BBQ-Island-2012

The fire started late afternoon on Wednesday Nov 23rd, 2011 (2 days before Thanksgiving). At around 10pm, we kept getting a faint wood burning smell but thought that the neighbor had a firewood burning in the back yard; so we didn't pay too much attention. At around midnight we heard the sound of crackling fire. As we look out of the window bedroom, we saw the blue flame shooting out of the BBQ grill and thick smoke rising up inside the gazebo. We quickly turned off the gas main line and grabbed the water hose nearby and put out the fire. All the knobs were melted because of the intense heat. Because it was natural gas so blue flame was shooting out of the gas line through those knob holes until the gas was turn off.
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Fortunately we have home insurance with AAA. They are one of the best. We called them the following Monday after the Thanksgiving holiday weekends. They contacted us the next day and came by for the restoration estimate the following day. It took about 1 week to get the estimate done and another week to get the check from AAA.
Here we started the demolition.
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When we contracted the front and backyard landscapes, we included the gazebo and the BBQ island. Unfortunately, they were experience in landscapes but not in building BBQ island. They built the inside frame with wood which is a no-no.
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Fortunately the counter top were tile, which stopped the fire from going up and burning down the gazebo.
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Look at all the frame support which turned to charcoals.
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The model came after all the dirty works were done.
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Look at the new frames. All Metals. No more Wood. Yeah !!!
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After the frames are level and done, Permabase cement boards were put on to get ready for granite / stone installation.
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The vent didn't look good in the middle so we moved it to the left side where it is out of sight. Next step, we raised the back wall to about 6" to make the back splash.
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The granite slab is called Ivory Fantasy. The whole slab was 132 x 66 inches.
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Before the granite came, we installed all the new electrical wiring, new gas pipes and the shut-off valve now is conveniently located outside at the back of the island.
A shelf was added on the back splash. The holes were cut ready for the BBQ grill and the power burner.
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Multicolor quartz brick were used for the sides of the island.
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Here come the hardware.
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The model for the BBQ grill is FireMagic E790I-4L1N-W (36" Echelon Diamond Built In Left Side Infa-Red With Magic View Window, And Rotisserie Natural Gas) --
http://www.bbqguys.com/item_name_Fire-Magic-Echelon-Diamond-E790-Natural-Gas-Built-in-Grill-With-One-Infrare_path__item_2791800.html

The power burner is FireMagic 19-4B2N-0 (Diamond Echelon Built-in Power Burner w/ Cast Brass Burner) --
http://www.bbqguys.com/item_name_Fire-Magic-Echelon-Diamond-Natural-Gas-Built-In-Power-Burner-With-Porcelain_path__item_2791922.html

Echelon Double Access Doors - 43930S by FireMagic --
http://www.bbqguys.com/item_item_2125474.html

Echelon Single Access Doors - 43920-SL by FireMagic --
http://www.bbqguys.com/item_name_Fire-Magic-Echelon-20x14-Left-Hinged-Stainless-Single-Access-Door_path__item_2125472.html
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Love the Fire Magics exclusive Magic View Window, the blue LED back-lit knobs, and the built-in lamps
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We installed 2 new Hampton Bay Hanging lamps and new light switch and outlet.
Fire Magic Grill Cover For Echelon E790 (3651B) --
http://www.bbqguys.com/item_name_Fire-Magic-Grill-Cover-For-Echelon-E790-Or-Aurora-A790-Built-In-Gas-Grills_item_6729.html
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We also bought 2 Fire Magic Charcoal Baskets (3562-2) -- http://www.bbqguys.com/item_name_Fire-Magic-Charcoal-Baskets-For-Echelon-Series-And-Aurora-A790-A660-And-A5_path__item_7623.html
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