These articles will discuss how to build an Outdoor Kitchen. You should still go to work and do your job, this is not a how-to-build message. Go see a doctor when you are sick and hire a contractor to build a grill island. Also although deciding who is going to build your Outdoor Kitchen is an important decision, that is secondary to what is going to be built. Many clients come to me and want an outdoor kitchen but have no idea how to make the necessary decisions that allow their desire to become a reality. If you know the design, the ability to judge the abilities of a contractor is much clearer then if you have no idea what to build.
Many clients come to us for an outdoor kitchen, grill island, summer kitchen, built in BBQ grill, etc without a specific idea of exactly what they want. Often the homeowner has a space they would like to use and an idea about turning that empty zone into a fun social space for the family. Put a flat screen television on the wall, a little coverage and a functional kitchen including a grill, refrigerator, ice, sink and storage and you have beach resort quality comfort in your own backyard.
When asked what type of built in grill they want most homeowners’ just mumble something non-committal. The overall design and the social enjoyment overshadow the details that will make or break the long term enjoyment of the home. However, the built in bbq grill and appliances are an integral part of the design. During the BBQ event, the focal point will be the grill. Location of the grill will determine where the refrigerator, side burner, access doors and sink belong. Serving space will determine where to put seating and seating will determine where to place other accessories like a built in ice bin, sink and refrigerator. Not all outdoor kitchens and bars will have a lot of built in accessories but they get a grill at least ninety percent of the time.
Built in gas grills are expensive. Rather than use a low quality gas grill that will cause long term head-aches build the counter to enjoy without a built in BBQ grill. Rather than place a product in the counter top that will not withstand the weather and lower the quality, value and functionality of the whole build useable counterspace. Include whatever built in accessories you will use during cooking, socializing and mixing drinks. Make the island comfortable to serve and to sit and be served. Keep a cart-grill that is portable and replaceable to use with the island or in a different area.
If I were only able to give one piece of advice regarding the selection of a built in grill it would be: do not go cheap. When the design is the focus, it is tempting to use a cheap grill instead of a quality product. If the grill needs to e replaced, the structure may not fit a different brand or a newer model? Many imported grill manufacturers do not make replacement grill parts available and I have had clients who spent more on OEM grill parts than the original barbeque price. Many times a client will ask to buy a built in grill and we end up replacing the entire outdoor kitchen because of the grill specifications.
The first question I usually ask a customer is “what do you cook?”. Almost everybody replies “everything” because in their mind they cook everything they eat and do not want to spend a bunch of money on a product with built-in limitations.. Grills have different abilities and even barbecues made to do "everything" will be better at one style of cooking than others. Will the client grill or serve drinks? Do you use high heat more often than low heat? When I cook a Thanksgiving Turkey I’ll smoke the bird for nine hours at 185 degrees but day to day cooking and social functions I tend to grill mostly hamburgers, steaks and fish on the highest heat setting and fast. We cook at the same temperature and the same items more often than not.
Once the type of heat used is learned, the size of the built in grill can be determined. For instance an infrared grill that heats to 1400 degrees will cook a lot faster than a barbeque that must close the hood and wait for the temperature to rise to 400 degrees. Therefore a small infrared grill can be done grilling four steaks in the same period of time a typical BBQ takes to reach cooking temperature – and taste better doing it! Grills with built in smokers, sear zones, rotisseries and blue flame burners combine many possible styles. Add a built in charcoal barbecue, side burner, infrared sear zone, fry station, wok, griddle or many other separate built in products to allow growth. If you are going to custom build an outdoor kitchen, do it right and get the grill that will satisfy your needs and is built to last outdoors by a reputable manufacturer.
Finally look at the options and features available with the built in grills you consider. A variety of accessories are available with most built in grills that make them more versatile. Consider a grill with a lifetime warranty and then choose the most versatile product within the price range you have set. This should be the last BBQ grill you buy so make sure it will grow with your needs.
After choosing the right grill we have a starting point to design the rest of the outdoor kitchen by deciding what type of accessories to build in. Outdoor kitchen accessories are available for almost any need, including refrigeration, ice coolers, counter space drawers, LP tank sliders, high bars and dozens of sizes of access doors. Years of experience designing and building have taught me to use high quality products. Replacing an item by searching specification measurements is not fun. Often once the right sized accessory is located, it may not have the same polished grain in the stainless, the same handles and hinges as the original products.
Draw it on paper fast and rough with the actual dimensions of your space. Design the space around the grill and the built accessories you will use?