Our Company Blog
Pros and Cons of an Outdoor Kitchen
When you start thinking of spring cleaning and warm weather, you often think of improvements you’d like to make. If an outdoor kitchen is on your list, you should make sure it’s an investment you want to make. If you decide to build an outdoor kitchen you want to start planning now, so that you can use it when warm weather hits.
The Cons
- PRICE: Any investment in your property is going to cost money. Since you need specific appliances, cabinetry, and seating made of
durable outdoor materials, you will have to pay for those. Furniture, flooring, and a heat source like a fireplace or fire pit is also a necessity for an outdoor space. Depending on your location and climate, you may decide to construct a room with walls and even a roof. All of these things cost money. - WEATHER: Depending on where you live, you may have long periods of time when you are unable to enjoy your outdoor kitchen due to weather. You will also need to weatherize your outdoor kitchen if you don’t plan to use it through winter. If you don’t have a roof on your outdoor space you are also limited to using it only on days of nice weather.
- ACCESSIBLE TO THIEVES AND CRITTERS: If you have expensive appliances outside, then other people can tamper with, damage, or steal your property. This doesn’t always have to be on purpose. A neighbor can light a harmless fire in your outdoor fireplace that results in an accidental burn, leaving you with an insurance claim! An outdoor kitchen can also be damaged by animals seeking a warm, dry shelter for the night—or the season. It’s important to adequately prepare your outdoor kitchen to prevent such visitors.
The Pros
- INCREASING PROPERTY VALUE: If you’re looking to sell or refinance, an outdoor kitchen can do the trick, pushing your property value over the threshold you’re striving for. For the money you spend on the outdoor space, you will get back that and more if you sell in the future. A beautiful outdoor space also increases curb appeal.
- ENTERTAINING: If you’re a socialite, you might value this factor more than others. An outdoor kitchen means you can entertain any amount of people comfortable. You don’t have to worry about crowding your friends into your house.
- COOKING MESSES STAY OUTDOORS: Not only can you do all of your entertaining in your outdoor space (weather permitting), but you benefit from having a separate cooking area that doesn’t leave your own kitchen a mess after a big gathering. You can even install a composting system as part of your outdoor kitchen to help with your cleanup and benefit the environment.
- ODORS AND SMOKE STAY OUTSIDE: Having a fish fry doesn’t mean your house has to smell like fish. Cooking for a large group doesn’t mean your kitchen fills with smoke. These things stay outside when you have an outdoor kitchen to use!
- HEAT STAYS OUTSIDE: Not only does the heat from cooking stay outside when you have an outdoor kitchen, but you can also enjoy cool spring and fall evenings—even winter—when you have an outdoor space with a fire pit.
Your outdoor kitchen won’t affect your home’s interior in the least, which is the best perk of all. You shouldn’t dwell on the cost or the upkeep of your outdoor kitchen, because it benefits everyone. Built well, an outdoor kitchen will withstand the test of time, and be useful for many years.
The Benefits of Outdoor Wood-Fired Ovens
If you have never eaten a pizza that was baked in a wood-fired oven before, you are missing out! Many pizzerias use these types of ovens, and the popularity of these cooking appliances has grown so much that people are installing a wood-fire oven in their outdoor kitchens. When you choose IBD Outdoor Rooms to design your outdoor kitchen, you have the option to include a wood-fire oven. You never have to worry about it being too cold to use a wood-fire oven because of its design. These ovens resemble a large round chamber, and the wood is burned inside the chamber. The fire produces very high temperatures with a range between 500 and 700 degrees Fahrenheit. If you and your family love to eat pizza, you can already imagine the benefits of having an outdoor wood-fired oven, but we would like to tell you more about the advantages of these ovens.
You can cook pizza much more quickly in a wood-fired oven.
Whether you are preparing a pre-made, homemade, or frozen pizza, your oven cannot get any hotter than 500 degrees, so it can take up to 45 minutes (including time to preheat the oven) for the pizza to be ready. Depending on the thickness of the dough, you can cook a pizza in a wood-fired oven in just two to five minutes.
You can cook just about any food in a wood-fired oven.
According to The Alternative Daily, you can cook more than just pizza in a wood-fired oven. Good foods to try include breads, roasts of any type of meat and vegetables, and casseroles.
Your food retains more nutrients when cooked in a wood-fired oven.
When you cook fruits and vegetables over an open flame in a wood-fired oven, they cook very quickly, which helps them retain certain nutrients and antioxidants. Studies have shown that longer cooking times deplete the nutritional value of food.
You will save energy by cooking in a wood-fired oven.
You do not need any electricity or gas to use a wood-fired oven, and for the environmentally conscious, this is quite a plus. If you are looking for a way to reduce your energy consumption, cooking in a wood-fired oven is a good choice.
