What really makes summer one of the best seasons is the BBQs outside with friends and family. Having a backyard on these hot summer days is a true blessing, as it can be used for various activities.
However, if your backyard seems a bit dull and you feel there is so much potential for it, maybe a good outside kitchen would be in order.
But, where should you start? Well, in the text below, we’ll give you some advice on how to build it and make it fully functional.
1. The type of outdoor kitchen
There are mainly two types, open and closed, which are distinguished by the presence of walls. In the first case, the kitchen is well ventilated and lacks elements such as a roof, veranda, or walls.
Second, the workspace is closed from all sides, so it will be comfortable during the cold season. Open areas resemble verandas without walls and often a roof, so the effect of unity with nature is created.
Furthermore, building such a kitchen is simple as it requires only a platform to install all the kitchen appliances and a counter. You can place a table near it and enjoy a good family lunch.
A closed kitchen is more like a detached house. In order to extend its life, it is mostly built of brick and stone.
One of the construction possibilities is a summer kitchen with a veranda in which all the walls are made of glass. In winter, it is used as a storage room or additional house space.
If you insulate the walls and ceiling and install a stove, you can reside in such a room even during winter. So, depending on the type of kitchen you go for, it depends on the whole construction process.
Think of your needs and what seems more practical to you.
2. The plan
Before you build a summer kitchen, think about what duties it should perform. Depending on the decision of the owner, the materials and design are selected.
Summer kitchens are built from brick, wood, or metal. Each option has its own characteristics. Brick walls are heavy, so they need a foundation. Closed kitchens that can work all year round are made of this material.
Such constructions are fireproof, and stationary grills are often installed in them. The most successful option is considered to be a place near a residential building, to which electricity and sewage can be easily connected.
The kitchen should not block any passage so that you do not have to go around it. It must be at least 10 m away from any flammable object. An essential part of every outdoor kitchen project is choosing the right appliances.
Go for high-quality appliances which can last you a lifetime, and if you have to choose between regular or stainless steel, think of the weather conditions and how they can affect it.
A built-in grill will be a perfect addition to the kitchen, they go on the counter which should be broad and long enough to serve and prepare food on it, and of course, all the little cabinets where you can store your utensils and dishes.
Also, look for companies offering warranties for their work, and make sure to not spare a dime as it is an investment rather than just random spending.
Some additional advice we can give you is:
- Turn it north to protect yourself from direct sunlight.
- In order for the rainwater to flow away by gravity, place it on a slight slope.
- Be sure to fill the floor with concrete, regardless of the material from which the walls are made.
- Determine the location of the furnace in the phase of pouring the concrete floor.
All these are general rules you can follow, but there are some exceptions when you are planning on building a closed kitchen space, or half open, i.e., when you plan on protecting it with a roof on columns but without walls.
3. Closed kitchen
A closed summer kitchen must be built on a foundation. The walls are made of brick or wood, and they often resemble a full-fledged house.
Such designs can be used not only in the summer but throughout the year.
When building a summer kitchen, you can combine various materials, experiment with design, and install a grill, or barbecue.
Some are built to resemble a little wooden cabin, others are attached to the house (one wall), and some have glass instead of walls. These are fully closed outdoor kitchens we are talking about.
Half-closed are simply outdoor kitchens with a roof standing on four pillars. These types of outdoor kitchens are the most popular as the roof shelters them from rain or snow, and it gives great shade during summer.
They cannot be used as an additional home space, but are great for parties and BBQs. And they are easier to build, as full-closed outdoor kitchens are quite the project.
Whatever you go for, you’ll find yourself wondering whether you could change something or not, adding this or that, and maybe you’ll even stress out a bit.
But, the final product is rewarding as the kitchen offers you an amazing space to enjoy spending time with the people you care about and love.
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