Grilling is hot, hot, hot — even hotter than most people realize. The percentage of American households with grills jumped nearly 10 points in the past three years, from 72 in 2003 to 81 in 2005, according to the Hearth, Patio and Barbeque Association’s 2005 “State of the Barbeque Industry Report.”
A grill alone, however, does not an outdoor kitchen make. Counter space — usually an island — is the critical factor that elevates a backyard barbeque to outdoor-kitchen status. Many outdoor kitchens feature conveniences far beyond counters — refrigerators, warming drawers and sinks with running water. As Sheila Depp of The Tr/files/storyimages/Companies of Kentucky observes, “Almost anything you can get for an indoor kitchen, you can now get for an outdoor kitchen. I’m just waiting for some manufacturer to come out with an outdoor dishwasher!”
Where Should It Go?
The best place for an outdoor kitchen is close to your indoor kitchen, advises Depp. “There’s always going to be something you don’t have outside, and you don’t want a long trek.”
Safety is another issue, says Bob French of Pools Plus. “Locate your grill at least two feet away from vinyl siding and at least six feet from combustibles overhead — umbrellas, overhangs, tree limbs and awnings,” he recommends.
Make sure you have access to utilities. You need electricity for lights, motorized rotisseries and refrigerators. Access to natural gas is a plus, given that Americans prefer gas grills and natural gas is cheaper than propane, according to LG&E’s latest fuel comparisons ($14.01 per million BTUs for natural gas versus $22.78 for LP). For a sink, you need water. The easiest way to get it, says French, is running a potable water hose (similar to those used for RV hook-ups) to the closest spigot. A plumbed sink is also possible, if your water line has a shut-off valve and you’re willing to drain it each winter.
Finally, if your outdoor kitchen will be located under a deep overhang, consider a hood or you may be singing “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” whenever you fire up the grill.
Choosing a Grill
Before you start shopping, answer these questions:
Charcoal or gas? Gas is more controllable and convenient, but a lot of people prefer charcoal’s authentic flavor. Some grills allow you to use both.
Will you use the grill for family dinners or large-scale entertaining? The biggest mistake many people make is buying one that’s too small, says Jim Lehrer of Brownsboro Hardware & Paint.
What do you like to cook? For Ruth’s Chris-quality steaks, infrared burners sear meat and seal in the juices. Motorized rotisseries are great for whole chickens, pork tenderloins and prime rib. For smoking, choose a grill with a built-in wood-chip tray or consider a Big Green Egg or a Traeger wood-pellet grill. “Some people use two grills, one for grilling and one for smoking,” says Vance Fritton, owner of Vance’s True Value Hardware.
With built-in grills, quality is paramount. Tommy Clutts of CasualLiving & PatioCenter recommends bringing a magnet with you when shopping for one. “If the magnet sticks to the grill, it’s not real stainless and it’s going to rust,” he says.
A few other niceties available from different manufacturers: built-in lights to illuminate the grill surface and self-cleaning models.
The GrillIsland
Many companies, from Sam’s Club to Home Depot, carry prefabricated islands. For those who want something more personalized, Watson’s offers Cal Flame islands that allow you to select from many different styles, sizes, materials and features to create an island that suits your needs.
Pools Plus has gone a step further by hiring a landscape architect to design outdoor living spaces for their customers. “Formerly, we only carried prefab islands, but now we’re designing and building them to give our customers exactly what they want,” French notes.
Some homeowners hire contractors to build their outdoor kitchens, while others do the work themselves. “An island is a fairly simple project, because it’s basically just a box,” says Clutts. “You do, however, need a licensed electrician for wiring and a licensed plumber for water and gas lines.”
A few rules of thumb:
• Make your island 32-36 inches tall and at least 24 inches deep.
• If possible, plan for 36 inches of space on both sides of the grill and 18-24 inches beside the sink.
• Use weather-resistant materials such as brick, natural stone, synthetic brick or stone veneer, stucco, frost-proof porcelain tile, glass block or concrete. Wood can be used, but it requires protection from the elements. “Think marine grade, such as mahogany, ipe ( pronounced ‘EE-pay’) or teak,” advises Tom Burkhart of The Burkhart Company. For painted wood cabinets, MDO plywood, normally used for signs, is a good choice.
• Many built-in grills require an insulated sleeve. Check with your supplier to find out if the sleeve is standard with your model or must be purchased separately.
• Add storage with prefabricated stainless-steel cabinet doors and drawers. Also available: paper-towel holders, cutting boards, pull-out trash bins and ice holders.
• Protect your investment with a custom-made cover when not in use. Best sources: auto and boat upholsterers.
Other Amenities
How you equip your outdoor kitchen depends on two things — your wants and your wallet. For Lehrer, side burners are well worth the money. “They’re great for corn and sauteed mushrooms, and allow everyone to be outside when you’re entertaining,” he says. “They’re also good for cooking strong-smelling foods, such as fish and bacon, outside.”
A host of other outdoor-rated appliances are also available — icemakers, stereos, “kegerators” for keeping your favorite brew chilled and on-tap, wok burners, warming drawers, ventilation hoods and refrigerators. Only offered as small undercounter units, outdoor refrigerators are very expensive because they require a special condenser to prevent the refrigerant from freezing in bitter-cold weather. Some homeowners opt instead for a full-size indoor refrigerator, keep it beneath a protective overhang during grilling season, and bring it indoors for the winter.
You can ext/files/storyimages/your grilling season with an outdoor fireplace or quartz patio heater. Another option: Coleman’s Backhome Patio Heater & Light. Set on casters, the 40,000 BTU propane heater can raise outside temperatures from 10 to 30 degrees, works with or without the light on and costs about $460. “We sell a lot of them for hot tubs,” says Fritton.
Wireless LCD TVs can keep sports fans from missing the game while they’re basting. Available in 12- and 15-inch sizes, these battery-operated sets can pick up satellite or cable signals up to 115 feet away and cost about $1,000.
Finally, there’s patio furniture. If your first inclination is to buy an outdoor dinner table, you might want to reconsider, advises French. “We’re seeing a lot more interest in conversation groupings — plush chairs and side tables arranged around a coffee table. They do double-duty for eating and are generally more comfortable for enjoying the evening outside. ”
Whatever furniture you buy, don’t skimp on quality. Look for powder-coated aluminum or wrought-iron frames with a warranted finish, Sunbrella or similar fabrics designed not to fade, Dacron cushions that drain, and break-resistant tabletops made of stone or ungrouted tile (so a broken tile can easily be replaced). “This year, I’m swapping my third set of cheap patio furniture for good stuff,” French says. “I could have saved myself a lot of trouble and money if I’d invested in quality the first time.”
RESOURCE LIST
Brownsboro Hardware & Paint
4858 Brownsboro Road, 897-1591
The Burkhart Company
1010 S. Preston St., 587-1538
CasualLiving & PatioCenter
12234 Shelbyville Road, 245-0155
Pools Plus
8130 New LaGrange Road, 426-1250
The Tr/files/storyimages/Companies of Kentucky
11216 Decimal Drive, 267-8313
Vance’s True Value Hardware
9521 U.S. Hwy. 42, 292-2595
Walnut Ridge Pool & Patio
720 E. Lewis & Clark Pkwy. (Hwy. 131)
Clarksville, (812) 288-9777
Watson’s
3401 Ruckriegel Pkwy., 267-2333
