Outdoor kitchens really revolve around the grill. The grill is the centerpiece of the outdoor kitchen because all food prep, cooking, and serving are dictated by the primary outdoor kitchen activity which is grilling. Finally mens favorite outdoor tool becomes the center of attention. The size of the bar, design of the bar, and placement of the kitchen revolve around the cooking apparatus. It has to be in a spot where the cook will enjoy cooking. It’s a great idea to have an overhang on the outside of the bar to allow people to congregate and interact with the outdoor chef.
The next steps in planning an outdoor kitchen are to determine other amenities and to determine materials. First let me say that outdoor kitchens are not for everyone. Although they’re very pretty and very functional; a lot of money can be wasted if the outdoor kitchen. People are often surprised by the cost of the outdoor kitchen. They can run anywhere from $10,000 – $30,000. This sounds like a lot but in comparison, an indoor kitchen remodel can easily be between $50,000 – $100,000. This sounds like a lot but in comparison, a kitchen remodel can easily be between $50 – 100,000. Indeed there are non-permanent grill/sink/refrigerator combos that can be purchased at big box stores. But, these won’t feel like an outdoor kitchen.
Determining the other amenities is the next step in planning your outdoor kitchen. Options include a refrigerator, warming bins, drawer components, griddles or smokers, and possibly a sink. A refrigerator is a no brainer. It can be used to hold refreshments as well as items for cooking.
Next you’ll want to think about powering your outdoor kitchen. Do you want to have a functioning sink for food prep or rinsing? You may need to run water and sewer to the sink. Do you want a grill or other components that run on gas? You may need to run the gas line to the outdoor kitchen unit. Your kitchen will most likely have outlets to plug in blenders, lamps, or even laptops. This requires running electricity from the house. There are some ways to make this less expensive and we work creatively with our customers to create the space that’s right for them.
Finally, decisions need to be made about materials. The kitchen surround can be brick, paver, stone, or even wood. Then there’s the countertop. Like inside the home, you may use granite or quartz. There are good alternatives for outdoors that are less expensive but customers are often surprised that the countertop can be one of the most expensive elements of the outdoor kitchen.
From a construction perspective, this seemingly relatively small area can take a lot of hands to build. There may be up to 5 crews that are involved in building the outdoor kitchen. These include the framer, mason, plumber, countertop guy, electrician and the appliance guy.
If you’re considering adding an outdoor kitchen to your backyard, it can bring a whole new space to your home allowing hours of family enjoyment and entertaining possibilities. Although the project is certainly a bit more complex than it looks, there are ways we can help keep the price down. Give us a call for a free consultation about building an outdoor kitchen at your home. Call our office at (478) 745 – 2000 or drop us an email at centralgeorgia@archadeck.net.
For more pictures, please see our outdoor kitchen photo gallery on our website.