If your client ordered a Stono outdoor kitchen and put you in charge of the installation, this is your reference. It covers the full scope: what you do before delivery, what happens on delivery day, what the utility connections look like, and what to confirm before you close out the job.
This is not a complicated installation. The kitchen arrives fabricated and finished; your job is connecting it, not building it. The steps are predictable and well-documented. What separates a clean installation from a messy one is how well the pre-delivery phase is managed.
What Stono kitchens are and how they install
This matters for quoting and scoping accurately. A Stono engineered outdoor kitchen is fabricated from marine-grade 3003 aluminum with architectural-grade powder coating. Most ship via box truck in finished sections, though delivery method can vary. The 77" Morris arrives fully assembled. The Sullivan (98"), Wando (119"), and Cooper (140") arrive with the main section preassembled; add-on sections ship ready for installation and connect using a tab-and-slot (cleated hook-and-slot) system. Every section arrives complete: cabinetry fabricated, doors mounted, 304 stainless steel drawer slides installed, 316 stainless steel door pulls mounted. Nothing requires on-site construction of cabinetry components.
Your role on delivery day is section placement, leveling, and inter-section connection. Utility connections follow after placement is confirmed. There is no masonry, no framing, no site-built structure.
This is not a kit. Do not quote or describe it as one to your client. The kitchen is fabricated to a specific layout, delivered as completed sections, and installed with a defined sequence. This applies whether your client ordered one of the five standard models or a custom configuration: custom builds are engineered to that specific layout and follow the same fabrication, delivery, and installation process described here.
Weight and handling. Per Stono Outdoor Living product specifications, a standard 98-inch section (the Sullivan) weighs approximately 200 pounds. The 140-inch Cooper section is heavier. Plan for two people to move sections by hand on delivery day. Marine-grade 3003 aluminum is roughly one-third the weight of stainless steel alternatives from high-end competitors, which makes it practical for elevated decks where stainless alternatives would require structural reinforcement.
Lead time. Stono kitchens ship approximately six weeks from order confirmation. If a client comes to you with an existing order, confirm the delivery date early and build your pre-delivery utility schedule around it, not the other way around.
Pre-delivery scope: what you handle before the truck arrives
The pre-delivery phase is where most installation problems either get prevented or created. Your scope in this phase includes surface confirmation, utility rough-ins, and delivery path clearance.
Surface verification. Confirm the patio surface is complete, cured, and finished before you schedule utility rough-ins. Concrete must be fully cured. Pavers must be set and stable. Composite decking must be installed and fastened. If the surface is not complete, the rough-in locations cannot be finalized, because the kitchen's exact position cannot be confirmed until the surface is ready.
Structural confirmation for deck installations. If the kitchen is going on an elevated deck, confirm load capacity before delivery. A structural engineer can do this in one visit. Do not assume it has been done. An outdoor kitchen section plus built-in appliances adds meaningful load to a structure not designed for it.
Clearance from combustibles. International Residential Code Section G2447 requires 36 inches of clearance between a gas grill cooking surface and any overhead combustible structure. Local amendments may be stricter. Confirm this measurement before rough-in work begins. It affects where the kitchen can sit, which affects where the gas rough-in goes.
Permits. Gas line work requires permits in all jurisdictions. Electrical circuit additions require permits. Water connections often require permits. Pull permits before work starts. Do not assume the homeowner has initiated this or that another trade covered it.
Pre-delivery reference: getting configuration details to the right trades
After your client's proposal is reviewed, Stono's engineering team prepares line drawings (CAD drawings) for that kitchen's configuration. These CAD drawings show exact measurements and where each appliance sits. If you do not have them, get them from your client or contact Stono's team directly before starting any rough-in work. Full installation documentation with detailed connection specifications ships with the kitchen and outdoor appliances for the final hookup; this guide and the line drawings are your pre-delivery reference.
Gas rough-in. Your line drawings show the inlet location on the kitchen's frame and where the grill, any side burner, and any other gas-fueled appliances sit. The manufacturer's manual for each of those appliances specifies its gas connection type and BTU demand; share those with your gas contractor before rough-in. Manuals are available on the appliance's product page at stonooutdoor.com, or Stono's team can provide copies. Stub the gas line within two to three feet of the kitchen's planned position, with the stub oriented to reach the kitchen's inlet. Shutoff valve must be accessible without moving the kitchen and clearly marked. Pressure test per local code before the kitchen is placed over the rough-in.
