AEI Corporation

Grilling is a big part of outdoor living, especially for properties like apartment complexes, condos, and other multifamily housing. Having a high-quality grill available can make patios more enjoyable and add a valuable feature to your property. That’s where natural gas grills come in.

Natural gas grills are a popular choice for patios because they’re reliable, easy to use, and cost-effective over time. Since they are connected directly to the gas line, there’s no need to worry about swapping out propane tanks. You just turn it on, and it’s ready to start grilling your favorite foods.

At AEI, we specialize in creating durable natural gas grills for both residential and commercial use. Our gas grills are designed to stay in place permanently and offer features that make them safe and easy to maintain, even in high-traffic areas. Whether you’re looking for a grill for a small apartment patio or a condominium’s communal patio space, we have grills that can fit your needs.

In this guide, we’ll explore the benefits of natural gas grills, the materials we use, and the different installation options available to help you choose the best grill for your property.

Why Choose Natural Gas Grills for Multifamily and Commercial Properties?

Natural gas grills offer many benefits, especially for multifamily and commercial properties like apartments, condos, and resorts. One of the biggest advantages is convenience. Since natural gas grills are hooked up directly to a gas line, you never have to worry about running out of fuel or replacing propane tanks. This makes them perfect for busy shared spaces where multiple people may use the grill.

Another great benefit is that natural gas is an affordable fuel source for grilling, especially when compared to charcoal. Natural gas is also a clean-burning fuel, meaning the fuel burns entirely without imparting soot or impurities onto your food, like charcoal grills and wood fire grills do.

Safety is another important feature of AEI’s natural gas grills. For commercial multifamily properties, we offer our T-Series grills which all include automatic fuel shutoff timers. These grill timers turn the grill off after 60 minutes of use to prevent gas from running for too long if someone forgets to turn it off. We also have special anti-theft control knobs, which are great for grills in shared spaces. These knobs make it harder for people to tamper with or steal parts of the grill.

Finally, because natural gas grills are installed in a permanent location, they’re more durable and better suited for long-term use. They’re securely mounted, which means they can’t be easily moved or damaged. This makes them a smart investment for property managers who want a reliable, high-quality grill for residents or guests to use.

In short, natural gas grills are perfect for multifamily and commercial properties because they are convenient to use, cost-effective, safe, and built to last.

Material and Construction: Stainless Steel vs. Cast Aluminum

When it comes to outdoor grills, the material they’re made from is a big deal. At AEI, we use two main materials for our natural gas grills: stainless steel and cast aluminum. Both are extremely strong, long-lasting, scratch-resistant, and corrosion-resistant but each has its own advantages depending on what you need.

Stainless Steel Grills

Stainless steel is a very popular material for outdoor grills, and for good reason. It’s super strong, lightweight, and doesn’t rust easily, making it perfect for grills that will be outside all the time. At AEI, we use 304 stainless steel, which is known for being tough and resistant to damage. This type of stainless steel has a special blend of metals, including iron, chromium, nickel, and carbon, which gives it great protection against oxidation (rusting) and other types of corrosion.

We offer three sizes of stainless steel natural gas grills: the S27T, S36T, and S48T. These grills have different cooking surface sizes, ranging from 540 square inches all the way up to 960 square inches. This means you can pick a grill size that matches the space you have and how much cooking you plan to do.

Cast Aluminum Grills

On the other hand, cast aluminum is another great option for outdoor grills. Aluminum is naturally resistant to rust, just like stainless steel. The term “cast aluminum” refers to how the grill is made—by shaping molten aluminum alloy into the final grill form. This process creates a strong, scratch-resistant, rust-resistant grill that’s perfect for outdoor use.

While cast aluminum grills are usually a bit more affordable than stainless steel, they still offer excellent durability. They’re also lightweight, which can make installation easier. At AEI, we offer two sizes of cast aluminum grills: the T30 and T40, with cooking surfaces of 330 and 434 square inches. These grills are great for smaller patios or shared spaces where you might need more than one grill.

