Installing an outdoor kitchen is a great way to get the most out of your backyard. According to recent studies, outdoor kitchens generate a 200 percent return on your investment. In other words, they’re worth the money. Cooking and eating meals outside are lovely, good-weather activities. Imagine you’re preparing the best grilling recipes with the most refreshing seasonal drinks in hand as you enjoy the views. However, with all that loveliness comes a few headaches. Hauling food and supplies out from the kitchen can be a huge hassle, especially when you realize halfway through cooking that you’ve forgotten a must-have ingredient you need right now. If cooking outside with all the essentials wares at your fingertips is your idea of domestic bliss, then consider building a functional outdoor kitchen. Take your best backyard ideas to a sizzling new level with all of these dreamy outdoor kitchen ideas.
How Installing an Outdoor Kitchen Can Transform Your Outdoor Living Space
The cost of building an outdoor kitchen, much like an indoor kitchen renovation, varies depending on the materials and appliances you choose. Outdoor products should be built to weather the natural elements, so durability should be at the top of your list. Enlist a trusted Jun Pro Services contractor to provide a thorough estimate for building the outdoor kitchen of your dreams.
Outdoor living
If you’re not ready for a built-in outdoor kitchen, you can create a makeshift space by curating readily available, inexpensive items like a table with a flat surface for prepping food, a tiered bar cart or shelf for storage, a grill, and a cooler. Shop in a tight color palette for a cohesive and polished look. Once you experience the thrill of outdoor living, you can begin to plan how to use your space.
Firepits
For a lot of people, a permanent fire pit is absolutely worth it as they spend many nights sitting in front of it entertaining. However, if you’re really on the fence about whether you’ll use it enough, then a portable option might be best for you.
Fireplace
An outdoor fireplace can provide a lot of enjoyment. They can add light, heat, and an interactive experience that really enhances your time spent outdoors. Adding an area for a pizza oven raises the entertainment bar to flat breads and warm tortillas.
Grill
Never take the legs off your existing grill and use it like a built-in grill. With your higher end grills the manufacturer may offer a cart that also fits your grill head, but most box store or consumer models aren’t built that way. Built-in grills rarely require replacement and tend to last as long as the rest of your home’s appliances or even longer. Even though built-in grills cost more initially, their low maintenance and long-lasting nature cause them to end up being cheaper in the long run.
Built in grill venting depends on the type of gas you are using. For natural gas, we suggest venting high up in your structure so that the rising gas can escape. For propane gas, we suggest venting as low to the ground as possible so that the sinking propane gas can escape easily. Grills can include Pellet, Kamado, Charcoal, Smokers, flat tops, and electric. When looking at the components and features on a grill, always check the main components for quality before getting sold on add-on features:
- Burners
- Grates
- Grill Cooking System
- Storage cabinets and drawers
- Side shelves for keeping accessories and spices handy
- Rotisserie
Counter tops
Having a working space is handy when operating a grill. However, serving space is needed for entertaining with the standard buffet style. Counter tops can cover a working island, also. For really functional space a matching built in extra-long table for entertaining is glorious. Sinks, faucets, warming drawers, storage drawers, ice bin coolers, and bar centers are optional features.
Appliances
Surprisingly affordable are an outdoor freezer, refrigerator, wine cooler, or beer tap. Adding a dish washer is not unreasonable.
Safety Lighting
If there are paths leading to or from your kitchen, those should be lit with proper safety lighting. Installing lights in the risers of stairs is another must. Task lighting over cooking areas also provides an extra layer of protection. Even when the sun goes down early in late fall, you can still utilize your kitchen without fear of anyone tripping or not being able to see what they’re doing in the kitchen. The same goes for those summer nights when you’re entertaining family and friends.
Nonslip Flooring
When considering the kind of flooring to install, be aware of slip resistance. Floors in outdoor kitchens can easily get greasy or wet, which poses a big safety risk if that flooring is overly slick. Especially if you have a family with young kids who are going to be running in and out of this area, the flooring needs to be nonslip.
Empty Trash Bins and Clean Regularly
One potential hazard not many people consider is the risk of insects and wildlife. Depending on where you live, your outdoor kitchen could attract anything from flying annoyances to raccoons to bears. Therefore, it’s essential that you regularly empty your trash cans and keep the kitchen counters and surfaces clean of food and beverage residue. When choosing materials for your cabinetry and counters, think about what’s going to be easiest to clean. A material like stainless steel is easy to clean and to maintain, giving you peace of mind that you won’t be attracting any unwanted visitors.
Hardscape
Hardscape is the stone and pavers used for the foundation and design of your outdoor kitchen. Granite is a very popular choice for stone outdoor kitchens because of its durability. It is fade-resistant and can withstand the hot summer sun. It comes in a variety of styles and patterns. If you already have granite counters inside your house, you may be able to match the surface for your outdoor kitchen countertops as well.
The only downside is that you will need to seal your granite countertops annually to keep them from staining and growing mold and mildew. Many people choose to seal their countertops in late summer or early fall to prevent staining and damage during their kitchen’s “off season. Whether your outdoor kitchen ideas include occasional entertaining or daily grilling, granite is a solid choice that will hold up over the years.
Quartzite is another beautiful outdoor countertop option with a luxury look. It can mimic the appearance of marble but is harder and more durable. It is also fade-resistant and can hold up to the sun even in the hottest summer weather.
Quartzite is prone to scratching, so you’ll need to be careful with knives and grill tools and always use a cutting board. It can also stain easily, so cleaning up spills promptly is key to keeping it looking like new. Additionally, quartzite is heat-sensitive at very high temperatures, so you’ll need trivets under any hot dishes. Overall, quartzite is a great choice that will live up to your stylish outdoor kitchen ideas, but it may be better suited for casual drinks and entertainment than heavy-duty cooking and food prep.
Soapstone is a less common choice for outdoor kitchen countertops, but can provide a simple, durable solution for cooking. It is also non-porous, meaning it doesn’t need any sealing or significant maintenance, a big perk for busy families.
Soapstone is somewhat soft in comparison to granite or quartzite, so you’ll need to take care when cooking to avoid nicks and scratches. Some soapstone countertops can be refinished through sanding to extend their lifetime. Finally, if your outdoor kitchen ideas include dramatic dark soapstone countertops, you’ll want to consider that their color means they hold a lot of heat. While they are fade-resistant, they may be too hot to work on during the summer in warmer climates.
Porcelain is a practical and stylish option for outdoor kitchen countertops. It is made of non-porous ceramic clay that contains a number of other minerals. Since it’s manufactured under extremely high temperatures, it is a heat-resistant option that will hold up to years of use outdoors.
Porcelain is highly durable and stain resistant. It can withstand regular use as well as the effects of nature all while mimicking the beautiful look of natural stone. Furthermore, it performs well through harsh temperature changes, making it a great option for climates where temperatures drop below freezing in the winter. The only drawback to consider is that porcelain is typically manufactured in thinner slabs than other natural stone options. This means your edge profile options will likely be limited to a square or mitered edge.
How Installing an Outdoor Kitchen Can Transform Your Outdoor Living Space
An outdoor kitchen is a great way to expand the square footage of your home and provide additional dining and entertaining space for family and friends. However, as you start exploring outdoor kitchen ideas, you’ll find that choosing the elements for your kitchen can be tricky. They’ll have to hold up to the hot sun, rain (and possibly snow), and regular use.
Contact us
Our masonry and paving experts serve all central and northern New Jersey including Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Passaic, and Union Counties. Address 55 Terrill Road, Plainfield, NJ 07062. https://junsproservices.com