Having an outdoor kitchen can come in handy. However, it’s important to make the necessary preparations before jumping straight into things. Whether you want a portable or permanent barbeque grill and food station, don’t hit the home center before reading our expert guide to creating an ideal outdoor kitchen for your patio.
Budget
Consider your budget before you begin planning your outdoor kitchen and grill. Outdoor kitchens and grills can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $60,000. The type of materials and the size of the structure have a big impact on the cost. For example, a large outdoor kitchen with granite countertops could cost approximately $10,000.
Permits
Anytime you are working with water, electric, or sewer lines, a permit is typically required. Before you begin any build, you should check with your local officials to obtain a permit. If you’re associated with a homeowners’ association (HOA), you have to follow their rules. Cantor recommends checking for any Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (CC&Rs) contained in the HOA agreement as one of your first steps.
Plumbing and Electricity
You must figure out which outdoor kitchen appliances you want to use because not all of them require plumbing, electrical, or gas connections. For example, many grills connect to electricity and have propane tanks to power them. Even if a grill doesn’t need electricity to operate, it’s still necessary to install an electrical connection so that you can add useful items like blenders and lights. If you install a sink, you need a water supply line and a drain line. The amount of money you spend on these connections depends on the appliances that you decide to use.
Type of Kitchen
Lastly, you’ll want to make sure that you get the right style of kitchen for your patio. Considering the space, you may think that you won’t have a lot of options. This just isn’t the case as there are a slew of different types of kitchens for your patio.
Portable grill In a small space, consider a movable charcoal or gas grill with heavy cast-iron or stainless-steel grates and an easy-to-clean grease trap. A rolling cart with shelves can provide storage for extras.
Prefabs are an all-in-one option for folks with more square footage and cash to spend. These islands, which come ready to install, typically include a stucco-clad 5-foot island with a tile countertop and a drop-in gas grill built into the countertop. The grill hood can be vented externally via an access door for a propane tank. Extras, such as granite countertops and lights that show the color temperature of the flame, are ordered separately via catalog or online. DIYers can get started building their island on delivery day.
If none of these types of kitchens seem appealing to you, you’ll be glad to know that you can have one custom-built for your space. When designing a custom-built kitchen, it’s helpful to have pros design and build it in place, especially if you don’t have the skills or time to do the job yourself. Although less expensive, kitchens that are built in place utilize all available floor space, so they’re often smaller, and match their materials and style to the rest of the house. However, they do offer the most flexibility in terms of matching their materials and style to their surroundings.
Conclusion
We hope this article proves to be useful when it comes to helping you set up your outdoor kitchen. While things may seem rather daunting, it’s not something that you won’t be able to pull off as long as you know what you’re doing. Be sure to keep everything we’ve discussed here in mind so that you can make the best decisions that will allow you to successfully install an outdoor kitchen on your patio.
Let us help you with your kitchen remodel in El Dorado Hills here at Terra Inc. Construction. We are based in El Dorado County, and we do residential construction, additions, and remodeling projects. Get in touch with us today.
