When planning your garden transformation, the biggest hurdle is deciding how to house your grill. You essentially have two paths: a "bricks and mortar" Custom Build or a precision-engineered Modular System like the Cabinex range. While both can house premium appliances, they offer very different experiences in terms of setup, durability, and style.
1. The Custom Built-In: Traditional Masonry
A custom build involves a builder or stonemason creating a permanent structure on your patio using brick, block, or a steel frame clad in stone or render.
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Design Freedom: You can create any shape, from curved bars to massive L-shaped islands, matching the stone exactly to your home.
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The "Permanent" Feel: These are fixed structures that become a part of your property’s land value.
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The Challenge: Custom builds are labour-intensive, often taking weeks to complete, and are prone to "hairline cracks" in the render as the British temperature fluctuates.
2. The Cabinex Approach: Modular Precision
Cabinex has redefined the modular kitchen by using materials that mimic high-end interior cabinetry but are engineered for the outdoors.
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Patented AirFrame Technology: Unlike DIY masonry, Cabinex uses a patented aluminium framing system. This creates a non-combustible "air gap" (the AirFrame) between your BBQ and the cabinetry, ensuring total safety without the need for additional insulated jackets.
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Weatherproof PVC Panels: While many modular units use basic steel, Cabinex uses high-tech PVC panels that are impervious to rain and UV rays. They won't rust, rot, or warp, and they come with a 10-year limited warranty.
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Speed of Luxury: A Cabinex kitchen—complete with waterfall porcelain benchtops and integrated BeefEater grills—can often be assembled and ready for its first sear in just a few days, rather than the weeks required for a masonry build.
Expanded FAQ: Planning Your Cabinex Kitchen
Does the Cabinex system come with the BBQ included?
Yes, most of our Cabinex packages are designed to work seamlessly with the BeefEater 1500, 1600, or Proline series. This ensures the "cutout" is a perfect factory fit, removing the risk of your builder measuring the gap incorrectly.
How does Cabinex handle uneven patios?
One of the smartest features of the Cabinex range is its adjustable feet. While masonry kitchens are stuck with whatever slope your patio has, Cabinex units can be levelled individually, ensuring your worktop is perfectly flat and your grill drains grease correctly.
Can I include a fridge and sink in a modular setup?
Absolutely. The Cabinex Premium and PRO series are designed to house 108L or 118L bar fridges (with triple-glazed doors for outdoor efficiency) and integrated matte black sinks with WRAS-certified mixer taps.
What is the "Waterfall" benchtop?
A "Waterfall" edge is where the porcelain worktop continues down the side of the cabinet to the ground. This is a high-end designer finish that is usually very expensive in custom masonry but comes as a standard luxury feature in many Cabinex modules.
Is it really a "DIY" installation?
Cabinex is designed for straightforward assembly, similar to high-end indoor furniture. However, because it involves gas connections (for the BBQ) and electrical hookups (for the fridge), we always recommend a professional Gas Safe engineer and a qualified electrician for the final connections.
