The Outdoor Kitchen and You: Style on a Budget

Outdoor kitchens have evolved from the simple pig roasting on a spit to the fully equipped areas of today. When I was young the outdoor kitchen wasn't really a term because it consisted of little more than a cheap charcoal grill and a set of tongs or a long spatula. The only other amenity we had was the little picnic table built of fourteen or fifteen two by sixes with spalted red paint. If someone wanted to upset dinner all they had to do was get up from one side of the table quickly causing the party opposite to slam to the ground. I never could understand why picnic tables were able to double as see-saws.

The modern outdoor kitchen is a trend which seemed to trickle down from the uber-rich to the middle class. The only real difference between the indoor kitchen and the outdoor variety is the need for the outdoor kitchen to resist the elements. The most useful material in this case is stainless steel which is easily cleaned, sanitary and adds a touch of professionalism. When planning an outdoor kitchen you need to consider what your needs and wants are and how your budget affects those choices. The typical outdoor kitchen costs around five thousand dollars depending of course on how elaborate it is.

However, (and this is a big however) you can build your own outdoor kitchen on a budget that wouldn't pay for a rich man's grill. Start with the area where you are going to put your outdoor kitchen. Layout a deck where your planning on building, if your plan includes a sink or a refrigerator install water and electrical now. If you don't want to spend a fortune you can buy three quarter inch pvc or cpvc pipe and run a line from under your home tapping into where your outside spicket is tapping your water supply. Install a ball valve first thing so that you can turn off the water in the winter if necessary. Run the pvc line to the deck area and install another valve to a low point so you can drain off the water once it's cut off. The electrical can be installed with underground 12/2 with ground run under the home tapping into whatever circuit is available without opening the walls. Install a switch at the point where the wire leaves the home so that you can cut off the power quickly and easily if necessary.

Now that you have installed water and electrical you can build your deck. Of course you can pour a slab with decorative stamping or tile, but if your trying to get out as cheap as possible, build a pressure treated deck to local code and cover with pressure treated five quarter inch decking. To get that custom look you can lay three quarter inch advantech plywood (with fifty year warranty) over the decking, then around the edges install aluminum flashing from the bottom of the outer band up over the edge of the ply. This will prevent water from seeping under the tile or other floor covering that will withstand the elements. For complete instructions on tile, read http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2574569/the_final_word_on_ceramic_tile_flooring.html?cat=30
Cover the outside band with masonite or cedar lap siding, whatever you choose be sure to use an aluminum or stainless edge cap all the way around to close the outside corner.

You now have a floor, congratulations your almost there. The cornerstone of the outdoor kitchen is the grill, which we all know can cost anywhere from thirty dollars to ten thousand dollars depending on how fixated you are with btu's. You can get a nice Kenmore grill that uses charcoal and gas for less than three hundred dollars. This is your centerpiece, this is what you are going to build around. Install the grill in a location that allows you to face your guests while remaining functional compared with your other amenities. Now you can get a fridge, you do not have to buy a thousand dollar unit. Haier makes a stainless steel mini fridge that with the right cabinetry will survive nicely outdoors. It doesn't have to be specifically made for outdoors unless you feel better spending the money.

Once you have your centerpiece and a fridge you can plan your cabinets. This is where you are going to keep your fridge (out of the rain, the snow and the sun) and your outside dishes and whatever else you want to keep out there. Do not build your cabinets out of plywood, use Structoglas a fiberglass reinforced plastic panel which will cost you about forty dollars a sheet. This material is made for sanitary applications and will weather almost any storm. If that is outside of your budget, you can use pre-coated metal roofing for your cabinets. If you want to use wood to frame your cabinets that is fine, just make sure to seal all of the joints and laps and install seals on your doors. Keep water out because if it puddles inside the cabinets it will eventually penetrate the floor and rot your structure. It is also a good idea to raise the fridge off the ground and install a drain below it just in case.

If you live in an area where you get all four seasons (by that I mean freeze-thaw cycles) then do NOT use tile on your countertops. The best option for a budget friendly countertop is the concrete top. It can be poured and finished in place with a minimum of effort and you can purchase scrap granite or quartz for a cutting board and install them flush in the pour. Most granite and quartz countertop manufactures have a lot of scraps from where they remove sink openings and the like, these can be purchased for next to nothing. If your lucky they will even give them to you. If you search around long enough you might even find enough of the same type of material to "frame" the pieces to look like tile while giving you a tough durable surface resistant to weather cycles. If possible allow the countertop to overhang the cabinets at least six inches or more to keep water out of them.

The whole point of this particular article is to get you thinking about what is possible with a little imagination and a weekend or two. For the amount that some people spend on planning the room alone, you could have an entire outdoor kitchen with money to spare. The thing your guests will remember wont be how shiny the kitchen was, they will remember the food, the time spent with friends and family. They could care less how much you spent, however once they comment on how nice your kitchen is, you can offer to build them one and make a profit if you like. What I want to get through to you is that no matter what project you tackle, do your homework...