Browse Forums Outdoor Living 1 Jun 23, 2011 4:23 pm Hey guys and gals. in about 3 months im planning on starting one of my biggest projects so far an outdoor kitchen and pergola. Im pretty comfortable with the pergola side of things, i cant say the same thing for the kitchen. I have an area of 8000mm x 1200mm to play with that's entirely designated to the kitchen area. In this are i have to accommodate a small round basin (approx 400mm x 400mm) a 4 burner bbq (approx 900mm x 500mm) a wood oven ( 1200mm x 1200mm) and an under bench cabinet and under bench fridge. I'm thinking about using stone veneer as a veneer for the front of the cabinets and a stainless steel as a bench top. Ive got some quotes of $50 a meter for the stone veneer and $100 per sqm for 304 - 0.9mm stainless steel, does this sound reasonable? Now i don't know a lot about building but Ive done lots of research and put a bit of thought into how im going to make the long cabinet that will have the bench top on top and hold the bbq and sink in place. Once the pergola / decking is complete i was thinking about using construction pine to make the frame, then use hardy / blue board for the front and sides (then clad it with stone veneer) and using a nice think bit of mdf on top which will be covered in the stainless steel bench top, does this sound feasible? i would love to hear peoples advice on what materials to use, how to make the cabinets and any issues you have run into with yours. thanks all Re: The Outdoor Kitchen! 2Jun 23, 2011 11:46 pm Outdoor kitchens are great and by the sounds of it you've already put a fair bit thought into the project. I started an outdoor kitchen late last summer, but unfortunately it got put on the back burner while I slowly complete a retaining wall. I don't think it is advisable to make a frame out of timber or any combustible materials, or at the minimum there are clearance requirements. It's my understanding that the heat generated by the BBQ and wood oven could lead to charring of any timber frames even if they are covered in a stone veneer. The same would apply to the bench substrate as the steel will conduct heat. There are alternatives for the frame such as steel studs which can be cut with tin snips, are light weight and bolt together easily. This can then be clad with blue board and your choice of veneer (this is what I have started for my kitchen). Alternatively, you can use masonry blocks or hebel for the frame. The are also some pre-fabricated steel frames you can buy online, but they are very pricey. For the bench top substrate I'd look at compressed cement sheeting. You can then cover this with your choice of bench top. I'm not sure how much heat a steel bench top would conduct from near the wood oven, but it may be worth looking into. Hope this helps! Re: The Outdoor Kitchen! 3Sep 06, 2011 7:11 pm Hi there, I am going through the same process, I have the built in bbq but want to do it on a deck so dont want to use bricks etc. I have resolved to build a timber frame and use hebel power panels and caesarstone for the benchtops. Has worked out to be fairly cost effective, Out of curiosity where did you get your stainless steel quote from??, did that include the substrate the steel is on or just the sheet, I thought it was a lot more expensive, I may reconsider the bench top ! If you are interested in hebel they have a diy bbq plan on there website. cheers hunts Re: The Outdoor Kitchen! 4Sep 06, 2011 8:23 pm hunts01 I have resolved to build a timber frame and use hebel power panels and caesarstone for the benchtops. Just in case you weren't told by your installer, your Caesarstone won't be covered under warranty if you install it in an outdoor kitchen (unless the outdoor kitchen is completely enclosed, but then it's hardly "outdoor"), because it will be prone to weathering/fading/sun damage. The only benchtop options that won't have their warranty affected in an outdoor kitchen are granite or stainless steel. Re: The Outdoor Kitchen! 5Sep 20, 2011 6:31 pm That's a neat idea! I've never tried anything like that, but I can imagine that a stone would be your best bet for the countertops. Re: The Outdoor Kitchen! 6Sep 23, 2011 5:35 pm Hi All I want to put an outdoor kitchen in my Alfresco in a house yet to be built. The plans have been approved by council and I am waiting for final tender to come back. I asked for a tap in the Alfresco for water to a sink but I have just thought where is this going to drain to. How easy is it to connect to the drain after the house has been built. I think it is too late to ask this to be added into our house by the builder now as they charge for every change at this point. I also want to put a sink into a garden shed that has not yet be built and again same thing forgot to add in. I did remember the power to the shed. Any feedback would be appreciated. Cathy Cathy Building Harmony Elite - Option B - Grande Resort Suite - Modified Thanks for letting us know. The programmer will have a look at this later today. 2 6692 About a year ago, I embarked on a DIY project to construct an outdoor Pergola, which measures approximately 5.2 meters by 4.0… 0 29621 Natural stone tiles like slate, travertine, and limestone add a timeless, elegant look to… 0 25083 |