Thirteen named lakes and a lot of open sky

Outdoor Kitchens in Maple Grove, MN

Covered cooking spaces and pergolas designed to stand up to wind, hail-season storms and a heavy snow load.

Free on-site estimates
Line-by-line written pricing
Every layout planned for Minnesota winters

A Roof Over the Grill, Built to Stay Put

Outdoor Kitchens in Maple Grove get the most use when they are covered. Twin Cities summers bring frequent thunderstorms from late spring into fall, and severe ones can carry straight-line winds and large hail. A roof or pergola lets you keep cooking through a passing shower and protects counters, cabinets and appliances the rest of the time. It also has to be built so it does not become the thing that blows away.

Why covering matters in this part of the metro

Thunderstorms can occur anywhere from March to November in the Twin Cities, and most summer rain arrives that way. Maple Grove knows what a bad one can do: on July 23, 1987, an F3 tornado struck the city before moving into Brooklyn Park, where it damaged several subdivisions. Region-wide, the May 30, 1998 derecho produced winds over 80 mph. No backyard structure is tornado-proof, but a well-anchored roof on proper footings is a very different thing from a light canopy screwed to a patio.

Three ways to cover an outdoor kitchen

Attached roof

Tied into the house, it extends the indoor living space and keeps the cook dry on the walk from the kitchen door. It is a roofed structure, generally permitted work, and has to be engineered for snow load and attached properly to the house framing.

Freestanding pavilion

A separate roofed structure out in the yard, often with a fire feature at one end. Footings in Hennepin County's frost Zone II go down at least 3-1/2 feet under Minnesota Rule 1303.1600, so the posts do not lift with frost.

Pergola or louvered roof

Open or adjustable slats give shade and some rain protection. Snow ratings for louvered roofs vary by product, so we check the manufacturer's rating before recommending one for a Minnesota winter.

Lake breezes and grill smoke

Maple Grove has 13 named lakes, from Weaver and Fish Lake to Rice Lake and the Arbor, North Arbor and West Arbor lakes. Homes near open water get steadier wind. We orient the grill so smoke blows away from the seating and the house, and we keep the roof high enough, and vented, so heat and smoke do not collect under it. Grill clearances to a roof come from the appliance manufacturer's installation manual, and we follow them.

Materials that live outdoors all year

Countertops rated for freezing, such as porcelain slabs or dense natural stone
Cabinet boxes in stainless or marine-grade polymer instead of wood
Stone or masonry veneer over a frame that drains and does not trap water
Appliances with clear winterizing instructions from the maker

Our services in Maple Grove

We build custom outdoor kitchens, outdoor kitchen countertops, grill islands and BBQ stations, outdoor kitchen cabinets, covered outdoor kitchens and pergolas, and outdoor fireplaces and fire features. These can be combined: a grill island under a pergola with a gas fire table off to the side, for example.

Before we dig

Posts, footings and utility trenches all require a Gopher State One Call locate at least 48 hours in advance, not counting the day of notice, weekends or holidays. When you hire us, making that call is our job.

Ready to talk? Call (612) 451-0418 for a free estimate. We look at the house wall, the yard and the wind exposure, then give you a written quote that separates the structure, the kitchen and the utilities.

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Maple Grove Details Worth Knowing

The 1987 tornado. On July 23, 1987, an F3 tornado hit Maple Grove before moving into Brooklyn Park, a reminder that backyard roofs and pergolas need real anchoring.
Built mostly after 1970. Maple Grove had 6,275 residents in 1970, 38,736 in 1990 and 70,253 in 2020, growing quickly after upgrades to I-94, I-494, I-694 and U.S. Highway 169.
High owner occupancy. About 82.3% of Maple Grove homes are owner-occupied, and 89.4% of residents lived in the same house a year earlier (Census ACS, 2020 to 2024).
Thirteen named lakes. The city lists 13 named lakes, including Weaver, Fish, Eagle, Pike, Rice and the Arbor Lakes, across about 35 square miles, under 2.5 of them water.
A storm-prone summer. Thunderstorms occur in the Twin Cities from March to November and can bring damaging straight-line winds and large hail; the May 30, 1998 derecho produced winds over 80 mph.

Covered Outdoor Kitchens & Pergolas in Minneapolis, MN

Our Services in Maple Grove, MN

Maple Grove Questions

Will a pergola over our grill survive a Maple Grove winter?

A well-built one, yes. The key pieces are posts on footings below frost depth, which is at least 3-1/2 feet in Hennepin County, solid connections, and a roof product rated for the snow it will carry. Louvered systems vary widely in snow rating, so we check the specific product before recommending it.

Can a grill go under a solid roof?

It can, if the roof height and ventilation meet the grill manufacturer's clearance requirements. Some installs also add a vent hood rated for outdoor use. We plan the roof and the grill together so neither one has to be compromised later.

Do covered outdoor kitchens need a permit?

Roofed structures are generally permitted work, especially when attached to the house, and gas lines and new electrical circuits usually are too. We identify which parts of your project need permits and inspections and build the schedule around them.

We live on one of the lakes and it gets windy. Any design changes?

Yes. We orient the grill so prevailing wind carries smoke away from seating, may add a low wind wall or screen on one side, and choose heavier, well-anchored furniture zones. Wood-burning fires also need more care in steady wind, so a gas fire feature is often the better fit near open water.

Free Estimates in Maple Grove, MN

Free estimates for covered outdoor kitchens in Maple Grove.

Call (612) 451-0418 Free Estimate