Outdoor kitchens should be as sturdy as they are beautiful. Unfortunately, many people designing their dream outdoor kitchen sacrifice one of these elements in order to achieve the other. Don't make this mistake. A beautiful outdoor kitchen is a waste of time and money if it's not built to last. You can have both strength and beauty in your outdoor kitchen — and you should!
Let's look at 4 ways to check your boxes in the durability department while also creating an attractive design.
Steel, not wood
An outdoor kitchen that's made of wood is susceptible to a lot of wear, including rot, bending, mildew, and bugs, Wood is also flammable, which is not a good combination when you're grilling or cooking over an open flame on the stove. Building your outdoor kitchen with steel supports instead of wood ensures that it will not only be sturdier, but also safer.
Red oxide-coated metal
A steel foundation for your outdoor kitchen certainly provides stability, but steel is not resistant to natural processes of aging such as rust. That's why a protective coating for your steel is so important. We recommend a red oxide coating that will keep the metal on your outdoor kitchen from rusting.
PermaBase cement board
An outdoor kitchen that couldn't handle the outdoors would obviously be useless. However, you may be surprised to know that many outdoor kitchen builders use materials designed for indoor environments — HardieBacker cement board being one of them.
Instead, we recommend using PermaBase cement board for outdoor kitchens because it performs well in outdoor environments and is also mold-proof.
Granite countertops
Granite is by far the most durable countertop option for your outdoor kitchen. It's also one of the most expensive. However, the price tag of granite countertops comes with considerable advantages in both form and function. Not only does granite provide the beauty of a smooth, finely polished counter that shines with reflective gloss, but you'll also be able to enjoy it for many years, due to granite's long-lasting durability.
Another benefit of granite is that it is resistant to stains, so as long as you properly care for your granite countertops, they will remain in flawless condition.
Now that you know some of the key features of a sturdy outdoor kitchen, you're ready to talk to a design expert about building your own. Click on the banner below to get started!
