On Tue, 2 Aug 2011 13:25:03 -0700, "Steve B"
wrote:


paulaner wrote in message
.. .
On Mon, 01 Aug 2011 10:46:31 -0700, SMS
wrote:

On 7/31/2011 10:26 AM, paulaner wrote:

I'm thinking about a small "outdoor kitchen" when I add a screened
porch on the house. I'd like to have a nice gas grill built into a
concrete countertop, ideally with a burner on the side as well. The
plan will also include a ventilation hood.

It appears the built-in models are about 2 times the cost as a
freestanding grill. Can I just buy a nice webber grill and retrofit
it into the space I need?

I have a natural gas line nearby, so I plan to hire an experienced
plumber to connect the system up for me. Yes - I will buy the right
burner elements.

Thoughts?

I thought about one of those built in models too. In the end I built an
outdoor bar with a sink and under-the-counter refrigerator and stuck
with the standalone grill. The bar was easy to build and I made it
pretty big. I made it with a tile top (18 12" tiles). Would have
preferred a single piece of granite (granite is very inexpensive in
California due to all the Chinese granite) but I could not cut a hole
for the sink. A lot of the outdoor island kitchens don't include a sink,
but that was a must-have for me.

I recall that for the Costco grill I got offered an inexpensive natural
gas kit.

Thanks. I am thinking about a concrete countertop. from what I am
reading they look pretty good. A sink is not a must have for me, but
maybe a place to put beer on ice would be convienient...

Features for an outside kitchen can vary all over the map.

As for the grill costing more, of the ones I have seen that were intended to
be built into some kind of structure are substantially higher quality.
Maybe it is that they know this will sit outside 24/7/365 and not be rolled
in and out of shelter. I think they also followed the market knowing that
people who could afford to have one mounted could afford a better unit.

My friend has an Outdoor Kitchen brand, and it is really awesome. If I hit
the lottery, I'm getting one.

As for "stuff" in an outdoor kitchen, there are considerations. First, the
weather. It's outside a lot, exposed to the elements, and most everyone
lives where it freezes at least once a winter. So, things like sinks take
special care. And sinks have to drain and have a water supply.
Refrigerators, cabinets, storage, beer kegger, cutting boards, and all that
stuff is best when it can be easily taken in and out for use. A sink can be
rigged easily with a tank and a gravity feed, and just how much does one use
a sink when cooking. So, a small tank, and a small holding tank could be
made inexpensively.

Places for chilling can be as simple as making a space the shape of a common
ice chest. They now have some cool looking ones at HD that are stainless
top, and would look very nice set into a nook in a island.

Bottom line, it would be easy to make an island with an assemblage of lots
of goodies, and not spend a boatload of money, and have the flexibility of
changing it, or replacing say an ice chest.

I'm going to do this soon. We have been buying dual pane doors to make a
wall as a windbreak, yet keep the view. Overhead will be sail shaped sewn
Sunbrella canvas for shade, and the multiple sails will be staggered
vertically so that air will circulate. I will post photos.

Steve

Great ideas. Good luck to you as well.