A Guide to Building Outdoor Kitchens

March 1

An outdoor kitchen isn’t just about backyard barbecue, it’s a perfect place for anyone who enjoys spending time outdoors. Imagine preparing food in the fresh air, without having to leave your family or guests waiting. Luckily, with a couple of tips, you can easily plan your own outdoor cooking station. An easy way to build your backyard kitchen is to hire one of the reliable companies in San Diego, CA to do it for you. However, if you’d like to do it yourself, the following guide to building an outdoor kitchen will help you do it easily. Read on.

Do I need a permit to build an outdoor kitchen?

While you don’t need a building permit, you do need other types of permits like those for plumbing and electrical work. Also, you should make sure you frame your gas grill with non‐flammable material. The best way to ensure your edifice is in accordance with regulations is to check your local zoning requirements.

Do outdoor kitchens need to be covered?

To build an open‐air kitchen to last, you’ll need to use resistant materials such as concrete and brick, along with tile and metal for detail. However, even with these materials, you should also build a cover since harsh weather conditions will certainly affect them. Depending on the the design you’d like to go for, you can choose to cover the entire unit, or only the part where the appliances are.

How much is an outdoor kitchen?

The cost of building this edifice depends on many factors such as the size, materials, and the amenities you’d like to include. These are the costs according to different criteria.

Size

This is the factor with the biggest influence on the cost. When deciding about the size, think about how you want to use the space and consider the number of people you want to host. You can find the costs below:
  • Small – up to 100 square feet: $3,200 – $10,000
  • Medium – up to 300 square feet: $9,700 – $30,000
  • Large – up to 400 square feet: $13,000 – $40,000

Framing

You can build your own framing, but you can also go for the prefabricated one which usually costs less. The values below show prices per linear foot.
  • Aluminum and wood framing: $400
  • Steel framing: $550

Finishing

There are different materials you can use for finishing. Depending on the one you’d like to use, the prices per square foot go as follows:
  • Brick: $9 – $15
  • Stucco: $5 – $7.5
  • Natural stone: $20 – $37.5
  • Manufactured stone: $15 – $25

Countertops

Apart from function and style, think about the climate of your area when you choose the material for your countertops. These are the prices per square foot of:
  • Concrete: $60 – $93
  • Ceramic tile: $5.5 – $46
  • Stainless steel: $72 – $97
  • Granite: $65 – $75

Grill

Depending on the type and size of the grill you prefer, the range of prices is quite wide and it goes from as little as $175 to as much as $8,375. Make sure you research all the options before you decide about the one that’s perfect for you. If you sum it all up, the total price of materials for the entire outdoor unit goes from about $3,000 up to $40,000, and it depends on your own needs and desires.

Where can I find a reliable company to build a backyard kitchen in San Diego, CA?

Do outdoor kitchens need to be coveredWhether you’d like to build your cooking unit on a deck, or design your outdoor kitchen it as an island, Pacific Dreamscapes knows what to do. With our highly professional technicians and the wide range of services that we offer, we can turn your backyard into a cozy nest designed specifically according to your needs. Anywhere from Miramar to Chula Vista, our experts will be there for you. Give us a call now!