Don't Make These Big Outdoor Kitchen Mistakes!
First and foremost, an outdoor kitchen is an extension to the living space of your home. The proper placement of the island itself, the components, and how the island is organized is very critical to your long-term enjoyment of the new space. All too often, we find persons have an "indoor" kitchen mindset on how to build an outdoor living entertaining space. The two are quite different, and avoiding these outdoor kitchen mistakes is the key to creating an area you want to use, not just when you are entertaining, but as a daily backyard oasis for your family.
1) Wrong Placement of Outdoor Living Area
We’re often called in to evaluate projects only after they’re completed—usually for repairs, adjustments, or modifications. And time after time, we see the same major issue: the outdoor living area has been placed in the wrong location.
We understand that you may host large gatherings that require ample seating, generous cooking space, and room for all your guests. But those big parties aren’t happening every day. What matters most is your Monday-through-Friday cooking routine.
Where will your grill be located so that it’s convenient and accessible for everyday use? You shouldn’t have to walk down a flight of steps and halfway across the yard just to make a Wednesday-night burger. You’d be surprised how many outdoor kitchens end up being inconvenient simply because of poor placement or difficult access.
2) Making The Outdoor Kitchen Your Main Kitchen
This is an outdoor kitchen! This is not indoors! Unless you have a fully covered area, complete with heat and air conditioning, this area is not being used as your main kitchen. You don't need 30 drawer sets! You are not storing your plates/glasses/pots/pans/silverware/and serving items. You do need some storage, and every situation is somewhat different. A pizza oven, for example, often has many accessories that need storage near the unit, but for the most part, none of this storage is functional. We see more empty drawers in outdoor living spaces than you can imagine. What are you putting out there? You can't leave something like paper towels or napkins in the unit since they will get wet. You end up with a roll of wet wipes!
90% of the cabinets are not waterproof! These are outdoor storage drawers to hold some of your standard cooking utensils, probably an igniter for candles and tiki torches, a grill scrub tool, and probably your favorite bottle opener. There are available "pantry" units that are more waterproof, but very few customers request these, mostly due to the price point. Be sure to avoid this as one of the common outdoor kitchen mistakes.
3) Not Enough Counterspace
Not enough counterspace is a big mistake. You want the biggest, hottest, Emeril looking outdoor kitchen cooking space ever made. All your neighbors are going to be jealous at the size of your grill! You get that kitchen built with every component you can possibly think of installed in that island! Good for you! The day of your first big party, you fire up that grill red hot. Go inside the house. Grab the gigantic plate of food you have ready for cooking, like an expert maître d'. You carefully maneuver that giant platter out to your island, avoiding all the small children and obstacles in your path. With graceful movements a ninja would be proud of, you just made it to the grill. However, then realize, uh oh, you have nowhere to put it down! So you set it about 3 feet away from where you are cooking....arg! Not great!
4) Not Using Stone Properly for the Structure or Countertop
Stone and countertops. Stone is a gorgeous element to use, but it can be one of the biggest outdoor kitchen mistakes
you can make if not used properly. Everyone loves a stone finished island. We have seen hundreds of examples of stone set properly and also have seen hundreds of mistakes made. Stone looks best when it is connected to the ground and appears to have a solid foundation. We see many examples of a stone finished island set on top of a deck. It sort of leaves you scratching your head.
Even if you are not aware of exactly why, and can't specifically point to the reason, something just doesn't look correct. In the same way bi level home looks odd when they stone face the top of it and the stone appears to be just "hanging." Stone just doesn't belong on top of wood. You have never seen a rock wall built on top of a wood deck, so why would your stone island be there? Stucco, not as desirable, but is the better choice of finishes on a deck, and sometimes on top of a preexisting patio, when you don't want to disturb the original surface.
Countertops are always a challenge. Bluestone, granite, quartz, marble, wood, tile, concrete are just some of the many options. This one is slightly harder to generalize due to individual conditions that the outdoor kitchen experiences. In general, colder climates are bad for quartz, tile, and many times, concrete. Some products fade in the sun, have issues with stains, chipping, or need to be resealed often. This is one of the few outdoor kitchen mistakes that can easily be avoided by simply asking your supplier the correct questions for your application. We generally recommend granite as the overall best choice, and bluestone as a second-best choice for those living in the northeast part of the country.
