| Outdoor kitchens are far from a recent trend because they’ve been popular additions for decades now. With the abundance of interest in backyard cooking methods from grilling and smoking to wood-fired ovens, there are plenty of reasons to choose a complete outdoor kitchen project. Here are the four most important features to consider to make a new outdoor kitchen a success for years to come. |
Stainless steel is the ideal material for all sinks installed outdoors since it has the best resistance to corrosion. Even fully covered and enclosed outdoor kitchens are exposed to more humidity than indoor spaces. Humid conditions can cause other metal materials to rust, while porcelain and fire clay are often a little too prone to cracking to use exposed to freezing temperatures. Stainless steel kitchen sinks will contract and expand easily with changing temperatures without causing damage to the fixture or the surrounding countertop.
Many of the materials that are fine to use indoors for kitchen counters, such as laminates and resin-based materials, aren’t the best choice for outdoor kitchens. Granite is one of the best materials since the rugged stone can handle what Mother Nature throws at it. For a less expensive option, consider decorative concrete or stainless steel. Porcelain tiles and glass slabs can also work well without fading or growing mold, but they aren’t quite as durable and damage resistant as other materials.
There’s often no need for a full-sized sink in an outdoor kitchen that is rarely used for preparing full meals. At least install a bar prep faucet and sink to wash hands or clean up messes without having to go indoors. These kinds of sinks can also double as gardening or landscaping water stations to make it easy to keep plants green in distant corners of the yard. Bar prep sinks tend to be smaller and save valuable counter space in outdoor kitchens where every extra inch of material raises the cost of the project.
Water filtration faucets are the ideal extra feature for an outdoor kitchen, especially for active families that enjoy working out in the yard. These faucets make it faster than ever to fill up water bottles or refill the dog’s bowl without having to worry about the tap water quality. Since these faucets filter only what’s necessary, the filters last longer and cost less to replace each year.
Complete any outdoor project with durable and beautiful fixtures like kitchen faucets from Kingston Brass.