In coastal and hurricane-prone markets, shutoff accessibility is not a courtesy. Homeowners need to be able to reach the gas shutoff without a tool or a contractor. Confirm this with the client before closing out the rough-in.
Electrical rough-in. A built-in refrigerator requires a dedicated 20-amp circuit per National Electrical Code Article 210. Electric ignition systems require a power source. Receptacles each need a circuit. GFCI protection is required for all outdoor receptacles per NEC Article 210.8. Undercounter lighting isn't a factory-installed option, though some homeowners add it after delivery; if your client is planning for that, confirm the circuit requirement with them directly. If the kitchen is within 10 feet of a pool, spa, or other water feature, NEC Article 680 governs the electrical installation and bonding requirements apply. Run conduit to within two to three feet of the kitchen's planned position.
Plumbing rough-in. If the kitchen includes a sink, stub water supply and drain within reach of the sink's position per the line drawings. Drain must connect to the home's sewer system or an approved gray water solution. Open-to-grade drain runs are not code-compliant in most jurisdictions. Confirm drain routing before the rough-in is inspected.
Delivery day: placement sequence and what to confirm
On delivery day, the box truck arrives with the finished sections. The delivery team brings sections to the property line. Moving sections from the property line to the patio is your scope (or the homeowner's, if they arranged it). Plan for two people to move sections by hand.
Before placement begins, have the homeowner's line drawings in hand. These show the exact section layout and appliance positions. Your goal at the start of delivery day is to confirm that what you are placing matches them exactly.
Placement sequence. Move all sections to approximate final position before leveling any of them. Get the full layout visible before making fine adjustments. Confirm orientation with the client: which direction does the grill face, where is the refrigerator door, what is the relationship to the seating area. These decisions are easy to change before leveling and essentially irreversible after utility connections are made.
Leveling. Level each section using the adjustable feet integrated into the vertical posts, which provide about 2 inches of adjustment. A four-foot level across the countertop and along the front face is the reference. Level and connect sections in sequence from one end to the other. Do a final level check with all sections connected. The connected frame is rigid; the final check confirms connection did not introduce any variation.
Inter-section connections. Connection hardware ships with the kitchen. Sections interlock at the frame level and are fastened together. Follow the connection sequence in the installation documentation. Connections are structural, not cosmetic: they create a rigid joint between sections and determine how the finished island presents at the countertop line.
Countertop confirmation. Stono's countertops ship already placed on the kitchen sections, so there's no separate installation step for most orders. Confirm the countertop sits flush and level across all connected sections before moving to appliance placement.
Appliance placement. Built-in appliances ship separately; place them now to confirm clearances before utility connections are made. For the grill, apply the rubber gasket around the perimeter of the cutout before lowering the grill into place. The gasket is included with your order. Confirm the grill sits flush in the cutout. Confirm the refrigerator drawer clears the countertop edge. Any discrepancy is easier to address before connections are finalized.
Final delivery confirmation. Before the box truck leaves, walk the full installation with the homeowner. Confirm the orientation matches the line drawings. Confirm section alignment is flush with no gaps or height variation at the joints. Note anything that looks different from the line drawings. Have the driver sign the CSPOD document included with the shipment before they leave. This protects both you and the client if any damage claim surfaces after the delivery team is gone. After the driver leaves, the delivery is closed out.
Utility connections: the final hookup phase
After the kitchen is placed, leveled, and appliance placement is confirmed, licensed trades make the utility connections. The scope per trade is a final connection from the kitchen's inlet to the rough-in your team already installed.