5) Use the Correct Materials
Wood construction is a big NO NO! Most galvanized studs are not designed for outdoor use, and plain steel will rust over time. Using the 
correct materials will guarantee your outdoor kitchen will last for many years.
Your average home center galvanized stud is "ready to rust." Galvanized studs cannot be welded without first grinding the galvanization off, and every screw installed penetrates the galvanized layer, further providing a rust point. Decorative landscape block "can" work, but only if it is set on a secure base, such as concrete. We have seen many cracked countertops due to poorly installed structures. That countertop is expensive, so, just like in home construction, the foundation needs to be done correctly to support everything above it. Outdoor kitchen construction detail mistakes are easy to avoid with careful planning and an understanding of what is involved.
6) Picking the Wrong Contractor
Pick the correct contractor! Using a person that "can" put a kitchen in is just as bad as using the lawn service to put your paver patio in. There is a reason we specialize in outdoor kitchen cabinet construction. Our experience in both outdoor kitchens combined with 35 years of landscape construction gives us a unique advantage over our competitors ability to understand all of the details of how these two need to complement each other to create an outdoor oasis for your family. Outdoor kitchen mistakes are easy to avoid if your contractor understands all of the details involved.
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See our current projects on Facebook RM Landscape Construction or go to our Outdoor kitchen page to see a gallery of past projects. We are an ICPI certified contractor in New Jersey.
As with any project different contractors will have different concepts, or methods of construction. Do your homework into both the island construction and the components. Many of the foreign made components have limited-service plans, or even parts only, which means you have to do the repairs yourself.
We only build out of aluminum framing, because it will never rust out, it resists heat and can be used in salt air environments. In addition, our islands are fully welded frames, and 100% complete. With no finish work to be completed by the contractor or homeowner. Just set, level, and start stone facing. Avoid making outdoor kitchen mistakes by calling us today.
Why Our Outdoor Kitchen Construction Methods Are the Best
Outdoor kitchen construction has traditionally been built out of concrete block or landscape block. They were heavy, usually required footings, and in the event of needing a component replaced, also very difficult to modify once built. Steel or concrete lentils were required to span openings, and door and drawer supports required additional block to be mortared in place. Prepping the openings during initial construction was difficult enough using traditional methods, but modifications to accommodate a different grill, years later, resulted in many abandoned units or complete tear outs of these islands.
Additional concerns using traditional construction methods include veneer failure, or entire kitchens settling due to poor foundations, often resulting in cracked countertops.
New methods of outdoor kitchen construction, while achieving the classic "stone finished" look have become the preferred method of contractors and homeowners installing these outdoor living areas.
But buyer beware! Not all construction is the same!
The Galvanized Stud Method of Building an Outdoor Kitchen
18 years ago, we started to build our very first island out of "galvanized studs" that have become a popular method (to this day), of constructing an outdoor kitchen. Well, about halfway through our very first project, we realized we had, what amounted to, a rickety, non-structural, and ready to rust" unit. The only thing that was going to make the frame strong, was the addition of the backer board, and using backer board to make your island strong is the equivalent to using sheetrock to stabilize your home. I don't care what you read on internet, 20-gauge, galvanized studs, are not designed for outdoor use! Any hole, rivet, screw, or scratch that occurs during outdoor kitchen construction will provide a point of entry for rust.
In addition, you cannot weld galvanized metal together, as it is toxic. The only correct way to weld galvanized steel is to grind off the galvanization and then weld. Hmm....now you have a rusty weld point, with no protection.
Needless to say, halfway through our very first project, we took that island and threw it in the trash. Not one customer we have ever served has had an island built by RM Landscape Construction using galvanized studs! We don't even like to do any repair work on these types of galvanized outdoor kitchen construction islands when we get calls for them.
Outdoor Kitchen Construction Using the Box Method
Lots of companies are selling individual "boxes" that need to be bolted together for outdoor kitchen construction. It is a one size fits all approach and can be made from either galvanized studs, or aluminum tubing. We have already covered why galvanized studs don't work, so let's concentrate on the aluminum frame construction "boxes" our competitors are using.
