Building Outdoor Kitchens for Every Budget E-Book

Steve Cory

• Herausgeber: Creative Homeowner
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2016

Seitenzahl: 250

Beschreibung

This book brings attractive and functional outdoor kitchens within the reach of budget-conscious homeowners, with lots of design ideas, plenty of dream kitchens for inspiration, and more than 300 clear how-to photographs. Highly accessible DIY instructions carefully guide the reader through all aspects of construction—even cutting and installing a granite countertop. It shows you how to build lightweight "masonry" counters using steel studs and concrete backboard and offers alternatives to high-end appliances to save money. Also included are accessories and amenities to affordably customize an outdoor kitchen: fire pits, a variety of adobe/clay ovens, pergolas, awnings, TV and stereo equipment, mosquito abatement, misters and heaters, fireplaces, pizza ovens, and standup "churrasco" grills.

Leseprobe

Safety

Although the methods in this book have been reviewed for safety, it is not possible to overstate the importance of using the safest methods you can. What follows are reminders— some do’s and don’ts of work safety—to use along with your common sense.

■ Always use caution, care, and good judgment when following the procedures described in this book.

■ Always be sure that the electrical setup is safe, that no circuit is overloaded, and that all power tools and outlets are properly grounded. Do not use power tools in wet locations.

■ Always read container labels on paints, solvents, and other products; provide ventilation; and observe all other warnings.

■ Always read the manufacturer’s instructions for using a tool, especially the warnings.

■ Use hold-downs and push sticks whenever possible when working on a table saw. Avoid working short pieces if you can.

■ Always remove the key from any drill chuck (portable or press) before starting the drill.

■ Always pay deliberate attention to how a tool works so that you can avoid being injured.

■ Always know the limitations of your tools. Do not try to force them to do what they were not designed to do.

■ Always make sure that any adjustment is locked before proceeding. For example, always check the rip fence on a table saw or the bevel adjustment on a portable saw before starting to work.

■ Always clamp small pieces to a bench or other work surface when using a power tool.

■ Always wear the appropriate rubber gloves or work gloves when handling chemicals, moving or stacking lumber, working with concrete, or doing heavy construction.

■ Always wear a disposable face mask when you create dust by sawing or sanding. Use a special filtering respirator when working with toxic substances and solvents.

■ Always wear eye protection, especially when using power tools or striking metal on metal or concrete; a chip can fly off, for example, when chiseling concrete.

■ Never work while wearing loose clothing, open cuffs, or jewelry; tie back long hair.

■ Always be aware that there is seldom enough time for your body’s reflexes to save you from injury from a power tool in a dangerous situation; everything happens too fast. Be alert!

■ Always keep your hands away from the business ends of blades, cutters, and bits.

■ Always hold a circular saw firmly, usually with both hands.

■ Always use a drill with an auxiliary handle to control the torque when using large-size bits.

■ Always check your local building codes when planning new construction. The codes are intended to protect public safety and should be observed to the letter.

■ Never work with power tools when you are tired or when under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

■ Never cut tiny pieces of wood or pipe using a power saw. When you need a small piece, saw it from a securely clamped longer piece.

■ Never change a saw blade or a drill or router bit unless the power cord is unplugged. Do not depend on the switch being off. You might accidentally hit it.

■ Never work in insufficient lighting.

■ Never work with dull tools. Have them sharpened, or learn how to sharpen them yourself.

■ Never use a power tool on a workpiece—large or small—that is not firmly supported.

■ Never saw a workpiece that spans a large distance between horses without close support on each side of the cut; the piece can bend, closing on and jamming the blade, causing saw kickback.

■ When sawing, never support a workpiece from underneath with your leg or other part of your body.

■ Never carry sharp or pointed tools, such as utility knives, awls, or chisels, in your pocket. If you want to carry any of these tools, use a special-purpose tool belt that has leather pockets and holders.

