Summer is here and you are not taking full advantage of this blazing and entertaining season if you’re not spending most of your time in the great wide outdoors. Since summer BBQs and parties are a norm during this time, why not have an outdoor kitchen built by an outdoor kitchen contractor to help with your cooking? Here is everything you need to know about building the perfect outdoor kitchen for your house.

Think Of The Layout

First things first, you need to think about the floor plan and layout of the outdoor kitchen. For that, you need to assess the space you have as well. You need to have a clear idea as to where certain things will go and how you want the kitchen to look once it’s built.

One thing that’s important to remember, when designing an outdoor kitchen, is the functionality. You need to be able to move around the kitchen and do work without any problem and that’s going to be possible with planning a practical layout.

Do You Have Enough Space For It?

This tip ties in with the first one. The two most important things, when planning to build an outdoor kitchen, in the preliminary stage, is to figure out the layout as well as have enough space for it.

You need to evaluate whether or not you have enough space in your outdoor area for a reasonable-sized kitchen. If you don’t have the space for it, then you’re wasting time trying to fit a kitchen in it. There are plenty of options for smaller kitchens if you want to go for something in your smaller space.

Set A Budget

The next most important thing for building an outdoor kitchen, is to allocate a certain amount of money. Let’s face it; whenever you want to design or build something, you need to set a budget for it, otherwise, you won’t have a reference as to where you should halt the spending.

You definitely don’t want to overspend, when it comes to building anything, least of all an outdoor kitchen. You want to keep your finances in check, this is why doing your research is extremely crucial, because you get an idea as to how much an outdoor kitchen can cost you, at the end of the day.

Permanent & Temporary Kitchens

As mentioned previously, there are a lot of options for smaller kitchens in the outdoors, if you don’t have the space for it. If you do, then you can go for a full-blown kitchen outdoors with everything. But, if you don’t, then there is an option of getting a temporary kitchen. These kitchens are very easy to transport because everything in it is portable and you can easily change places, in case of bad weather or something else.

There are BBQ grills that can be folded, there are portable stove tops that can be removed and placed anywhere you please and there are also portable dining areas and cooking spaces, which can be a great addition to the outdoors, especially when summer parties are in full swing. You can pack them up and tuck them away, once you’re done. There’s no need to worry about committing to building a permanent kitchen.

Keep The Weather In Mind

You’re talking about the unpredictable outdoors here, so it’s better to be prepared for anything and everything. Sometimes, the weather can be extremely hot, and other times, there might be pouring rain. So, you want to make sure that your outdoor kitchen is fit for all kinds of weather situations.

If you want, you can make a shaded kitchen with a roof over it, so you and the equipment/appliances can be protected from the blazing sun and the heavy rain. You should also choose outdoor-friendly materials for your kitchen because they will certainly last a lot longer.

What Appliances Do You Need?

Now comes the fun part. You want to figure out what kind of appliances and things you need in the outdoor kitchen. Firstly, you can omit a refrigerator and coffee machine from the list, because you don’t need those things outdoors. It’s certainly overkill. You will definitely need a stove top to do cooking and a gas or electrical connection, depending on how the stove operates.

You will also need some organizing items for the utensils and pans, so you can go for some cabinets and shelves. A BBQ grill can be included if you have the space and budget for it. Lastly, it’s always better to start off small, and then you can gradually add more appliances as need be.

To Include A Dining Area Or Not?

This totally depends on the space you have. If you have enough space in your yard, that a dining area can be included without making the kitchen look crowded or cramped, then go for it. For this, build a deck with the help of deck contractors Port Jefferson Station.

But if you don’t, then it’s better not to include it because the last thing you want to do is to make your outdoor space look extremely cluttered.

Make Maintenance A Priority

Let’s be real; outdoor spaces require a lot more maintenance than any other thing in your house. An outdoor kitchen is no exception either. You should know that there is a lot of maintenance that comes with outdoor kitchens. The grills need to be freshened up every now and then, the space should be clean and dry at all times, etc.

You also need to keep the appliances covered, if you’re not using the kitchen, otherwise, there can be dust build-up. If you live near the coast, then salt and dew deposition is also very common and this needs to be taken care of. So, you should always keep the maintenance in mind, before committing to building an outdoor kitchen.

Materials For An Outdoor Kitchen

This is also another very important tip. When building an outdoor kitchen, you want to be able to select the right materials for it. These materials should be durable and should withstand extreme weather conditions.

Try to choose building materials like brick, concrete, metal, and stucco, because they will last longer and won’t get as damaged as other kitchen materials. You can further add an element of décor with durable tiles and stones, which will not only look beautiful but will be durable as well.

The Interior Workup

Last but not least, you also want to go over the interior workup of the outdoor kitchen. This workup includes the drainage system, pipe installation, and plumbing and electrical work, to make your kitchen operational. The reason why this is important is because your kitchen won’t be functional at all without these things.

You also want to think about the proper placement of pipes and drains, because you want to protect them from the harsh weather and even animals wandering about, so they need to be concealed, but accessible.

Conclusion

There you have it! Outdoor cooking can be made very easy and quick with an outdoor kitchen. And if you use the correct materials and work with experts from the right outdoor kitchen companies Port Jefferson, your outdoor kitchen will last for years.