First of all, one size does not fit all. Every box has a specific range of uses, and sizes of components. Even the preassembled boxes still need to be bolted together at your home, end caps bolted on, and then every unit leveled to both the foundation, and each other. In addition, the openings are generally not finished to correct sizes, a backsplash is often not an option, and no drawer, or door supports are even offered.
That might be all be fine and good for your particular project, but we have also found is that most of these companies offering "boxes" aren't putting enough additional support studs in for your stone veneer to stay in place. For example, a 24" "box" will have 4 corner supports. But then a 48" "box" will have 4 corner supports and nothing, not one single additional stud in between. Your home has studs every 16" and at least 1/2" plywood framing, so why would your outdoor frame have less? Some of these "boxes" are coming with 1/4" hardibacker nailed onto the few studs they have. That is just asking for failure! Forces such as wind, the ball getting kicked around yard, even the opening and closing of components, will create vibrations that will quickly cause that stone facing to fail.
6 Big Outdoor Kitchen Mistakes
Our Method of Outdoor Kitchen Construction
RM Landscape Construction has spent the last 15 years designing, building, and installing outdoor kitchen projects. And we are ICPI certified. For our outdoor kitchen construction, we only use custom designed and built, welded, all aluminum frames. Our frames are 1.5" x 1" rectangular and 1" x 1" aluminum square tubing. Studs are generally less than 14" apart, ends of unit have an additional center stud. Openings are finished prior to delivery, door/drawer supports are welded in place. 1/2" backer board is both glued and screwed onto the frame. Our frame is even sanded prior to glue application. We do not need the "backer board" to create strength and structure to hold the unit together. Our frames can stand alone under any conditions.
Very large units (over 24') are often delivered to the jobsite and then concrete board installed on site. Smaller units can be moved and set by 2 people, even with all concrete board (and stucco finish if desired) installed. Just set our units in place, level, and start the stone veneer. The countertop companies "love" our outdoor kitchen construction methods. They can be confident they will never have a problem with the countertop cracking or failing. Plus, we install extra supports where needed for the countertop company.
Custom Outdoor Kitchen Construction
We can do "custom" just about anything. We do many islands every year, from straight to curves, extended backsplashes, drop counters, complex angles, extended seating, or bar seating concepts are just a few of the examples of the added benefits of using RM Landscape as your outdoor kitchen construction contractor. We have built islands that need to wrap around posts, such as under a pavilion or deck, and even islands that needed to step over an existing curb type structure. Our attention to detail, 35 years of experience in landscape construction industry, and advanced outdoor kitchen cabinet construction methods combines to create the ultimate backyard oasis for your family.
Make sure you follow our more current kitchen projects on Facebook. RM Landscape Construction or look at some of our other patio projects for ideas for your own home.
The gallery below is some "during" photos of different projects and phases of construction. We have also included photos of "galvanized stud" framing from projects we have torn out or been asked to repair to show the difference in our frames vs many competitors.
Professional Installers of Paver Patios
RM Landscape Construction is an ICPI certified installer of paver patios for 3 major manufacturers and offer services for homeowners throughout Morris County, New Jersey. We strive for perfection when it comes to any new home project. Our team of contractors has experience using an assortment of different materials, ensuring that whatever look you want we have the capabilities to complete it to your standards. Polymeric joint sand and concrete edge restraints are just some of the high-end materials that we use.
If you spend a few moments in our picture gallery the first thing you should notice is the lack of squared off, or rows of anything. We strive to achieve natural, soft contours, that accent the landscape. Unless a project calls for straight and formal, we strive to try to connect with the natural flow of the property and not look like we forced the plan into the space.
More difficult terrain has often resulted in some of our most amazing projects. We can design almost anything on paper, but once you find something, such as a hidden boulder, and decide to work with it, as a project detail, instead of against it, now we have recreated the natural flow of nature. That boulder is no longer an obstruction, but an accent to your home.
We strive to build the best paver patios in our field using industry-standard construction methods. We can design a custom project to meet your needs and will work closely with you to ensure that your vision for the patio is achieved. So what are you waiting for? Please call us today. When you call, we can provide you with a free estimate to go over the patio project.
Contact Us
RM Landscape Construction has been creating custom backyard living areas for Morris County residents for the last 25 years. We are ICPI certified pavers. A custom patio is a great way to extend your living areas to the outdoors, while also increasing the value of your home. Get an elegant backyard patio installed today! For more information, please contact us today.