Contents

Introduction

CHAPTER ONE

Dreaming & Planning

Bringing It All Outdoors

Cooking and Entertaining Styles

The Floor

Sizing and Situating the Kitchen

Blending with the House

Layouts That Work

Dining Tables and Eating Counters

Backsplashes

Inside a Porch

Walls and Curtains

Over Your Head

For the City Folk

The Grill

Pizza Ovens

Fire Pits and Fireplaces

Comforts of Home

Lighting the Night

CHAPTER TWO

Getting the Most On a Tight Budget

Getting More with Less

Building a Lightweight Counter Inexpensively

Counter Facing

Cabinet Options

Countertops to Choose

Door and Drawers

Storage Solutions

Getting a Good Grill Value

More Cooking Options

Side Burners and Warmers

Sinks and Plumbing

Amenities

Refrigerators and Coolers

Grilling Accessories

Doing It Yourself or Hiring a Pro

CHAPTER THREE

Kitchens That Succeed

Side by Side

Handy and Neat

Blending In

Minimalism

Eating and Serving Counter

Two Big Curves

Kamado-and-Gas-Grill Combo

Stony Curves

A Happy, Speckled Place

Classic Entertaining Centers

Cozy but Open

Open Craftsmanship

CHAPTER FOUR

Building Counters

Detailed Planning

Utility Lines

Framing a Counter with Wood

Framing with Metal Studs

Wiring a Receptacle

Adding Backer Board

Applying Stone or Faux-Stone Veneer

Applying Stucco

Facing a Counter with Tile

Building Wooden Access Doors

Building PVC Cabinets

Crafting Wood Cabinets

Stackable-Block Counters

CHAPTER FIVE

Installing Countertops & Appliances

Granite and Other Slab Countertops

Ceramic-Tile Countertop

Pour-in-Place Concrete Countertop

Counter with a Kamado Grill

Pizza Oven

Churrasco Grill

Installing a Sink

Installing Grills and Burners

Index

Resource Guide

Credits

Metric Equivalents

Introduction

To quote Clemens Jellema, a world-class deck builder in the Washington, D.C., area, “Everyone wants an outdoor kitchen, but most people think they can’t afford one.” Well, this book will fix that.

Many homeowners have become intrigued with the idea of an outdoor kitchen—a place to cook and prepare food with family and friends outside the confines of the house. If you live in parts of the West or the South, chances are that you know several people who have outdoor kitchens. If you live elsewhere, you may have seen outdoor kitchens in books or heard that wealthy people near you have one.

A certain type of outdoor kitchen counter has come to be accepted as the norm in some parts of the country. It is built massively and must be supported by a thick concrete slab. The appliances—grill, side burner, refrigerator, sink, and specialty items made just for outdoor kitchens—are expensive. (Many people spend more than $6,000 for a grill alone.) A pizza oven or fireplace can cost $10,000.

All considerations taken together, the cost of an outdoor kitchen like this is typically a minimum of $25,000. Many people spend $70,000 or more.

These expensive kitchens are beautiful. If they are built correctly, with reliable appliances properly installed, they can provide service for many years. And if you have that kind of cash lying around, you may choose to hire a contractor to build one.

But what about the rest of us? Many of us would rather devote our “extra” tens of thousands of dollars to paying the mortgage or putting kids through college. Must we be content with a standalone grill and a few sticks of lawn furniture?

The answer is a resounding no. In this book we will show you how to build an outdoor counter that houses all of the appliances you want . . . for a reasonable price. There are many ways to do this, and we will show you how to do it yourself or hire a professional to build it for you.

You will learn how to build a great counter like this—or how to save money if you hire a pro.

Building with bricks that match the house makes an outdoor kitchen counter feel as if it really belongs.

1

Dreaming & Planning

Your goal is to build an outdoor kitchen that is inexpensive, but that does not mean you have to start out thinking small. Don’t fail to dream. Start by thinking of all of the things that you would like—a large-enough counter in a shape that best meets your needs, the countertop, side-of-counter surfaces, cabinets, drawers, a refrigerator, a sink, an overhead structure, and last but not least the grills and burners that you have dreamed about.

Look through this chapter for inspiration and practical solutions. Later, when you add up the numbers, you may need to scale back or leave space to add additional upgrades. Or you may be pleasantly surprised to find that you can fit most if not all of the features that you would like into your budget.

Once you have an idea what you like and can afford, check out Chapter 2 (beginning on page 48), which gets specific about saving money without sacrificing goodies. Begin with a plan that copies other kitchens you have seen. Then as you think through how you will use the space, your plan should come into focus.

