Gas grills come in propane and natural gas varieties. If you are making a permanently mounted gas grill then you can forego the changing of propane cylinders in favor of a natural gas grill. Of course this means running a gas line from your house to you grill area. The gas line can be connected from anywhere after the main regulator (meter) to the location of your grill area. If you want to run this line yourself you will need to get your local gas utility to inspect the line before you cover it up. Contact your local gas company about gas line specifications in your area or hire a certified contractor to run the line for you.
If you choose to use refillable propane tanks on your as grill you will need a ventilated place to store the tank. Propane tanks must be stored in a safe place that maintains a temperature below 125 degree F. (52 degrees C.).
A nearby electrical outlet for your grill can be extremely convenient. Remember that all electrical wiring, conduit and outlets must be rated for outdoor use. Your hardware store can point you in the right direction for this. Also consider running an independent ground for your outdoor kitchen.
Running water is also a great feature for your grill area. A small sink and faucet nearby will save you many trips indoors. If you live in an area that freezes you need to make sure that you have an indoor shut off valve and a way to drain the water lines in the fall. You may or may not need to use antifreeze in these lines. Again, your local hardware store will have more information for your area.
The most basic structure you could build to house a gas grill head will be a block U structure, open on the top and in the front. It will also need to have the necessary mounting supports inside to firmly hold the grill in place. Once you have decided on a grill head you should contact the manufacturer or a distributor to get the exact measurements and specifications for mounting your grill unit. This will give you the starting measurements for your grill structure. Now depending on what kind of other features you plan on adding on you can now measure outwards to get the final shape and size.
Once you have the specifications for the grill head you want to install you need to look at the space around the grill. You need plenty of area around the grill to work. But you also need plenty of space to get away from the heat of the grill. Plan on at least 1 foot of space on either side of your grill head so that you are not fighting the heat to get to the sink. You will probably want space to prepare foods before they hit the grill. Imagine the amount of space you use in your kitchen for these tasks and add that space near the grill as your working space. You want to have a layout that not only works, but works for you of your custom grill area.
