Spring has officially sprung and even if the weather isn’t yet consistently warm where you live, it is time to understand what you should know before installing an outdoor kitchen. For many, this time of year means spring cleaning and outdoor upgrades, including adding or redoing outdoor kitchens. At Spectrum Stone Designs, we love helping customers make their outdoor kitchens relaxing spaces where they can unwind and reconnect while whipping up delicious recipes. We have a lot of experience building outdoor kitchens and want to give you some tips on what to know and do before installing or renovating an outdoor kitchen. 

Whether you’re doing the work yourself, or hiring someone, you need to create a budget. Your budget should outline how much everything will cost, from the actual appliances like grills, sinks, fridges, etc. to the materials that you may use to build the body and accessories of your kitchen (i.e. cabinets, shelves, countertops, etc.). 

Any time you involve sewer, eater, electric or gas, a permit and inspection is likely required, The Family Handyman reminds us. It’s probably a good idea to check with your local government to see if there are any rules or restrictions you need to be know and find out if there is any paperwork you need to file before beginning your outdoor kitchen project. The Family Handyman also says to make sure your new outdoor kitchen design matches the exterior of your home. if your home has a rustic feel, you likely wouldn’t want a contemporary outdoor kitchen, as the styles could clash. 

The Spruce says to keep in mind your climate and environment. If you live somewhere with warmer weather year-round, you may be spending more time in your outdoor kitchen than your indoor one. If that’s the case, you may want to invest more in kitchen appliances. Not only allow more in your budget for appliances, but you may want a bigger kitchen area if you know you’ll be spending a lot of time there. You will also want to make sure you select materials that are durable outside. As we mentioned earlier, matching your outdoor kitchen to your house exterior not only will create a seamless look, but you’ll also bring those same durable materials from the outside of your house to your outdoor kitchen. 

At Spectrum Stone Designs, we love getting creative with outdoor kitchens. We can help you design something as simple as a gorgeous countertops surrounding your grill or a full kitchen with a grill, oven, sink, you name it! At Spectrum Stone Designs, we’ll help explain what you should know before installing an outdoor kitchen.