There is a common pattern in outdoor kitchen installations that goes wrong in a predictable way. The homeowner orders the kitchen, the six-week lead time passes, the truck arrives, and something on the patio is not ready. The surface is still curing. The gas contractor has not been scheduled yet. The side gate has not been measured and it is two inches too narrow.
None of these problems are expensive to fix before delivery. All of them become expensive to fix after. This guide walks through every site prep item, organized by when it needs to happen, so delivery day looks like a celebration and not a scramble.
Why site prep is the part most homeowners underestimate
The delivery itself is not complicated. Most Stono kitchens ship in completed sections by box truck, though delivery method can vary, and the placement sequence is direct: move sections to the patio, confirm orientation, level, connect. The kitchen is engineered so that delivery day is simple.
What makes delivery day simple is the work that happened in the weeks before. A finished surface. Gas, electrical, and water rough-ins stubbed out and ready for final connection. A clear path from the street to the patio. Licensed contractors scheduled and confirmed. When these things are done, delivery day is an afternoon. When any of them is missing, delivery day becomes a problem-solving session.
The six-week lead time between ordering and delivery is not dead time. It is site prep time. The homeowners who use it that way have the smoothest installations.
Week one and two: surface and structural confirmation
The first thing to get right is what the kitchen is sitting on. This is not a detail that can be deferred.
Confirm the patio surface is complete or will be complete at least one week before delivery. Concrete needs to cure fully before heavy sections are placed on it. Fresh concrete that has not finished curing can crack or shift under load. Pavers need to be set and stable. Composite decking needs to be installed and fastened. Whatever the surface, it needs to be genuinely finished, not mostly done.
If you are installing on an elevated deck, this is the window to have a structural engineer confirm load capacity. A Stono kitchen section weighs approximately 200 pounds per Stono Outdoor Living product specifications, roughly one-third the weight of comparable stainless steel kitchens from high-end competitors. But 200 pounds per section plus the weight of built-in appliances is still meaningful load on a structure. If your deck was not designed with an outdoor kitchen in mind, confirm load capacity now.
Check clearances from combustibles. The International Residential Code requires 36 inches of clearance between the cooking surface of a gas grill and any overhead combustible structure (a wood pergola, a fabric shade, a timber-framed overhang). Some local jurisdictions require more. This measurement determines where the kitchen can sit, which determines where the utility rough-ins need to go. Confirm it before your contractor installs anything.
Pull permits if required in your jurisdiction. Gas line work typically requires a permit. Electrical work typically requires a permit. Water connections often require one. Your licensed contractors should handle this routinely, but confirm they are, and confirm the permit timeline does not create a gap between delivery and the utility connection appointments you have already scheduled.
Week two and three: get your contractors the configuration details they need
After your proposal is reviewed, Stono's engineering team prepares line drawings for your configuration. These CAD drawings show exact measurements and where each appliance sits, giving your contractors a resource to research connection requirements before they start pre-delivery work. Full installation documentation with detailed connection specifications ships with the kitchen and outdoor appliances for the final hookup.
For your gas contractor: Your line drawings show the inlet location on the kitchen and where your built-in grill and any side burner sit. Your grill manufacturer's manual specifies the gas connection type and BTU demand: share it with your contractor before rough-in. Manuals are available on the grill's product page at stonooutdoor.com, or Stono's team can provide a copy. Your contractor needs to stub the gas line within a few feet of that location. The shutoff valve location matters too: it should be accessible without moving the kitchen, and in storm-prone markets, it should be clearly marked.
For your electrician: Built-in refrigerators require a dedicated 20-amp circuit per National Electrical Code requirements. Electric ignition systems need a power source. If your configuration includes receptacles, each needs a circuit. Undercounter lighting isn't a factory option: some homeowners add it after delivery, so loop in your electrician separately if you're planning for it. Your line drawings show where each appliance sits, so your electrician can plan conduit runs to the right location before delivery.
For your plumber: If your kitchen includes a sink, water supply and drain need to be stubbed out and accessible. Drain runs need to connect to your home's sewer system or an approved gray water solution. Open-to-grade drain runs are not code-compliant in most jurisdictions and create problems that are far more expensive to fix after the kitchen is in place.
Week three and four: confirm delivery logistics
Measure your delivery path. Kitchen sections need clear room to maneuver by hand. A 36-inch gate opening works. A 30-inch gate does not. Walk the entire path from where the box truck will park to where the sections will sit on the patio. Measure every gate, every narrow section. Confirm your specific model dimensions with Stono's team when scheduling. Section widths vary by model.
Note any steps or grade changes. Level, clear surfaces make hand-carrying the sections easier to manage. Steps and steep grade changes require planning. If there is a step between your driveway and your patio, that is a note for the delivery team. Flagging it in advance means the delivery team arrives prepared.
Confirm box truck access. A standard box truck needs room to park, lower a lift gate, and maneuver. If your street is narrow, your driveway is obstructed, or your neighborhood has parking restrictions, solve this in advance. A temporary no-parking arrangement along the curb is a simple fix when it is arranged before the truck is scheduled.