Which to Choose?

Both materials are perfect for outdoor grilling, but your choice depends on what’s important to you. Stainless steel grills tend to have a more polished, high-end look, and are great for large, high-use areas. Cast aluminum grills are a smaller, more budget-friendly option that still holds up well outdoors. Whichever material you choose, AEI’s grills are built to last.

Mounting and Installation Options for Natural Gas Grills

When installing a natural gas grill, it’s important to choose the right mounting option for your space. AEI offers several ways to mount our grills, depending on the size of the grill and the look you want for your property. Here are the main types of installations to consider:

Pole-Mounted Grills

Pole-mounted grills are a great choice if you want a simple and clean look. With this option, a metal pole is installed in the ground, and the grill is attached to the top of the pole. This is a good choice for smaller grills, and it works well in places where you want to install multiple grills in a single area, like apartment complexes with shared grilling spaces.

Because pole-mounted grills take up less space, they’re perfect for areas with limited room. Even though they are smaller, they are still made of high-quality materials and offer the same durability as larger grills.

Pedestal-Mounted Grills

Pedestal-mounted grills are similar to pole-mounted grills but have a sturdier and more substantial look. Instead of a thin pole, the grill is mounted on a square-shaped pedestal. This gives the grill more presence and makes it feel more permanent.

Pedestal-mounted grills are a great option for medium or large grills because the pedestal provides extra support. They are also commonly used in places like apartment complexes or condos with multiple grills in a shared grill area.

Built-In Countertop Grills

If you want to take your outdoor space to the next level, a built-in countertop grill might be the perfect option. These grills are designed to be installed directly into a custom outdoor kitchen countertop. The grill is placed in a cavity built into a concrete, brick, or stone countertop. This type of installation is highly customizable and gives the space a polished, high-end look.

In addition to the grill, you can also include other appliances, like side burners, beverage centers, and sinks, to create a full outdoor kitchen. AEI provides detailed CAD files and PDFs to help developers and contractors plan and design the space properly. Proper ventilation and safety measures are crucial when designing these outdoor kitchens, so working with professionals is important.

Grill Islands (Prefabricated Grill Islands)

If you want the benefits of a built-in grill but without the cost and effort of building a custom outdoor kitchen, AEI’s prefabricated grill islands are a great alternative. These grill islands are ready-made outdoor kitchens that come with a grill, storage space for utensils, and countertops for preparing and serving food.

Grill islands are much cheaper than custom-built kitchens and can be assembled in just one day with basic tools. Grill islands are also lighter in weight, which makes them ideal for patios with weight restrictions, like rooftop spaces. Even though they are easy to install, they still provide the same grilling power and durability as custom kitchens.

Grill Size and Cooking Surface: Which One Is Right for You?

Choosing the right size for your natural gas grill is important, especially when you’re installing it in a multifamily or commercial property. AEI offers several grill sizes, allowing you to pick the one that fits your space and the number of people who will be using it. Here’s a breakdown of our available sizes and what they’re best for:

Small Grills (330–540 sq. in. of cooking surface)

Our smaller grills are perfect for spaces where you need a high-quality grill but don’t have a lot of room. The T30 and T40 cast aluminum grills, with cooking surfaces of 330 and 434 square inches, are ideal for smaller patios, rooftop decks, and grill areas with multiple grills. These grills provide enough cooking space for residents or guests to enjoy a barbecue, but they don’t take up too much room, making them a great choice for apartment complexes and condos of all sizes.

For stainless steel options, the S27T, which has a cooking surface of 540 square inches, is also a great small option. This grill is perfect for residential use or smaller communal spaces where multiple people will be using the grill, but it doesn’t need to be overly large.

Medium Grills (540–720 sq. in. of cooking surface)

If you’re managing a property with more space or more residents, a medium-sized grill may be a better choice. AEI’s S36T stainless steel grill has 720 square inches of cooking surface, making it a great option for shared spaces in mid-sized apartment complexes, duplexes, or condos. This grill can handle larger gatherings while still being compact enough to fit in smaller outdoor areas.