We will answer any questions you may have, as well as a free consultation for our services. We look forward to helping you with your next patio project.
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Patiobob/
6 Benefits of Paver Patios
- A paver patio can withstand heavy traffic and requires little to no maintenance throughout the years, which makes it a great addition to any yard.
- Laying patio pavers can take only a few days to complete. This includes preparing the site, laying it down, and providing the finishing touches. As a trusted paver patio installer for many in Morris County, New Jersey, we can work quickly and efficiently and install a new patio in no time.
- One of the best benefits of paver patios for your backyard is how it allows you to spend time outside with your friends and family. It opens up space to have parties outside, so you no longer have to squeeze everyone into a cramped house. This newfound space can be a gamechanger!
- Patios raise the property value of the home should you ever decide to move.
- When the patios are installed by our paver professionals, we will make it look gorgeous. So your home becomes more elegant and beautiful in general.
- One last benefit of a paver patio is that it opens up room for the space needed to install an outdoor kitchens. These kitchens are great when you host an outdoor party. Or you can follow us on Facebook.
Custom Paver Patios
From decorative retaining walls to a structural load-bearing wall system we can provide all of your wall needs. The use of walls ranges from correcting grades, redirecting water problems, increasing property value, providing new usable areas within your property, and of course, becoming a decorative, visually pleasing aspect of your home's overall landscape plan. But whatever your needs, the team at Patio Bob can install a retaining wall at an affordable price! We proudly work with home and business owners across Morris County giving them the retaining walls they need for their location!
Importance
Walls are important for the safety and integrity of any property. They correct grades, increase property value, provide new, usable areas within your property, and redirect water problems. All while still becoming a visually pleasing part of your overall landscape. The overall purpose of a retaining wall is to restrain soil to a slope that is unnatural to the land while also adding functionality to adjoining areas. They also help with erosion control, which helps to maintain the shape of a property. When you turn to Patio Bob, you will get expert installations of walls.
Retaining Walls & Erosion Control
Walls help most with erosion control. Erosion control is the prevention or controlling of wind or water erosion in agriculture, land development, coastal areas, riverbanks or construction sites. Professionally installed retaining walls combat these issues. They are designed to restrain soil from an unnatural slope and used to steer a near-vertical or vertical slope. There are essentially three main principles to control erosion with retaining walls. These principles are:
- use land according to its capability.
- protect the soil surface with some form of cover.
- control the runoff before it develops into an erosive force.
In essence, walls offer protection. They are also used to correct grades, provide new, usable areas within your property, and redirect water problems. All the while still becoming a visually pleasing part of your overall landscape. Walls are often used to create a patio in a previously unusable space. In the end, our walls will help to increase your Morris County property value.
Expert Installations of Retaining Walls in Morris County
RM Landscape Construction of Mount Olive, New Jersey provides homeowners across Morris County with dependable and affordable installations of retaining walls. We are a certified NCMA installer, as well as ICPI certified. If you are thinking about adding a wall to your home, please reach out to us today. We can provide you with a free consultation and discuss with you all of the necessary information in order to make the best decision possible. When you get in touch with us, we will answer any questions or concerns you may have about our array of services. Questions that go beyond just our installation of walls, since we are a full-service contractor.
Morris County Hardscaping Contractor for Paver Walkways
Long gone are the days of a straight sidewalk leading to the front door. Every walkway we install has contours and shapes accenting the home, plant beds, and flows to the doorway creating a smooth transition between functional spaces and living areas. Stairs and adjoining retaining wall areas can be added for properties with steep grade transitions. Get the best paver installations when you turn to the New Jersey contracting team at Patio Bob!
Custom Paver Walkways
Our team of contractors have years of experience in the field and have worked with an assortment of different materials in various paver walkway projects. We will work closely with you to ensure that your vision is achieved and will do so in the budget you allotted. All the walkways we install are custom done to suit your exact needs and specifications.
RM Landscape Construction has years of experience providing homeowners across Morris County, New Jersey with dependable landscaping and paver projects. This includes custom walkways, patios, and outdoor living areas. Create a stylish entryway to your home. If you're interested and would like a free consultation for our services, please contact us today. We will kindly answer any questions or concerns you may have about our services.