Considering adding a wood-fired oven to your outdoor kitchen? Contact us at IBD Outdoor Rooms to learn more about your options for this awesome cooking appliance.
Outdoor Kitchen Finishes
Let’s Talk Finishes for Your Outdoor Kitchen
When IBD Outdoor Rooms creates custom outdoor kitchens in and around Concord, North Carolina, it doesn’t take long before we get to the point where we get to hammer out all the design details with our customers. One of the most fun things to pick out is the type of finish they want on the stone used to build their outdoor kitchen island, outdoor fireplace, or wood-fired oven. This is the fun part, where you get to pour your creativity into your outdoor kitchen space and make it look, feel, and function exactly how you envisioned.
The finishes we use most commonly include stone, brick, tile, and stucco—all beautiful surfaces that you are likely familiar with. Another favorite finish is something we call Granitech, which is a finish we’ve pioneered that uses a base of pure natural granite granules.
Granitech is available in eight colors, ranging from White Pearl to Black Pearl with lots of variations in between. We can also produce custom colors and can perform color matching. You can read more about our Granitech finish system below, although we also invite you to contact us with any questions you may have about possible finishes for your outdoor space.
All About Granitech
One of the finishes we use most often is called Granitech, a mixture of granite granules and clear polymer. This substance has been a huge hit for us because it is beautiful and low maintenance and gives homeowners the look of granite without all the expense.
The six-step Granitech finish system allows the substance to “flow” over the masonry surface, bonding to the substrate. We begin the process of applying Granitech by sealing all the joints and fasteners on the IBD Outdoor Rooms modular component. We then apply a primer and hand trowel the first coat of Granitech over the whole unit. Once that dries, we apply another coat and finally a “seal coat” that will protect your outdoor kitchen from abrasion damage or staining.
Have questions about which finish will work best in your outdoor space? Call IBD Outdoor Rooms, proud members of the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, at 704-960-4530.
Considering an Outdoor Kitchen?
One of the hottest trends in homes, outdoor kitchens have transformed from a basic charcoal or gas grill on the patio to elaborate rooms with appliances, sinks, countertops, and cabinets. You will be surprised with how many different options you have when planning an outdoor kitchen. An entertainer’s dream, all of your friends and family can gather together while you prepare the food; they can even help you with certain dishes if they want. Another advantage of having an outdoor kitchen is the money you will save on your electric bill because the outdoor cooking lessens the heat buildup that occurs inside the home when you cook inside, making your air conditioning unit work overtime. If you are considering an outdoor kitchen, call IBD Outdoor Rooms today for a outdoor kitchen consultation as we have six different kitchen island layouts from which to choose.
6 Kitchen Island Layouts
Our first kitchen island design is the Santa Fe Straight Design, the smallest design. With two standard cut-outs for appliances, this island can be as small as you need, but it can also extend to any length you would like. Other options for this design include dining ledges, cabinet liners, electrical boxes, and backsplashes.
The Versailles V Shape Design with two standard cutouts is our second luxury outdoor kitchen island design. This island is made to fit into a corner and comes in two different versions: one has corners that extend towards the edge and the other’s corners turn back to the unit. You can also get backsplashes, electrical boxes, and cabinet liners with this design.
Our third design, the Lexington L Shape Design, is angle-shaped (like an L – 90-degree angle, or whatever size angle you wish) and is measured from the dimensions of where you like to cook, making this design custom-fit for you. Four appliance cut-outs are standard, but you have the option to have as many cut-outs as you want.
Our most popular design is our fourth, the Tremont Tri Shape Design includes six standard cutouts and includes all options available and listed. One reason it is so popular is its flexibility as the angle can vary. If you would like to use multiple grills in your outdoor kitchen, this island design would be your choice, thanks to its six cutouts.
If you entertain on a large scale, you may be interested in our fifth design, the Ultimate U Shape Design. Like the Tremont, this design comes with six standard cutouts and all listed options. A large island, you will have lots of counter space for serving food and drinks, making it the perfect outdoor kitchen island for entertaining large groups.
For those who like a more custom look, our sixth design, the Concord and Serpentine Design, is a completely customized outdoor kitchen island. Shaped in a C-curve, this is one of our most popular choices because you can easily add ceramic grills and beverage stations. When you select this custom design, it involves more detail as you will be required to speak with one of our experts to get a quote. A complete one-of-a-kind custom creation, you have an unlimited variety of length and radius options, allowing you to build whatever size outdoor kitchen island that fits your needs.
Start planning your outdoor kitchen with IBD Outdoor Rooms today by contacting us for a consultation and let us help you design the outdoor kitchen of your dreams.