Considering a DIY outdoor kitchen project?

You’ve probably been seeing a lot more mention of outdoor kitchens lately. It’s true, outdoor kitchens have become extremely popular recently!

And for good reason.

Outdoor kitchens and outdoor kitchenettes offer many benefits! 

It’s a way to bring your loved ones together. There’s no better way to spend a summer weekend! Enjoying great food with friends and family, gathered all around your own outdoor kitchen.

You also enjoy the benefits of a healthier lifestyle. When you own an outdoor kitchen, you want to cook more! It’s just that simple. Home cooked meals are great for your health and wallet alike.

The industry has developed massively over the years. Unfortunately, it’s still challenging to get a reliable, specialised outdoor kitchen contractor or builder.

Many times, contractors are difficult to get a hold of leading to extended timelines. You might also hire a contractor who does not specialise in outdoor kitchens. If you choose to go this route, you’re taking a gamble on the end result. 

DIY or Build Your Own

There’s a lot of thought required between design, construction, and materials used. You want to ensure your efforts result in a fully functional outdoor kitchen that is aesthetically pleasing, and works as the focal point of your outdoor space. You’ll also need to understand how to choose materials with longevity in mind.

This article will provide you deep insight on how to take on your own outdoor kitchen DIY project. We’ll discuss available options along with step-by-step guides for each.

Let’s go for the most complex option first. Yes, it’s true you get the most flexibility with this method. But, that means you’re going to build an outdoor kitchen from the ground up.

This is not the option if you are hoping for an easy diy outdoor kitchen experience. This can be a formidable challenge if you’re not familiar with outdoor kitchen  construction!

We’ll start from the beginning to share the process with you. Here, we will be assuming you already have a design in mind and a place to put your own outdoor kitchen.

You can’t start your project without considering the utilities you’ll need. This will be a consideration no matter which DIY outdoor kitchen method you choose.

Utilities

Electrical: Refrigerators, wine coolers, ice makers, warming drawers, certain grills, lights, and more.

Propane or Natural Gas: Gas grills, side burners, power burners. (Keep in mind you can use a propane tank). 

Plumbing: Sinks, ice makers.

Generally speaking, you won’t install and run utility lines yourself. You’ll want to involve a licensed electrician or plumber for this piece.

Construction

To begin, an outdoor kitchen is comprised of multiple layers. Most often, the base is a frame that provides the structure. You then attach a surface to attach the cladding material to. Think of it like the “canvas” for your outdoor kitchen finish. Then, you’ll finish with your outdoor kitchen material of choice. Think tile, stone, stucco, etc.

Appliances and countertops are the final touches of your installation.

STEP ONE: Construct The Frame

There are three main materials you could choose to build your DIY outdoor kitchen frame out of. Wood, metal, or concrete block.

Wood

We consider wood the most DIY friendly as most people are familiar with wood construction. 

Metal frame construction is very similar to wood. We will explain the process of wood here with additional notes for the metal frame method.

Here are the main points to consider with wood DIY outdoor kitchen frames:

• Always start out with a layout or blueprint of your design before you begin your outdoor kitchen build.
• Understand the specifications of your appliances and where they will sit in your outdoor kitchen. That way you can properly create appliance openings while framing your walls.
• You’ll start by cutting your vertical studs, footer, and header pieces. These pieces will create the frame of your outdoor kitchen. You’ll need a circular saw or chop saw and pressure treated 2′ x 4’s to complete this step.
• Keep in mind that your frames should be lower than the final desired height. This will allow you to account for countertop thickness. For example: If you want the final height of your outdoor kitchen to be 900mm and your countertop is 10mm thick… Then you must build an outdoor kitchen frame to be 890mm.
• You’ll use a drill and exterior screws to attach the wood studs.
• Cut cross supports that will act as spacers. They will also provide support from the front to the back. These should be cut to the depth of your bbq.

