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Monday, December 24, 2007

How to Make a Do It Yourself (DIY) Outdoor Kitchen

Making an outdoor kitchen all by you can be fun. Though it can be time consuming and requires some physical effort it’s a great way to jump start your creativity and have a good time with your family. The most important tip while building an outdoor kitchen all by yourself is : Take it slowly. You don’t want to exhaust yourself.

A typical outdoor kitchen DIY project usually takes about 50 hours of time. This is when you all the plans and materials in place. Add a few hours extra for going to the market and ordering all items. The construction can be done either on weekends or you can take it in one go.

Such a project would cost you around less than $3000 and would include a grill, sinks fixtures, cabinets, framing (made from wood /concrete /backer board) and tiling.

Though you will find information on how to build outdoor kitchens on the internet, try looking for a book which gives practical advice on how to begin and avoid the pitfalls. This way you would save a lot of time and material wastage. Sunset barbecues and outdoor kitchens is a very popular book which you could consider.

A typical outdoor kitchen (with concrete sub structures)would require the following materials to get you started.
1. Sink with faucet and tap
2. Outdoor cabinet doors
3. Gas pipe, shutoff valve, and connections
4. Plumbing supplies: drain lines, supply lines, stop valves
5. Electrical supplies: cable or conduit with wire, boxes, GFCI receptacles
6. Concrete block
7. Mortar mix
8. Pressure-treated 2 × 4s
9. 4 × 4s
10. Nails and screws for building framing and attaching boards to the house
11. concrete backer board
12. Stucco mix
13. Waterproof tile backing
14. Fortified thin set mortar
15. Tiles
16. Fortified grout
17. Grout sealer
18. Paint

So what are you waiting for? Get the concrete, Get the backer board, It’s action time!

Mike Lombardy is a freelance writer and a hopeless barbecue addict. He provides tips and advice for homeowners to build outdoor kitchens and outdoor kitchen islands. His numerous articles offer money saving tips and valuable insight.

 

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