It’s little wonder that Aussie homeowners have embraced outdoor kitchens with enthusiasm in recent years. Offering year-round entertaining space, extending your living area outside and adding value to your home, an outdoor kitchen is a worthy investment.
However, there are traps for young players, so whether you’re adding an outdoor kitchen to an existing home or incorporating one into a new build, it’s important to do your research and plan carefully before taking the plunge.
Talk to Local Authorities
As a first step, talk to your local council about relevant regulations, as some require professional plans to be drawn up for the project and submitted to the council for approval. Some authorities also require a flame failure device to be connected to gas barbecues. This feature can’t be retro-fitted, so it pays to seek out a barbecue that has one fitted at the time of manufacture, such as Heatlie’s Island Gourmet Elite. Speaking of gas you’ll also need to consider whether you want to go for LPG or Natural Gas, as natural gas connections need to be installed during the building process.
Find the Right Spot
Another big consideration is positioning, particularly if you want to use your outdoor kitchen year-round. Outdoor kitchens that lead seamlessly from a home’s internal living areas or kitchen are ideal, but free-standing, gazebo-style kitchens can also work well. Consider also whether you want to incorporate a dining area or even a relaxed alfresco living space, complete with big-screen TV and bar area. Don’t forget to think about how you can make the most of any views and privacy factors, and protecting your outdoor kitchen from the elements with a roof or sail.
Budget Accordingly
Your budget is also something to consider early. Do plenty of research before you start and be realistic – as well as building materials, you’ll need to factor in appliances and a barbecue, bench-tops – even floor coverings and furniture.
Built-In or Modular
The next big decision is whether you opt for a built-in outdoor kitchen designed and constructed by a builder, or a modular system, which are cost-efficient and often easy to install. Also consider whether your outdoor kitchen will be a fully-contained external kitchen – complete with fridge, sink and benchtops – or simply an extension of your existing kitchen.
Benchtops
When it comes to benchtops, granite and stone are popular options for outdoor kitchens, mainly because most barbecues need to be installed into a non-combustible bench. The exception is the Heatlie Island Gourmet Elite, which is designed specifically for outdoor kitchens. You can install this unit into any type of bench-top – even medium-density fibreboard and wood – as it’s been designed to deflect heat away from the bench.
Long Term Thinking
Of course, the barbecue is the centrepiece of any outdoor kitchen, so it pays to choose wisely.
My best tip is to buy for the long-term – choose a unit that’s made in Australia and that offers the ability to buy customised products and spare parts down the track. This approach will definitely save you money in the long-term. Also, consider whether you really need a hood – or is it just for looks – and beware of gimmicky trends like infra-red burners, lava rocks and ceramic briquettes – in my experience, they often don’t live up to the hype.
There’s no doubt that creating an outdoor kitchen has many benefits, however, it pays to do your research, budget wisely and think carefully about what type of kitchen will suit your family’s needs.
Check out more of our blog posts here for lots of great info on Heatlie BBQs.