When designing an outdoor kitchen, one of the first decisions is whether to go with a portable or prefabricated model. While a portable unit is more economical and can be more easily customized, a permanent outdoor kitchen built with a wood frame gives you more design options.
There are many types of outdoor kitchens, from portable charcoal grills to full outdoor kitchens. This article will tell you everything you need to know about building an outdoor kitchen with wood frame.Building an outdoor kitchen is not a quick and easy DIY project, but if you’re patient and methodical you can do it. You can learn how to build an outdoor kitchen from the ground up by following the steps outlined below.
Table of Contents
Choose Your Location
Choose your location carefully. If you’re building a summer kitchen, you want it close to the house and the door to your deck or patio. But you also want it far enough away that smoke and cooking odors won’t be a problem.Make sure you have access to electricity and water. You can run an outdoor electrical line from the garage or workshop, but be sure to use an outdoor-rated receptacle, along with GFCI protection.
If you’re building a permanent kitchen, bring in water from the house using a garden hose. Or set up a tank and pump if you don’t have access to water close by. To build a simple open-air structure like this one for shade, follow these instructions for building a pavilion.
Build Your Frame
By building an outdoor kitchen, you can expand your living space and prepare meals outside. An outdoor kitchen is a perfect addition to any home, especially in the summer when evenings are long and barbeques or cookouts are often on the agenda. Adding some additional amenities like a grill, sink, refrigerator, or pizza oven will help you better enjoy your time outdoors.
Build the Counter
The first step in building an outdoor kitchen is building the counter. You will need to create a wood frame with 2-by-4’s, which you can then cover with cement backer boards (also known as ‘wonder boards’). After that step is complete, you must apply mortar over the backer boards and allow it to dry for 24 hours before continuing.
Build the Cabinets
Building the cabinets is a straight forward process. You need to use 1×10 lumber and you can adjust the dimensions as to fit your needs. Just make sure you follow these tips:
- Drill pilot holes before inserting the screws, if you want to prevent the wood from splitting.
- Use a good miter saw to cut the components at the right size and a spirit level to align them at both ends.
- Work with attention and plan everything from the very beginning, if you want to get the job done in a professional manner.
Install Sink, Plumbing and Electrical Components
In order to install your sink, plumbing and electrical components, you must drill holes in the wood frame to accommodate them. Sink and faucet fixtures are mounted on top of the countertop material, while plumbing pipes and electrical wires are routed through holes in the bottom of the cabinet. If you want to hide these features from view, plan ahead by concealing them within interior walls or cabinets.
Finish Out the Counter
- To finish out the counter, use a 1×2 inch board for the frame and a 1×4 inch board for the top. Cut two pieces of the 1×4 to size and then cut 2 more pieces to fit in between them as spacers. The spacers will help keep everything straight as you nail it down.
- Cut 2 more pieces of 1×2 a little longer than you need and attach them to the backside of your countertop. This will serve as support for when you attach the countertop to your base.
- Now flip your base over so that it’s upside down and set the countertop on top of it. Attach with 3-inch nails, making sure there is an equal gap on either side for your drawer slides later on.
Add the Final Details
Once all the major pieces of your kitchen are assembled, it’s time to add the finishing touches. Since this is an outdoor kitchen, you’ll want to apply caulk around any joints or seams in the assembly that might be exposed to moisture. This will prevent water from seeping in and causing damage. To complete your project, you should also consider adding a few accessories to your frame.
Conclusion
You can build a wood frame outdoor kitchenBuilding an outdoor kitchen with Wood Frame is not difficult. However, it is important to take it step-by-step and meticulously follow the plans. Do it yourself and enjoy the process of building the kitchen.
The outcome will be great. There are many ways to build an outdoor kitchen, however the simplest way to build an outdoor kitchen is with a wood frame. Wooden frames can be built in a variety of shapes and sizes. This mobile outdoor kitchen is a great example of how a simple idea can be brought to life without causing much fuss and commotion.
So, you’ve convinced yourself that it’s time to build an outdoor kitchen. But where do you begin? To help get you started, above is a step-by-step guide for building an outdoor kitchen with wood frame. We have broken down the process into four main sections: framing and foundations, general construction steps, fireplace installation, and finishing up.
Whether you’re looking to add a little extra flare to your back deck or you’re building an outdoor kitchen from the ground up, we’ve laid out step by step how to do it. And trust us, it’s not as hard as you might think.
