Outdoor Kitchens - Things To Know Before You Choose To Go For One

By Author: Ben Lager
Total Articles: 24
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Outdoor kitchens are the latest trend today; wine coolers, refrigerators, and sinks are some of the popular items that are trending in lifestyle magazines. But the problem with them is that if not planned carefully they can set you back by a few thousand dollars. Here are a few things to know before you choose to go for an outdoor kitchen:

- Is it going to be a basic kitchen set up or are you going for ‘the works’ with electrical gadgets, fireplace, flexible seating, a separate grill and refrigerator etc? The project cost can range from a hundred to a few thousand dollars. Some kitchens that are a part of the million dollar makeover can cost anywhere from $75,000 to $85,000. Common amenities in such outdoor kitchens include flexible seating that can accommodate up to a hundred or more people, stainless steel grills, a fireplace, and surfaces with granite tops.

- Your choice of place is also important. Common aspects to consider before choosing a location would include view, wind, sun and shade, and proximity to the house. Local building codes, regulations by the homeowners association should also be kept in ...
... mind.

- What would be your choice of flooring? You can either choose contemporary styles such as slate which is concrete that is easy to clean or stamped concrete that gives a rustic feel or simple brick floorings. Irrespective of the choice, make sure to choose one that is durable even in heavy traffic and is stain proof. Marble or other slick flooring is certainly off the list.

- How much time do you intend to spend in the kitchen? Are you going to use it only to entertain guests or would you be using it every day?

- Do it yourself isn’t a bad option if you’ve planned a basic kitchen, but if the project is large with detailed work, it’s better to leave the job to the professionals.

- Some common accessories of an outdoor kitchen include a BBQ grill, a fireplace or a fire pit, an outdoor oven (a traditional brick or stone pizza oven would be ideal) etc. Besides these, you would need counter tops, storage cabinets, outdoor sinks, shelter over the kitchen, etc. As for the shelter, be sure to keep in mind the smoke that would blow from the grill before you choose a shelter for your outdoor kitchen.

- Your choice between a fire pit and fire place would largely depend on your needs. You can use a fire pit to cook with a rotisserie and grill; the same cannot be done on a fire place.

The author of this article helps people with home renovation tips and tricks, including helping them on outdoor kitchens and outdoor fireplaces.