Metal

As mentioned earlier, metal frame construction is very similar to wood, with a few exceptions.

For metal frame construction, you’ll need a chop saw with a metal blade to cut the steel tubing. You’ll need a welder to weld the studs together. There are metal frame methods that allow you to bolt the studs together, however, we prefer welding as it is more structural.

Concrete Block

The concrete block method requires more trade skill. It’s best to leave this to the experts. This can be a DIY route for someone with masonry skills. Also know that concrete is a heavier construction method. If you plan to put a deck, you will need to consider if you need structural footings before setting the block.

Here are other things to know about concrete block construction:

• Like wood and metal, you’ll need to start with layout. Concrete blocks are not as easy to manipulate as wood or metal. So providing openings for the appliances can present their own challenges.
• You will start with putting down your first row of block on a mortar bed.
• After the first layer, continue to build up. Use concrete mortar to adhere each block together.
• Concrete block is a non-combustible construction method. You won’t need insulated jackets and can use non-combustible construction for the appliance cutouts.
• Cutting the blocks will require a concrete saw or angle grinder with a masonry blade.
• Openings may require more support pieces to hold up concrete blocks on the overhangs. This is only while the mortar sets.

STEP TWO: Cover The Frame

Next step is covering your frame. This is the surface you’ll be applying your cladding material to. Most cladding materials require a masonry surface for a proper bond. The frame covering also provides protection from outside moisture which can deteriorate the frame over time.

In the past frames were often covered with sheets of plywood. The plywood would have a moisture barrier over it for protection. Then you would attach a wire mesh so you can apply a scratch coat to it.

While you can cover your frame this way construction methods have evolved greatly over time! 

Most commonly, you’ll see frames covered with cement board. You’ll cut the sheets to size and apply them directly to your frames. Cement board itself is a cementitious material so you can apply your scratch coat directly to it. There’s no extra step of adding mesh there.

If you decide on concrete block you can skip this step completely. It’s a masonry material, so you can directly apply the scratch coat onto it.

Here’s a quick play-by-play of how this step works:

• Cut sheets of cement board according to the frame dimensions.
• Attach the boards to your metal or wood frames. Use exterior or metal screws.
• Make sure you cut the cement board according to your appliance and cabinet openings
• Apply a self-adhesive fiber mesh to all seams and corners.

STEP THREE: Apply A Scratch Coat

Your cladding material is going to require a rough surface for optimal bonding. For creating this rough surface, you’re going to make a scratch coat.

Here’s the basic rundown:

• Select the material you will use. For concrete blocks, you can use a masonry mortar mix. For cement board, use an exterior rated thin set.
• Mix the concrete using a masonry hoe or an electric mortar mixer.
• Apply the concrete mixture using a trowel.
• Score the concrete to create a rough surface. This forms the texture of your scratch coat.
• Use a 1/2″ notch trowel to score the surface horizontally. Tilt the trowel at 45 degrees.
• Start from the top of the cabinet and work your way down.
• Keep the lines as straight as possible for a guide when applying your cladding material.
• Let the scratch coat cure for 24 hours.

STEP FOUR: Install The Countertops

The process for installing the countertop varies depending on the type of material you use. Make sure all your countertop cutouts for appliances are fabricated and match the openings of the island base.

STEP FIVE: Install The Cladding

Here are the main points to consider:

• Work the cladding material from the bottom to the top.
• Make the mortar mix and butter the back of the stones.
• Scrape any excess mortar that oozes out and clean up as you go.
• Cut stones to fit before applying them. Especially around corners and appliances. Use a masonry saw or angle grinder with a masonry blade to perform cuts.
• Also be sure to account for flanges on appliances. You may want to dry fit appliances to use as a guide during installation.

STEP SIX: Appliances and Utilities

Now you just have to install appliances and connect utility lines.

Start with the BBQ and appliances that will sit on the countertops. From there, install access doors, refrigerators, etc.