How to Build an Outdoor Kitchen

1. Prepare the Base

   The outdoor kitchen must be built on a suitable base that is dry, level, and stable. If you have a good sized existing patio or a sturdy deck, this may be the best place for your outdoor kitchen. But if you do not have such a surface already available, you must create a patio or deck—or at least a firm, flat space—that is suitable for the considerable weight of a large grill and other outdoor appliances. Here are some options:

   • Elevate your outdoor kitchen with a ground-level or floating deck. One advantage of a wood-framed deck is that utility lines can be hidden below the surface decking and attached to the framing.
   • A basic patio made of poured concrete, brick pavers, or natural stone such as travertine or flagstone makes a rock-solid floor for an outdoor kitchen. For sheer durability and lifespan, a masonry base of this type is the best choice.
   • A basic and very inexpensive gravel patio made from a framework of 2 x 6 lumber and a layer of pea gravel over sheets of landscape fabric make a perfectly suitable surface for a simple outdoor kitchen, though it works best in informal settings.
     

2. Run the Utility Lines

   Next to purchasing the outdoor appliances, running the utility lines between the outdoor kitchen and the house can be the most expensive part of this project, as it often requires hiring professionals to do the installation. If you do decide to install a full-service outdoor kitchen:

   • Both gas and water lines, if desired, may need to be run underground below the frost line, if applicable to your area. This can be as much as 4 feet below the soil surface in far northern regions. Electrical lines must be run through conduit or laid underground with special direct-burial cable. The lines must be buried at the correct depth specified for your area.
   • It is highly recommended that you hire an electrician to run the power line, if any, to the outdoor kitchen. Don't do this work yourself unless you are a very experienced and skilled DIYer, and only if local codes allow for homeowner installation of electrical service.
   • In most municipalities, gray drainage water from the sink cannot be expelled to the open ground. To meet the plumbing code, you must run a drain line from the outdoor kitchen's sink drain back to the house's main drain line.
     
   • A plumbing contractor can install water supply and drainage lines, as well as gas supply pipes. Gas work should never be done by DIYers.
   • All work will need to be inspected and permitted by your local building department.

   Tip

   The fewer dedicated service lines you run to the kitchen, the cheaper it will be. If your budget is constrained, consider using propane grills and stoves with refillable tanks instead of natural gas-powered appliances, which require extensions to the home's gas lines.

   
   

3. Build a Shelter Structure

   It's very common to build a shelter over and around the outdoor kitchen, though it is not always needed. A overhead shelter will be almost mandatory in very warm climates where direct sun in the summer can be unbearable, and in northern climates, a full enclosure with insect screens will make your outdoor dining area much more useable for a longer season. A shelter also helps define your outdoor kitchen and dining area within the overall landscape.

   Your shelter can be as simple as a fabric sailcloth suspended over a patio table, or as elaborate as a fully enclosed gazebo. Another popular option is to build a pergola, covered either with open latticework to break up the sunlight, or a retractable canopy.

   Construction of the shelter can be a major component of the budget and building schedule if you choose an elaborate form that requires a considerable amount of construction and carpentry work. But there are also simple pergola kits that are easy to assemble on a deck or patio.
   

4. Install Cabinets and Countertops

   An outdoor kitchen will be more versatile if you include ample countertop space laid atop permanent base cabinets for storing food preparation items, dinnerware, and grilling supplies. When laying out the position of the base cabinets, leave spaces for a grill and outdoor refrigerator, if you are including them. In certain layouts, it may even be possible to mount some wall cabinets on the outside wall of the home or in the sheltering structure to provide more storage.

   Cabinets used in an outdoor kitchen should be made of (or faced with) hardy materials such as stainless steel, natural or veneer stone, or even pallet wood treated with sealants.

   For tough countertops suitable for outdoor use, natural stone or quartz (synthetic stone), stainless steel, or solid surface material (such as Corian) are good choices. Or, you could make your own concrete countertops by pouring concrete into a mold and flipping it over to reveal the smooth top.

   Tip

   All items for an outdoor kitchen need to be weather-resistant, from the flooring and the cabinets to the counters, sink, fixtures, and all of the appliances and accessories. Materials that are normally used indoors may need to be treated with special sealants or paint to make them stand up to outdoor conditions.

   However, if your outdoor kitchen will be enclosed and weathertight (in an enclosed gazebo, for example) you can use indoor materials like butcher block for the counters and quality veneer-faced plywood for the cabinets.

5. Complete the Utility Work, Install Appliances

   If the outdoor kitchen has any electric appliances, such as a refrigerator or electric grill, the electrician should now come in and install the GFCI-protected outlets for plugging them in. Permanent outdoor lighting can be added at this point, too. In pergolas, you might want to consider having an overhead fan installed (make sure it is rated for outdoor use). The plumbing contractor should also complete any gas, water supply, and drain stub-outs.

   After the plumbing stub-outs and wiring fixtures are complete, you will need to have one last visit from the building inspector to review the work and close the permits. In some communities, this is done by two different inspectors—one for wiring, one for plumbing/gas.

   With the electrical, gas, and wiring complete, the appliances and sink/faucet can now be moved into place and plugged in or connected. In most cases, homeowners are allowed to connect the appliances and faucets, provided the stub-outs and outlets have passed inspection.

   If you choose not to run gas or electrical lines to your outdoor kitchen, alternate cooking sources include a pizza oven, a do-it-yourself island barbecue, a mobile gas barbecue grill, or a charcoal grill.
   

6. Create (and Accessorize) an Outdoor Dining Area

   Complete your outdoor kitchen by adding the tables, chairs, and other furniture needed for dining and socializing. This can range from a simple moveable patio table or picnic table, to a more elaborate setup that includes built-in seating areas, a code-approved fire pit, or patio heaters.

   Completing touches can include weatherproof floorcoverings, a planter for growing a convenient herb garden near the cooking area, weatherproof bluetooth speakers for background music, and solar-powered decorative lights. You might even include a weatherproof outdoor television.

When to Call a Professional

How much professional help you need will depend on your DIY experience and on what local codes allow you to do yourself. But it is likely that even the most experienced DIYers will call in pros for key portions of the project, such as pouring a concrete slab for the base, and running plumbing, electrical, and gas lines. And you may choose to have the sheltering structure built by a skilled carpenter.

For many people a "DIY" outdoor kitchen means really DIY general contracting—hiring and supervising several subcontractors to do various stages of work, while doing only the final hookups and finishing touches themselves.