Large Grills (720–960 sq. in. of cooking surface)

For high-traffic areas or properties with a lot of residents, a larger grill is a must. The S48T stainless steel grill has 960 square inches of cooking surface, which makes it perfect for big apartments or condos with communal grilling areas. This grill allows for a large volume of food to be cooked at once, making it ideal for large events or properties where many people are likely to be grilling at the same time.

By choosing the right grill size for your property, you can ensure that your residents or guests have a positive grilling experience, whether they’re cooking for themselves or for a larger group.

Safety and Commercial Features of AEI’s Natural Gas Grills

When it comes to installing natural gas grills in commercial or multifamily properties, safety is always a top priority. At AEI, we understand that these grills will be used by many people, so we’ve added important safety features to our commercial grill models to keep everyone safe.

60-Minute Automatic Gas Flow Shutoff Timer

One of the key safety features of our commercial grills is the automatic gas flow shutoff timer. This timer ensures that the grill will automatically turn off after 60 minutes of use. This feature is perfect for shared spaces where someone might accidentally leave the grill on after they’re done cooking. By automatically shutting off, the grill prevents gas from running for too long, which reduces the risk of accidents and saves energy.

Anti-Theft Control Knobs

In shared spaces like apartment complexes or resorts, it’s important to make sure that the grills stay secure and are not tampered with. That’s why we’ve designed anti-theft control knobs for our commercial grills. These knobs are specially made to prevent theft or tampering, which means that the grills stay in good working order for everyone to use. This is especially useful in high-traffic areas where multiple people have access to the grills.

These safety features make AEI’s grills a great option for property managers who want peace of mind when offering grills in shared outdoor spaces. By providing reliable safety measures, AEI grills help protect both the property and the people using them.

At AEI, we offer both residential and commercial natural gas grills, and while both types are built to last, there are a few differences to consider depending on how the grill will be used.

Key Differences for Commercial Use

While the construction and cooking quality are the same, our commercial grills come with added features to meet the needs of multifamily and commercial properties. For example, our commercial grills include a 60-minute automatic gas flow shutoff timer, which helps reduce the risk of accidents by ensuring that the grill automatically turns off after a set time. This is a key feature for shared spaces where people might forget to turn off the grill after using it.

Commercial grills also come with anti-theft control knobs, a useful feature in spaces where the grills are available to many people. These knobs are designed to prevent tampering or theft, ensuring that the grills stay in good condition for everyone to use.

Choosing the Right Grill for Your Property

For residential use, a homeowner can enjoy the same high-quality grilling experience as any commercial property. But for multifamily complexes or commercial spaces like resorts or hotels, the added safety and security features make our commercial grills a smart choice for property managers who want a reliable, easy-to-maintain solution.

Natural gas grills are an excellent choice for both residential and commercial properties. They offer convenience, cost savings, and environmental benefits, making them a smart investment for developers, contractors, and property owners. At AEI, we’ve designed our grills to be durable, safe, and reliable, with features like automatic shutoff timers and anti-theft control knobs, ensuring that our grills are ideal for high-traffic areas like apartment complexes, resorts, or condos.

Whether you’re looking for a small grill for a rooftop patio or a larger one for a communal grilling space, AEI offers a range of options to fit your needs. Our stainless steel and cast aluminum grills are made with high-quality materials that can withstand outdoor elements while delivering great grilling performance.

We also provide various installation options, from pole and pedestal mounts to built-in countertop setups and prefabricated grill islands, allowing you to choose the perfect solution for your property. With AEI, you can be confident that your grill will provide long-lasting value, whether it’s for a private home or a commercial setting.

To learn more about our natural gas grills or to see how they can improve your property, visit AEI’s website. Our team is ready to help you select the right grill and make installation easy.

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