Routing utilities into the cabinet. Every Stono section ships with standard 2.5-inch diameter punchouts for bringing gas, electrical, and water into the unit. These are located in the rear bottom corners of the grill and fridge sections, positioned to line up with typical rough-in stub locations. Knock out the punchout, feed the line through, and make the connection to the inlet inside the cabinet. The internal verticals are not all solid walls; they include openings that let you route a line from one bay to the next, so a utility can enter at one point and reach an inlet elsewhere in the section without an exposed run. When a rough-in does not align with an existing punchout or opening, you can create your own pass-through. The cabinetry is marine-grade 3003 aluminum, soft enough to drill or cut on site with standard tools. Mark the location clear of the frame and any appliance cutout, then use a step bit or hole saw sized to the conduit or supply line and drill slowly to keep a clean edge. Deburr the opening and fit a rubber grommet or bushing where the wire or tubing passes through the panel to protect the line from the cut edge. This lets you bring each utility in exactly where the connection needs it without compromising the section.
Gas connection. A licensed gas line contractor connects the kitchen's gas inlet to the stub-out, installs any required flexible connector, and pressure tests the connection per local code. Typical scope is under two hours for a direct configuration. Confirm the shutoff valve is accessible and labeled before signing off.
Electrical connection. The licensed electrician connects the kitchen's circuits to the conduit rough-in. Confirm GFCI protection on all outdoor receptacles. If the configuration includes a refrigerator, confirm the dedicated 20-amp circuit is on a separate breaker from outdoor receptacles. Confirm the connection passes a brief operational test before signing off.
Plumbing connection. The licensed plumber connects water supply and drain to the kitchen's sink. Run a water test before closing out. Confirm drain flow and no supply leak at the connection point.
If any trade asks for documentation that was not in the package they received, contact Stono's team. The documentation exists for every configuration; it may just need to be forwarded.
What to confirm before you close out the job
A clean close-out covers three areas: the physical installation, the utility connections, and the client handoff.
Physical installation. Section alignment is flush at every joint. Countertop height is consistent across the full island. Doors open and close cleanly without binding. Drawers operate on their 304 stainless steel slides without resistance. The finished installation matches the line drawings in configuration and orientation.
Utility connections. Gas connection has been pressure-tested and signed off. Electrical connections have passed inspection and operational test. Plumbing connections have been water-tested with no leaks. All permits are closed out and inspection records are in the client's possession.
Client handoff. Walk the client through the installation. Show them where the gas shutoff is and confirm they can access it without tools. Walk them through the first light of the grill. Point out the adjustable feet in case they ever need to level after surface settling. Leave all Stono installation documentation, warranty documentation, and appliance manuals with the client.
For trade partners interested in a deeper relationship with Stono, the partner program at stonooutdoor.com/partner-program is the starting point. Stono works with landscape designers, general contractors, and builders across the country and provides material support for trade-managed installations.
Every kitchen starts with a conversation. Schedule a design consultation to walk through configuration details before your client's rough-in begins.
Schedule a Design ConsultationFrequently Asked Questions
Do licensed trades need to be on site during delivery, or can they do the rough-in before and the connection after?
After. The utility connections happen after the kitchen is placed and leveled. Trades do the rough-in before delivery, then return for the final connection after the sections are on the patio. There is no reason to have a licensed trade on site during the placement and leveling phase unless the client wants them present for coordination.
What is the minimum gate width needed for delivery?
36 inches for a standard delivery. If the access path is narrower, contact Stono's team before scheduling delivery. There are approaches for tight access situations, but they require advance planning and potentially additional help.
What if a section arrives with a defect?
Inspect sections as they come off the truck and before signing the delivery documentation. If anything looks wrong, note it on the delivery paperwork before the truck leaves. Contact Stono's team immediately. Damage documented at delivery is handled directly; issues raised after delivery closes out require a warranty process.
Can sections be repositioned after utility connections are made?
In theory, yes. In practice, it means disconnecting utilities, re-leveling, re-connecting, and re-testing. The better approach is to confirm orientation with the client before any utility connections are made. Fifteen minutes of confirmation on delivery day is far less expensive than a utility reconnection.
Who provides the appliance installation manuals?
Appliance manuals ship with the appliances. If a manual is missing, contact the appliance manufacturer directly. The installation documentation that ships with the kitchen covers connection specifications for your work; the appliance manuals cover the appliance-specific installation requirements. Both should be in the client's possession at job close-out.
What is the warranty on the cabinetry?
The 7-year powder coating warranty per Stono Outdoor Living product specifications covers manufacturer defects in the architectural-grade powder coating. It does not cover damage from impact, abrasion, or improper maintenance. Direct warranty questions to Stono's team.