Bringing It All Outdoors

Even when a backyard barbecue consists of a simple charcoal grill and a few lawn chairs on the deck or lawn, the outdoor setting creates a naturally convivial atmosphere, and the food seems to taste better and is more fun to prepare. The downside is all of the trips back and forth, the mess in the indoor kitchen, and the general lack of creature comforts.

An outdoor kitchen solves these problems, bringing outdoor cooking and dining to a new level: food preparation is easier; the cooking experience is better; and the chef and diners have comfortable places to hang out. Adding an outdoor kitchen increases the time that a family spends outdoors, and it relieves stress on the indoor kitchen (and the cook). It effectively increases the square footage of the home’s living space and the value of the home.

With the ever-growing number of products on the market, there are amenities to fit every budget. If your budget is tight, plan bigger than you can afford—leaving room for future upgrades. As you plan, think of your space as an outdoor dining/living room, designed for comfort and relaxation so that everyone who uses the space—cooks and their advisors, diners, and loungers alike—will feel at home.

The pergola over this kitchen keeps the area shady but still wide open to the yard.

Wood cabinetry is unusual in an outdoor kitchen, but it can be durable if you use rot-resistant wood and extra-strong finishes.

Stackable block assembles quickly and has the look and durability of natural stone.

This counter’s rough stone veneer complements the smooth flagstone patio.

Cooking and Entertaining Styles

An outdoor kitchen will encourage your family to eat outside more often, making for less mess and more-relaxed meals. And for those occasions when you need to cook for a larger crowd, an outdoor kitchen will make the job easier. Even a small outdoor kitchen essentially doubles your cooking space, giving you two separate kitchen areas and separate domains for chefs. Homeowners who live in cold climates increasingly grill outdoors even when it is too cold to eat there. Cooking a big turkey dinner at Thanksgiving, for instance, is easier when you can cook the main course outside on the grill and devote the indoor kitchen to all of the side dishes.

Entertaining in the summer allows you to move the messiest aspects of the meal outdoors. If you are hosting a child’s birthday party, for example, you can let the kids make their own pizzas on a table that you have brought outside for the occasion. Then they can cook (supervised, of course) their creations on a grill-top pizza stone or in a pizza oven if you have one. Even if the kids get into a food fight, your indoor kitchen will remain unscathed. You can hose off the deck or patio afterward.

To design an outdoor kitchen that works for you, it helps to think about your cooking and entertaining style. Here are a few questions to ask:

■How much will local climate limit your use of an outdoor kitchen? If your backyard is too hot or rainy or too cold or buggy, consider the products shown on pages 32–33 and 78, respectively, which may prolong your grilling and outdoor-dining season.

■Do you like to cook by yourself or with others helping? How many workstations do you normally use to prepare a meal? Do you prefer to just grill outdoors, or do you like to cook side dishes and prepare salads outside as well?

■What is your entertaining style? Do you prefer separate grilling and dining areas or a single grilling counter where you can quickly serve diners who watch as you grill?

■How convenient are your indoor kitchen’s sink and refrigerator to your outdoor space? If they are nearby, adding outdoor appliances may not be worth the trouble and expense.

■Which appliances and extras do you most desire? Think back on family cookouts and larger gatherings in the past, and make a wish list in order of priority. Of course, you will want a grill that will cook the way you want to cook. Maybe there are other dream features that will make you happy, such as a fridge, sink, or even a stereo or TV.

The separate buffet counter in this kitchen lightens traffic around the cooking counter.

Here, serious diners can sit at a table; snackers and drinkers can pull up to a bar.

This full-service counter includes grill, side burner, refrigerator, warming drawer, sink, and kegerator.

This U-shape counter gives the cook a perfect work triangle and shields diners from grilling smoke.

The Floor

Your outdoor kitchen counter will probably rest on or abut a patio or a deck. This book concentrates on outdoor kitchens. If you need to install a new deck, porch, or patio, see Creative Homeowner’s books on those subjects. (Ultimate Guide: Decks and Ultimate Guide: Walks, Patios & Walls)

Most of the designs in this book are lightweight enough that they can rest on any surface that is relatively strong. (If you build a counter using concrete block, first pour a deep concrete footing to keep the structure from cracking and sinking.)

