A 96" grill island is the outdoor kitchen, not a grill parked at the side of the house. Eight feet of counter, room for two people to work without colliding, and enough surface that nothing has to come back inside mid-meal.
This is the centerpiece that turns a patio into the thing guests mention in the review.
What You Get
A welded aluminum island that bolts together in hours, not days. Two end panels bolt to the front and back panel, cross supports drop into pre-drilled locations, and all the hardware is included. It ships flat packed, so there is no mason and no waiting on a trade.
A 20-year warranty. That is the manufacturer's term on the Firefly line. The frame is welded 6061-T6 aircraft grade aluminum bar stock: it will not rust, it will not rot, and it needs no special coating to prevent rust. Against the steel and galvanized stud framing normally used for this, aluminum gives a higher yield strength and minimal flex at far less weight.
Eight feet of usable counter. Cook on one end, stage food in the middle, work on the other end. Two people cooking at once with nobody in anybody's way, which is the actual difference between a backyard grill and an outdoor kitchen.
Non-combustible throughout. All the finishing is done with non-combustible materials, which is why no insulation is needed anywhere in the island.
The finish is yours. Aluminum cladding and aluminum plank siding in Pine, Espresso, Oak, Grey and Black. The plank siding can also be ordered separately for fencing or to tie the rest of the space together.
Storage that works. Enclosed cabinet space so what you use lives in the island rather than scattered around the property.
The Countertop
The "with countertop" price covers Steel Gray granite, and the top comes precut for the Blaze components below, which is the part a local stone yard cannot do for you without a template.
White Ice granite is available but has to be quoted at the time of order, because that stone's pricing moves around.
Worth knowing before you decide: at eight feet, sourcing a stone top locally is often cheaper and gives you far more choice of material. If you want to go that way, order the island without a countertop and take the cutout dimensions to your fabricator. We will tell you honestly which way makes more sense for your build.
What You Order Separately
The grill and appliances are ordered separately. This is the island: the welded frame, the cladding, and the countertop if you choose it. The island is cut for Blaze components, specifically the BLZ-4LTE3 grill, BLZ-DDC-R-LTSC double door cabinet, BLZ-TREC-DRW-H drawer set and the BLZ-SSRF-5.5 refrigerator. Those are chosen because they are what the maker's dealers sell most. Other brands can be accommodated on a custom build. Tell us what you want in it and we will work out the whole plan with you.
What Takes Real Work
Freight is a separate cost. Delivery is not free and it is not included in the price. Checkout does not collect it only because we do not know your address until you order, and a crate this size gets priced address by address. We quote the real freight for where you are, send it as its own invoice, and it is paid before your grill island leaves the factory.
Level ground matters more at this size. Eight feet of island on uneven ground becomes a problem fast. Get a concrete pad or solid pavers, and if you are on bare soil, that is foundation work. Do not skip it.
Gas connection is a professional job. You want it done right and certified, and that cost sits on top of the island.
The Details
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Width: 96", the 8 ft island
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Depth and finished height: set by the countertop and cladding you order. We confirm both in writing on your quote.
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Frame: welded 6061-T6 aircraft grade aluminum bar stock, 40k yield strength, will not rust or rot
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Assembly: flat packed, bolt-together, all hardware and pre-drilled cross supports included
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Countertop: Steel Gray granite as priced, precut for the Blaze components. White Ice quoted at order. Or order without a countertop.
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Cladding and siding: aluminum in Pine, Espresso, Oak, Grey or Black
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Finishing: all non-combustible, so no insulation is required
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Warranty: 20 years, per the manufacturer
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Placement: decks, patios or pavers, per the manufacturer
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Storage: enclosed cabinet
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Grill, refrigeration and components: sold separately, cut for BLZ-4LTE3, BLZ-DDC-R-LTSC, BLZ-TREC-DRW-H, BLZ-SSRF-5.5
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Made: USA
Why Eight Feet?
Eight feet is the entertaining size. Cook on the left, stage in the middle, work on the right, with two people going at once.
If you are feeding smaller groups, the 6 ft island covers it and costs less. If the property regularly hosts a crowd, eight feet is the point where it stops feeling like a grill station and starts feeling like a kitchen.
Honest About Lead Time
The factory is quoting 3 to 4 weeks from order to shipped. If the size and finish you want is already boxed on the shelf, it leaves within 5 business days, which puts it on your patio in about two weeks. We check with the factory when you order and tell you which of those you are looking at before you commit.
That is weeks, not the months a masonry kitchen takes. Long enough to get the site prepped and settle on the finish, not long enough to lose the season. Call or text 1 800 914 0074 or 352 274 6387 and we will confirm today's number.
Questions We Hear
Can I put this on a deck? Yes, and that is one of the reasons the frame is aluminum. A clad island runs about 30 lbs per linear foot, which the manufacturer describes as ideal for most wood decks or patios without footers. Have your builder confirm the load for your specific deck, but unlike a stone kitchen, this is a realistic deck build.
Should I buy the granite top from you or locally? Ours comes precut for the Blaze cutouts, which saves your fabricator a template and saves you a fitting problem. A local stone yard will usually be cheaper and will offer more materials, and at eight feet that gap gets wider. Call us and we will tell you which is the better buy.
Can I add accessories later? Yes. The frame is modular, so a side burner, chiller or smoker attachment can be added. Plan them now or add them as you go.
Do I need a cover? Yes. A cover extends appliance life and keeps the island clean between guests. Budget for one.
How much can I do myself? Assembly and leveling, comfortably. Gas work must be professional, and grill and refrigeration setup should be too.
What if the aluminum corrodes? It does not corrode the way steel does. It can oxidize into a white powdery surface, which is cosmetic only. You will not get rust holes.
Send us your dimensions and we will send back a drawing of the layout, with as many revisions as it takes to get it right, usually the same day or the next business day. Call or text 1 800 914 0074 or 352 274 6387.
Kristin
Outdoor Project Specialist