Prepare for the delivery window call. Once your kitchen ships, the shipping carrier calls you directly to arrange the delivery day and approximate time window. Be ready to lock in a date quickly: have your helper arranged, your patio cleared, and your attention available when that call comes in. Delivery day is not a day to be on back-to-back calls.
Week four and five: schedule licensed contractors for delivery week
This is the step most homeowners leave too late, and it is the one that creates the most avoidable delays.
Schedule your gas contractor for delivery day or the day after. Gas is what you need to grill. By the time the kitchen is on the patio, a reputable contractor in most markets has a one- to two-week wait if you have not booked in advance. Schedule them before delivery, for a specific date.
Schedule your electrician for the same window. If your refrigerator needs a circuit, that circuit needs to be live before the refrigerator is operational. Schedule the electrician concurrently with the delivery, not after.
Schedule your plumber if your configuration includes a sink. A sink that cannot drain is not functional. Schedule water connection for delivery week.
Your licensed contractors have your configuration details and have already done the rough-in. The delivery week appointment is a final connection, typically under two hours per trade. It is a short, scheduled job when it is planned in advance.
The week before delivery: your final walkthrough
Seven days out, do a complete walkthrough of every prep item. The patio surface: is it finished and cured? The utility rough-ins: are they stubbed out in the right locations? The delivery path: is it clear, measured, and accessible? The delivery helpers: do you have someone confirmed for the day? The licensed contractors: are they scheduled for delivery week with specific dates and times?
If anything on that list is unresolved, you have one week to solve it. That is enough time for almost anything except structural work or a permit stuck in review. If something significant is unresolved at this point, call Stono's team and have a direct conversation about whether to adjust the delivery date.
Clear the patio area. Move existing furniture, planters, and anything else that occupies the space where the kitchen is going. Leave extra room beyond the kitchen's footprint for the sections to be maneuvered into place.
Have your line drawings accessible. These are the documents that show your kitchen configuration, section layout, and appliance positions. Have them physically present on delivery day. You will use them to confirm orientation as sections are placed.
Know what to do when sections come off the truck. Stono ships via RL Carriers through Redhawk Logistics. Inspect all packaging before signing the delivery receipt. If visible damage is present, note it on the receipt, take photos, and refuse the damaged items. Then contact Stono's team immediately. If no damage is visible at delivery, open all boxes within 48 hours. If concealed damage appears, take photos and notify Stono right away. Before the driver leaves, have them sign the CSPOD document included with your shipment. This is not optional: it is how damage claims are protected on both sides.
What happens when site prep is complete
When all of this is done, delivery day is genuinely direct. The truck arrives. The sections move to the patio. Orientation is confirmed against the line drawings. Leveling takes an hour. Section connections take another hour. The licensed contractors arrive on schedule and make their connections. You could be grilling that same day.
That is what a well-prepared installation looks like. The six weeks of lead time made it possible. The delivery itself was just the delivery.
Schedule a design consultation at stonooutdoor.com/pages/design-consultation to walk through your specific space, surface, and utility situation while your kitchen is still being built. Stono's team has seen every site prep configuration and can flag anything specific to your property before it becomes a delivery day problem.
Every kitchen starts with a conversation. Schedule a design consultation to walk through your specific space, surface, and utility situation while your kitchen is still being built.
Schedule a Design ConsultationFrequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I schedule my licensed contractors?
Schedule them before the delivery date is confirmed, not after. For a skilled gas contractor in most markets, two to three weeks of lead time is safe. Electricians and plumbers are typically faster to schedule, but the same principle applies: do it early, confirm a specific date, and put it on the calendar.
What if my gas rough-in ends up in the wrong location?
If the rough-in is close (within a few feet) to where it needs to be, your gas contractor can usually bridge the gap with an extension. If it is significantly off, the line needs to be moved before the kitchen is placed, not after. This is why sharing your exact configuration details with your contractor before they do the rough-in matters.
Can I delay the delivery if my patio is not ready?
Yes. Stono's team can work with you to adjust the delivery date if site prep is not complete. The earlier you surface this, the easier the adjustment. Calling three days before delivery to push the date is harder to accommodate than calling three weeks out.
Do I need a permit to install an outdoor kitchen?
The kitchen itself typically does not require a permit. The utility connections almost always do: gas line work, new electrical circuits, and plumbing connections each require permits in most jurisdictions. Your licensed contractors handle permitting for their respective work. Confirm with each that permits are pulled before they start.
What if the delivery path has steps between the street and the patio?
Notify Stono's team when you schedule delivery. Steps can be managed with the right equipment and an extra person, but it requires planning. Flagging it in advance means the delivery team arrives prepared.
How much clearance does the kitchen area need beyond the kitchen's footprint?
Plan for at least three feet of working clearance on the front and sides during placement. The sections need room to maneuver as they're carried and positioned. Once the kitchen is in place and connections are made, the clearance requirements return to whatever your design intended.