The floor where you cook will, of course, receive spatters and spills. That is not a problem with, say, composite or vinyl decking, which you can easily wipe clean. But other common surfaces—wood decking or a patio made of brick, stone, or concrete pavers—will not be as easy to keep clean. To solve this problem, you can seal the surface with a deck or masonry sealer. Apply several coats to keep the area relatively impermeable and easy to clean. Or lay down an outdoor rug, or do both.

TIP

A Rug Near the Grill

Grease spatters and spills can stain or damage flooring right by the grill, so consider using an outdoor rug to protect your patio or deck.

Many composites today have sumptuous wood tones yet never need staining and easily wipe clean.

The wide joints between stone pavers on this patio provide space for sturdy crevice plants, which seem to hold it all together.

Ceramic tiles with a stone appearance can be mortared onto a solid concrete slab.

Carefully cut slate tiles form a neat crazy-quilt pattern.

Concrete pavers are available in groupings that form circular patterns and can be set in sand.

Sizing and Situating the Kitchen

Two of the first design decisions you will make are the size and location of the kitchen counter. Here we show some possible outdoor kitchen arrangements designed to meet different needs.

At the far edge of the patio, this cooking center keeps heat and fumes away from diners. It is an attractive complement to the landscaping.

This spacious patio has room for several different use areas. The cooking center is close enough to the house to make trips in and out easy, and an entertainment counter on the other side of the patio is perfect for sipping drinks on movie night.

Built on a concrete slab along the edge of the deck and a good distance from the indoor kitchen, this spacious kitchen has plenty of amenities to minimize the need for trips back and forth.

This outdoor kitchen’s location capitalizes on the view, for both the chef and the diners. Be sure that a new kitchen with a great view does not itself obstruct a view that you have been enjoying from inside the house.

Size

A capacious counter with lots of workspace and several cooking appliances makes sense if you think you will often host large outdoor parties. But bigger is not necessarily better. If large gatherings will be rare, a gigantic counter may make your family feel dwarfed during everyday intimate gatherings. In this case, setting out extra tables for work surfaces and dining to accommodate occasional big events may be the logical solution.

Be sure that the counter is large enough if you plan to do prep work outside rather than inside—especially if several people may be cooking together. A long, straight counter works fine for up to 6 or 8 feet. If you want more counter space than that, an L- or U-shape may work better so that you don’t have to traipse all the way to one end to fetch a bowl of food or utensils. Some rules of thumb:

■ At least 2 feet of counter space on each side of a grill provides room for platters of cooked and uncooked meats, a medium-size cutting board, and an additional bowl for vegetables to be cooked.

■ Plan on 2 feet of space next to a side burner.

■ Allow at least 16 inches on each side of a sink for a drainer and bowls.

■ Think of how much space you use in your indoor kitchen, and mimic that if possible. If food preparation will be elaborate, using lots of dishes and equipment, then the more counter space you can provide, the better.

Location

When situating a grill within a counter, the challenge is to place it near the home’s existing kitchen for the sake of convenience but not so near that it infringes on the house’s interior. Some considerations:

■ If you will install a sink, natural-gas grill, or electrical outlets or appliances, aim to place the counter where you can easily run plumbing pipes (both water supply and drain), a gas line, and electrical service. Consult with contractors.

■ Think through the traffic patterns. There should be as straight a path as possible from the kitchen door to the outdoor counter without running into diners or loungers. You may be able to use a window as a food pass-through. (See photo bottom left.)

■ Make sure that smoke and fumes will be carried away from the house. If the grill will be on an enclosed patio, plan to install a commercial-size range hood to remove smoke.

■ Take note of prevailing winds and sunlight patterns during the times of the year when you will use the outdoor kitchen. If the proposed site is not well protected from wind or sun, either move it or plan to install an overhead shade structure or a fence or hedge to minimize wind.

■ There are advantages to attaching the outdoor kitchen to a house’s exterior wall: utility lines are easy to run, and it is near the kitchen and protected from weather. On the other hand, a freestanding structure away from the house allows more leeway in designing the style and shape of the counter, enhances the outdoor feel, and ensures that cooking smoke will not be a problem.

■ Avoid placing a counter or overhead where it will block the view of your backyard from the deck or from inside the house.

