Outdoor Kitchens have become one the most requested features over the last five years when building a new home. In the next 10 years outdoor kitchens will become commonplace in newly built houses and are the most requested outdoor living space addition to existing homes today.
So, how much does it cost to build or buy an outdoor kitchen? What kind of outdoor kitchen should you get? Like any outdoor living space (or most anything else for that matter) there are many factors that determine what you choose and what it will cost.
What Are You’re Outdoor Kitchen Options?
There are several options when deciding on an outdoor kitchen. Should you hire a contractor to build a custom kitchen to ensure you get exactly what you want? Should you buy a prefab kitchen from a big box store or online company? Or should you buy a modular kitchen and build it yourself. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each of these options. For purposes today we will compare a standard 8′ long straight kitchen:
Option #1 – DIY Frame Kit Outdoor Kitchen
These are kitchens or grill islands that can be ordered online. They come shipped as modules, in this case one 4′ module and two 2′ modules plus an appliance package. The appliance package includes a 32″ grill, a 33′ double access door, a trash container and a paper towel holder. This kitchen will cost approximately $3,900.
The problem is you need to screw the modules together and install the appliances yourself, thus the DIY aspect. But wait, you’re not done. The package does not include the faux stone veneer needed to finish the outside of the kitchen or a counter top.
So after you assemble the cabinets, install the appliances and apply the stone veneer, you will need to contact a granite company to come and template, cut to size and install a granite, quartz or whatever style counter top you decide on.
At first this seems like an acceptable cost for a kitchen but besides the time this will take to build, you have the added expense of the stone veneer and counter top which could take you over the $6,000 mark.
Option #2 – Prefab Outdoor Kitchen
Prefab outdoor kitchens like the one pictured above are sold in big box stores or online and come complete as shown, delivered to your curbside. It is up to you to get it into your backyard and at almost 1,000 pounds that can be a challenge and could require hiring a contractor with the proper equipment to move it.
This 7′ kitchen with a 4 burner 60,000 BTU grill, double access door, side burner and 4.6 cu. ft. fridge would go for a more than $5,000.
Option #3 – Traditional Custom Built Outdoor Kitchen
The traditional custom built outdoor kitchen is the most popular of all the kitchens because of the word custom. You can customize it to add any appliances, make it any size or shape, add any kind of counter top, add a sitting bar. Pretty much anything you can think of or afford.
This kitchen requires no work from the homeowner. It is built on site and takes about 2-3 weeks depending on the size. Like the modular kitchen, after the base or cabinet structure is completed you then have to make a template for the counter top and wait for it to be cut to size and installed. Only then is your kitchen complete.
The average cost for a kitchen this size is between $5,000 – $6,000 and like all outdoor kitchens that cost will vary depending on the size and quality of the grill and other appliances.
Option #4 – ClifRock Outdoor Kitchen
ClifRock outdoor kitchens are a concrete panel system where the base structure is built off site. It is then brought to the home owners yard and assembled on site including appliances and counter top in less than two days which makes for a very clean job site and a happy home owner who has a new kitchen in two days.
Another advantage is that you have the choice 4 different concrete exteriors, Random Rock, Ledge Stack, Dry Stack & Cliff Stone (as shown below) and an endless array of color schemes.
Pouring concrete panels are a very cost effective way of building outdoor kitchens and also gives the home owner the added option of having a matching concrete counter top which is less costly than granite, quartz or tile. An 8′ kitchen w/ concrete counter top, grill, double access door, double drawer and trash drawer built in this manner usually costs out below $5,000 depending on choice of grill.
What Now?
Most outdoor kitchens can be customized to any shape and size and incorporate an endless amount of appliances from ice makers to TV’s. Declare your outdoor kitchen space by covering your kitchen with a pergola.
If you are thinking of adding an outdoor kitchen or other outdoor living spaces contact us for a free consultation & design.
It’s Your Backyard…Use it. Live it. Love it!
