer service namely Shelly, Super friendly and helpful! Got all my questions answered and felt comfortable making a decision after speaking with her!

Ashley T.

After meeting with multiple pool companies the obvious choice was California Pools in Chandler, AZ. Delays due to Covid they were still open with communication and professional throughout the entire process. Ted made our visions come to life and the entire team and crew put it all together! Would recommend them to anyone, and if I could chose them all over again I would.

Carrie D.

From the very beginning Our experience with California Pools has been top notch. We were blown away with the exceptional design skills Cody was able to bring to life on a zoom meeting on our very first meeting. Cody was able to take every little detail and made it a reality before our eyes. I had so many compliments on how unique our pool was designed when it was still dirt and rebar. Jordan came out for the first time and answered all our questions with a realistic timeline. He always answered or returned our calls with a solution. Made sure every step of the way was paved and did what he said he would do without fail. If he didn't know the answer he found one, we were never left wondering. He kept tabs on all the projects and crews on site to keep us moving forward very quickly with a smile on his face! He was very personable. Then there was Sara! She handled all the scheduling of the project. Some days we would have 3 or more crews here and she kept them coming rapid fire it was outstanding the way it came together in such a short amount of time. Always going the extra mile to get what we needed done and at lightning speed!! Her calm friendly "Sunshine" attitude was a warm genuine experience. She always responded in the app right away with an answer or a solution. So far we couldn't be happier with our experience. I have waited my whole adult life and California Pools made my dream a reality in my back yard!!! Thank you

Susan K.

One call to California Pools and they took care of the rest. Vianna Lopez was a pleasure to deal with throughout the entire process. She coordinated the individuals to review the work to be done, lined up the craftsman, scheduled the work, kept me informed and followed up upon completion. Superb customer service!

Eric Weston

Great experience, Pete, Les and Frank did a great job from design through construction.

Sean Leute

In a time of construction delays and problems facing all of Arizona's construction industry, CA Pools handled our project with the upmost integrity, honesty and professionalism. Our Pool and backyard is everything we could have ever hoped for. Joel Parron did a wonderful job designing our pool using references of a pool my late father built when we were growing up. Eric Collins our construction manager was up front and honest about every step of the way helping navigate a very difficult time with the construction industry during the pandemic. Nadine Chapman helped keep our schedule in order so I was never surprised when a construction team would show up. The company's app helped make communication a breeze. My family and I would recommend them completely!

Lonnie J.

With so many choices we think we found the best. Our sales rep Travis gave us many options and sold us on value over lowest price. Value that means a lifetime warranty on decking. The product he showed was truly amazing and a must have in the hot AZ summer days. You can feel a huge difference between cool deck and concrete. The scheduler was amazing! Marcee was responsive, timely and very detailed in her communication. Without her we would be left wondering what's next! The construction manager Shawn gave us the time and individual attention we needed. Made sure that every detail met our needs. There are so many other little things that make CalPools great but I can sum it up this way. We started our search on the BBB website and there are a lot of choices of pool and landscape companies. Save your self time and heartache; go with CalIfornia Pools and landscape and you won't be disappointed. On time completion No surprise charges or fees No subcontracting Great communication Amazing final product. A huge financial investment well worth every penny! PS that's the best dog ever Marshall! An amazing beagle mix rescue from Friends of Orange County

Don C.

I addition to my previous comments (very happy in all respects), I want to mention our designer, Cliff Fox (623) 696-7015, Myra (myra@calpool.com) and Marissa Puzz (MPuzz@calpool.com). Cliff's design work was outstanding, and he is a very good listener. He got us to our final design very efficiently and within our budget. Myra got our excavation underway and on schedule. Marissa is in charge of job completion post excavation. She kept us in the loop at every stage. The entire team works well together. Cali Pools also has a very efficient updating system that let us know in real time what had ben accomplished practically ever day.

Antonio S.

I am a home builder and few times it happens to me to meet companies so good! They were the less expensive of 4 estimates, their schedule was perfect, no delays, I made some change of orders and they were very accommodating, (and also I had some refunds because they used less material and labor!), very communicative, and the pool is beautiful and working good.Thank you Brian Fox and Rebecca Schulte, see you at the next project!

Scott Stevens

Our rep presented a great plan for our build. Took the time to explain the details of the contract, warranties and the continuing aftercare for us and the work they preform. Heads above the rest.

John H.

We had California Pools and landscape design and landscape our front and backyard. From the design phase to the selection of materials, to the installation, everything went smoothly. We were impressed with Jacob Gelo, designer, John our Construction Manager, and Sara Dougan who kept us informed about each step.I couldn't be happier with the process from beginning to end, but more importantly, at how the project turned out.I would highly recommend having California Pools and Landscape design and install your landscaping.

Frequently Asked Questions About BBQ Islands

What is the best grill for a BBQ island?

What is the best material for a BBQ island?

How much does a BBQ island cost?

Do I need a permit to install a BBQ island?

Can I install a BBQ island in a small backyard?

What energy source is best for a BBQ island?

Do I need a permit to build a BBQ island in Arizona?

Q: What is the best grill for a BBQ island?

Gas grills are the most popular for built-in BBQ islands due to their convenience, efficiency, and ability to maintain consistent temperatures. Charcoal grills provide a more authentic smoky flavor, while hybrid grills allow users to switch between fuel sources.

Q: What is the best material for a BBQ island?

Durable, weather-resistant materials like granite, concrete, and stainless steel are ideal for BBQ islands. Granite offers heat and scratch resistance, while stainless steel provides a sleek, modern look that resists rust.

Q: How much does a BBQ island cost?

The cost of a BBQ island varies based on size, materials, and features. Basic models start around $3,000, while fully customized islands with premium finishes and high-end appliances can exceed $20,000.

Q: Do I need a permit to install a BBQ island?

Permit requirements depend on local building codes and whether the island includes gas, electrical, or plumbing connections. In Arizona, most built-in BBQ islands require permits for gas and electrical installations.

Q: Can I install a BBQ island in a small backyard?

Yes, compact layouts like straight-line or modular designs work well in smaller spaces while still offering essential cooking and prep areas

Q: What energy source is best for a BBQ island?

Gas and propane provide the best combination of heat control and convenience. Electric models work well in areas with fire restrictions, while charcoal grills are preferred for traditional smoky flavor.

Q: Do I need a permit to build a BBQ island in Arizona?

Most BBQ islands require a permit if they involve gas lines, electrical wiring, or plumbing installations. HOAs may also regulate placement, materials, and height restrictions for outdoor kitchens. Checking local codes before starting your project is essential.