The owners situated this kitchen so that food and supplies can be conveniently passed through a kitchen window. The counter is low enough that it does not obstruct the view from the window, and the grill’s location along the side of the house allows smoke to easily escape.

Blending with the House

When deciding on how the counter will relate to the house, you may aim for

■A kitchen and dining area that blends seamlessly with the home, borrowing colors and shapes from the house’s exterior.

■An outdoor room that contrasts sharply with the rest of the house, thereby creating a sort of mini-vacation spot.

■A combination of the two, with basic “bones” that mimic the rest of the house, plus splashes of creative differences in texture, color, and style.

Builders often recommend borrowing from architectural details of the house, especially if the outdoor kitchen will be located adjacent to the home. If your new space will have a roof, for instance, try to match the shape and material of the home’s roof, or install the same siding in the outdoor kitchen as that used for the home.

If the interior of the house is visible from the outdoor kitchen, consider colors and materials that complement the visible colors in the indoor flooring, wall, or countertop surfaces.

Consider your yard’s landscaping, too. The site’s surrounding trees, rocks, and grasses provide a palette of natural colors that you can incorporate in your outdoor kitchen, often by using local stone or lumber.

This counter’s stone sides do not imitate anything on the house, but they do pick up on the blue-gray color of the siding and coordinate with the base of a nearby column, making the kitchen look at home.

Brick detail work that coordinates with the home’s exterior lends dignity and formality to this food-prep counter. The stone countertop is of a different color, but its rounded nosing echoes nearby pillar bases.

Gray blocks used for the grill counter are also used as accents elsewhere in the house’s masonry construction.

The rugged stackable blocks and bricks used for this handsome counter form a pleasant contrast with the lighter-colored masonry and trim of the house.

Stucco painted to match the house color makes this small L-shape counter appear to be a seamless extension of the home’s exterior. Inset smooth river pebbles add interesting texture and contrast.

Layouts That Work

Our first tip for saving money may be of the “duh” variety, but it is well worth careful consideration: how much kitchen will you really use, and can you be just as happy— maybe happier—with less?

If the indoor fridge is nearby, for example, you may want skip installing one outdoors and perhaps install a beverage well or drop-in cooler (which holds ice and drinks) instead. Similar consideration holds for a sink.

Things that others consider luxuries, on the other hand, like a stereo system, TV, or heat source, may be near necessities as far as you are concerned.

An L-shape kitchen is a more spacious design that provides two distinct areas, which makes it easier for two chefs to work together. It tends to draw a dividing line between the outdoor kitchen and the rest of the yard, neatly defining the space.

Two parallel islands is a popular configuration; the second island can double as work or eating space, while the first island is for cooking. The U-shape, a variation of parallel islands, will accommodate plenty of appliances and amenities.

A basic island built onto or next to the house is a convenient and efficient design that packs everything into one compact and attractive station. If you choose to run water, electricity, or gas lines to your outdoor kitchen, it will be simplest with this arrangement. Your house will also serve as protection from the elements from at least one direction. But you will need to avoid having the back of a gas grill against the house because heat escapes at the back. A charcoal grill that is too close can cause smoke damage, too. Most grills need plenty of room all around for ventilation.

TIP

Saving on Utility Costs

Talk with your building department or local contractors to learn about any codes that might force you to spend more money.

■ If you will run electrical lines for receptacles, lights, and appliances, you may be required to install a new electrical circuit, and you may be required to hire a professional electrician.

■ Plumbing can be inexpensive if you run only cold water and run the sink’s drain into a French drain (or dry well), as shown on page 114. Local codes may require you to connect the drain to the house’s main drain, however, which can get pricy, depending on how far the drain must run and how difficult it will be to make the connection.

■ If you attach a counter to the house, you may need to submit building plans and undergo framing and other inspections. You may be able to get around this by building a counter that is separate from the house. (In many areas, a counter that is not anchored to the house does not need to be inspected. Check with the local building department to be sure about this.) You may even be able to build right next to the house as long as you do not drive screws or other fasteners into the house.

Maybe this is all you want or need: a simple counter made of the same bricks as the house encases the grill and provides a bit of food-preparation counter on each side. You will probably need to hire a bricklayer for a project like this, but the cost should be modest.

A long, straight counter allows two or more cooks to work together side by side.

Two large curved counters, one for eating and one for cooking, add stylish flair.

