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If you're already building a pool, right now is the best time to add an outdoor kitchen too. Once construction wraps up, adding one later means more crews, more disruption, and more money out of pocket. This post breaks down exactly why timing matters and what your options look like.
Why "I'll Add It Later" Usually Backfires
Once your pool deck is poured, the gas, water, and electrical lines are underneath it. Adding an outdoor kitchen after the fact can mean ripping up finished hardscape, paying contractors to come back for a second round, and settling for a layout that no longer fits the way you want it to.
5 Reasons to Build Your Outdoor Kitchen When You Build Your Pool
1. You Have Full Design Freedom Right Now
Before the deck goes in, your backyard is wide open. You can place the outdoor kitchen exactly where it makes sense relative to the pool, the house entrance, and how people will actually move through the space. After construction, you're working around what's already there.
2. One Round of Construction, Not Two
Building a pool already requires a gas specialist, plumber, electrician, tile applicator, and mason. Those same pros are already at your house. Using them for the outdoor kitchen at the same time means zero extra site visits and a much smoother project from start to finish.
3. You'll Likely Pay Less
When a contractor is already on site running your pool build, adding the outdoor kitchen is more efficient for them and less expensive for you. One mobilization, shared labor, a bigger contract. It's worth asking your designer about a combined project price before anything breaks ground.
4. The Utility Lines Stay Hidden
Gas, water, and electrical lines can be run and covered by the deck before it's finished. You'll never see them, and the outdoor kitchen area looks clean and intentional. Wait until after construction and those same lines become expensive, visible additions.
5. Your Materials Will Actually Match
Tile and stone are ordered in batches. Build at the same time and you can match the kitchen countertop tile to your pool's waterline tile, and the island facade to your pool coping. Wait a year or two and that exact material may not be available anymore.
Meet the STONO Outdoor Kitchen Series
If you're wondering what a built-in outdoor kitchen actually looks like and what it costs, Blue Haven now partners with STONO Outdoor Living to offer a line of pre-assembled outdoor kitchen islands designed and installed by your Blue Haven team.
These are not parts in a box. STONO islands arrive pre-assembled, are professionally installed by Blue Haven, and come with a 7-year finish warranty, the longest in the industry. Built from marine-grade powder-coated aluminum, they won't rot, warp, rust, or fade. Made in the USA.
Three Models to Choose From
71" Vista starting at $7,700 + S&H. A 32" TrueFlame 4-burner grill. Great for smaller spaces or if you want to start clean and simple.
92" Solara starting at $10,774 + S&H. A 32" TrueFlame 4-burner grill plus a 24" AMD outdoor fridge included. The most popular all-in-one setup.
92" Meridian starting at $9,949 + S&H. A 40" TrueFlame 5-burner grill. Built for serious entertainers who want maximum cook space.
All three models come in Bronze, Charcoal, or White base finishes with your choice of Concrete, Granite, or Graphite countertops. Available in LP or natural gas. Grill location can be left, center, or right.
Can You Finance an Outdoor Kitchen with Your Pool?
Yes. A pool loan can often cover your outdoor kitchen too. Ask your designer about bundling both into one pool financing plan before your project starts. Once construction is done, financing just the kitchen on its own is harder to do at favorable terms.
Ready to Plan Your Backyard?
Your pool build is the best window you'll get to add an outdoor kitchen without extra cost, extra hassle, or a second round of backyard construction. Talk to your local Blue Haven office for more information about adding a STONO outdoor kitchen to your plan before it breaks ground.
