BBQ Tennessee

Questions

The things people actually ask.

Including the ones where the honest answer is not the one that sells. If a question you have is not here, ask it — we would rather answer it before you buy than after.

Do I need a licensed contractor for an outdoor kitchen build in Tennessee?

For anything at or above $25,000 in combined labor and materials, yes — that tier requires a full Contractor License from the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors. A separate Home Improvement License applies to smaller projects, but only in certain counties rather than statewide — the threshold and whether it applies at all depends on where the property sits. We design and supply the kitchen; a licensed local contractor installs it and pulls the permit.

Why does a wood or charcoal smoker need different engineering than a built-in gas grill?

Clearance and airflow, mainly. A masonry or wood-fired unit needs real clearance to anything combustible — the state's own residential code sets that at 36 inches for a standard masonry heater, tightening to as little as 4 inches only once the heater's own walls are built thick enough to act as the barrier — and the smoke has to have somewhere to go, which is a different problem under a covered patio roof than it is in the open air a gas grill usually sits under. We design the venting and the clearances around the fuel you actually cook with, not around a gas grill spec sheet.

Does all of Tennessee see the same tornado and hail risk?

No — it concentrates. Nearly two-thirds of the state's tornadoes touch down in Middle Tennessee, which sees an average of about 30 a year, the highest share in the state. Large hail has been reported somewhere in Tennessee every year since 1955, so no market here is exempt, but Nashville, Brentwood, and Franklin sit closer to the core of that activity than Knoxville or Chattanooga do.

What does an outdoor kitchen actually cost?

A single island built around a good grill starts around $8,000. Most full builds land between $30,000 and $150,000. Estate projects — long runs, several cooking stations, stone and a covered structure — go well beyond that. The spread is not vagueness: it is the difference between one appliance and an outdoor room. What moves the number most is rarely the grill; it is the cabinetry, the stone, and how far the utilities have to travel.

Do you design it, supply it, or install it?

We design it and we supply it. We do not install it. You get the layout, the material specification for your site, and the cabinetry, appliances and stone delivered — and a licensed contractor sets it and makes the gas, electrical and plumbing connections. Some clients already have a contractor they trust; for everyone else we introduce one who works your area.

Why can't you do the installation yourselves?

Because anything involving gas, electrical or plumbing must be performed by a contractor licensed in the state, and any company that tells you otherwise is telling you something that should worry you. Separating supply from installation is not a workaround — it is how this category is properly done, and it means the person connecting your gas line is licensed to do exactly that.

Why not just call a contractor directly?

You can, and for a simple job you probably should. What a contractor rarely brings is the design and the material call: which cabinetry system suits your climate, what the appliance cutouts have to be, what the whole thing should cost. We do that part, supply the product, and hand a finished specification to whoever installs it — which is also why installers like working from our drawings.

How long does a project take?

Design and material selection usually takes two to four weeks. Lead times on cabinetry and appliances run four to twelve weeks depending on what is specified and what is in stock. Site work is measured in days once materials arrive. The honest answer is that appliance lead times, not our schedule, are usually what sets the date.

Why not just buy the same grill from a big box store?

For a freestanding grill on a patio, you often should — and we will tell you so. The moment the appliance gets built into cabinetry, the decisions that matter are cutout dimensions, clearance to combustibles, ventilation, and whether the alloy suits your site. Those are the decisions that get expensive to correct after stone is cut.

Do you have a showroom I can visit?

No. We do not operate a public showroom, and we would rather say that plainly than list an address that turns out to be a mailbox. Every project starts with your site — photographs, dimensions and, where it matters, a visit — because that is where the decisions actually get made.

What is the warranty?

Appliances carry the manufacturer's warranty, which varies by brand and by component — burners, grates and igniters are frequently covered on different terms than the body. We put the specific terms for what you are buying in writing in your quotation rather than making a blanket claim here.

Still deciding? The consultation questions take about a minute and come back with a material specification for your site. Start there, or write to hello@bbqtennessee.com.