Where no storage is needed, the countertop can simply span across supports, making ample knee room for stools.

A shape that uses two 45-deg. angles has an open feel yet keeps things in easy reach.

Dining Tables and Eating Counters

Creating a pleasant ambiance for diners in your outdoor space is similar to decorating the family room: it is a naturally more-casual area, a place to kick back and relax that allows more-creative latitude when adding personal touches, which can be fun. Whimsical art, colorful furniture, plants, or other decorations can cheerfully tie it all together. A few practical considerations follow:

■ Plan a dining location that is out of the main traffic path and clear of smoke from the grill.

■ If you have a pleasant view, orient the diners so that they can enjoy it. The vista does not have to be anything spectacular—a table that overlooks a few raised beds, the canopy of a nearby tree, or a trellis covered by a climbing vine or colorful plants will help everyone feel more relaxed.

■ Consider a location that is entirely separate from the cooking area. You may choose to place the grill on a patio and the dining furniture on a deck, for example. The main thing is to define separate areas and to plan for traffic paths between them.

■ Use several kinds of lighting fixtures and intensities for pleasant evening ambiance.

■ Plan for protection from the elements to maximize the usability of the space by using overhead structures, curtains, and walls.

This kitchen has a freestanding grill with a long counter that doubles as a food-preparation area and dining table, situating diners so that they can talk to the chef and enjoy the view.

Here is a simple and inexpensive setup: this round table is perfect for a small urban space. You can always add another chair or two to the periphery.

A built-in bench is more inviting when you add cushions. To avoid the expense of custom-made cushions, buy off-the-shelf ones before building the bench to make sure that they fit.

This comfortable “living room” space doubles as an eating area for buffet-style dining.

Bolted to framing inside the counter, these stools swivel and can be tucked out of the way when not needed.

This stunning rustic picnic table is made of massive wood slabs. The chunky stools are simply blocks of wood. A picnic table is a good fit for an outdoor kitchen. The long bench turns a corner to clearly delineate the outdoor room.

Backsplashes

The word “backsplash” may refer to a short (perhaps 4-inch-tall) vertical piece at the back of a countertop, or it may refer to large wall section covered by easily cleanable material. An outdoor counter does not necessarily require a backsplash, but you may choose to add one because it helps define the space and can keep bowls and plates from slipping off the back of a freestanding counter.

Most grills have lids that catch all grease spatters when they are closed—and many spatters while they are open. In the flurry of food preparation, however, there will be some “friendly fire,” and a backsplash can help contain it and make the area easier to keep clean.

If the outdoor kitchen is against a house wall, a backsplash will make cleaning easier and can add color and style to your design. A backsplash can also protect siding from bucking or warping due to high heat. You can use any nonflammable material for a backsplash. Stone and ceramic tiles are by far the most popular options, offering myriad design options. Brick and faux stone can also work, as long as you keep them well sealed.

If you install tiles in a sheltered place, you can attach them using mastic and standard grout. If they will be exposed to the weather, use professional-grade mortar and epoxy grout, and regularly apply grout sealer.

This backsplash picks up the counter’s natural brick and adds contrasting stone tilework.

Tiles in the backsplash and along the counter edge spice up the design of this spacious kitchen.

Stacked bricks that travel up from the counter to the backsplash give this kitchen a monolithic, unified appearance.

Mosaic tiles add an artist’s touch to this one-of-a-kind kitchen, while the counter siding, which blends with the house, helps tie it all together.

Inside a Porch

Most of the outdoor kitchens we show in this book are open-air types. But a kitchen inside a porch (a patio or deck with a solid roof, rather than just a pergola) is also possible. Such a “semi-outdoor kitchen” has definite advantages: you can use it on rainy days and for a greater part of the year, and it may be so near to the kitchen that you will not need a sink, refrigerator, side burner, or much storage space. Be sure to heed the warnings in the sidebar “Fire Safety,” right.

Fire Safety

If your outdoor space is totally enclosed, almost as if it were a room in the house, it is unsafe and probably illegal to grill because of fire and carbon monoxide hazards. If the porch has a roof but open walls, check fire codes in your area to be sure your type of grill is permitted. In dense cities, fire codes often prohibit grilling above ground level, especially for charcoal grills.