Check out our gallery of custom walkways, we have professionally installed for homes across Morris County, New Jersey using industry standardized methods. We are also a certified ICPI Installer. We will work with you to ensure proper placement of the walkway or pathway for your home. Whether you are creating a pathway to your front door or to the pool in your backyard, our paver and hardscaping services will get the job done. And do so in a budget that you can afford!
Outdoor Bar and Grill Contractors
Complete the finishing touches to your patio today with the addition of an outdoor bar or grill! Adding additional structures provides depth, points of interest, additional seating, and social areas for the ultimate in comfortable outdoor living areas. Create the outdoor kitchen of your dreams with Patio Bob! Make your backyard the place to be with a stylish new outdoor bar and grill. Our team of outdoor bar and grill contractors can design and install the outdoor bar and grill that you have always wanted. All at an affordable price.
Throughout the years, our contractors have built various outdoor kitchens in the area and have used many different materials in the process. So you can choose from various styles for your backyard living space and have the confidence in our team to do it right.
You can check out some great accessories for your outdoor living area, including pizza ovens, firepits, Green eggs, and drop-in ice coolers and drawers.
Our outdoor bar and grill contractors will work closely with you in order to design a complimentary layout that works with your existing patio or project plans to create the ultimate backyard oasis. While consulting, we will devise a budget for the bar and grill and ensure that everything flows correctly with proper placement to allow for access, flow, seating alignment, and presentation. Your ultimate approval is our goal, as we aim to bring you the outdoor kitchen of your dreams!
Mount Olive, Morris County Contracting Team
Patio Bob of Mount Olive has years of experience providing homeowners across Morris County, and New Jersey with the best contracting services in the area. Our outdoor bar and grill contractors will add a new element to your home and offer homeowners a variety of advantages. If you are thinking about adding an outside kitchen or an outdoor bar and grill, reach out to us today.
We will answer any questions you may have about this particular service, as well as provide you with a free consultation. We look forward to providing an outdoor living space to your home! Our staff is ICPI certified for professional grade work.
Your most experienced and best contractor for Outdoor Kitchens in New Jersey area
An outdoor kitchen makes a wonderful addition to any home. If an outdoor kitchen is on your wish list, then RM Landscape Construction is the contracting company for you! Our 35 years experience in landscape construction, and 18 years of outdoor kitchen design provides us with a unique understanding of how your entire project needs to be combined to create a backyard oasis.
We provide our contracting services locally, but complete the design and installation of our custom outdoor cabinets to residents throughout the New Jersey area. Outdoor kitchens can act as the finishing touch to your patio, as well as present depth, additional seating, and social areas for the ultimate in comfortable outdoor living.
As a professional contractor, RM Landscape Construction can create the outdoor living area of your dreams! Turn your ordinary backyard into something special with a stylish, new outdoor kitchen. We will work closely with you on the project to ensure that your vision is ultimately achieved by combining your concept with our years of experience. Our team of contractors has experience working in a variety of settings and with various materials, so we can help create an outdoor kitchen that exceeds your vision. Turn to the outdoor installers you can trust! RM Landscape Construction is your trusted Budd Lake, Mount Olive team.
Benefits of an Outdoor Kitchen
Adding an outdoor kitchen offers the homeowner numerous benefits. One of the benefits for any homeowner is increased home value with the addition of a new outdoor living area.
But that is not the only benefit. Beauty, relaxation and enjoyment is another great benefit with this project. It adds another level to your home life. One where it looks beautiful and helps you to relax after a long day. Simply head outside, get some fresh air, and do some cooking.
Installing an outdoor kitchen in your backyard will also add to the space of your home. Sometimes you simply do not have enough space to entertain your friends and family inside, an outdoor living area will provide more space for larger gatherings. In much the same way as your indoor kitchen is the gathering center for your home, your outdoor kitchen will become the epicenter of your yard. A properly outfitted layout provides everything you need, right outside in the outdoor kitchen. No need to run back and forth from outside to inside to use the kitchen in your home, while missing out on the party outside.
Contact Patio Bob Today
RM Landscape Construction of Mount Olive, NJ has 18 years of experience as an outdoor design/build/installation company for homeowners across NJ. Over the years, we have installed many beautiful kitchens that were also affordable. Get some inspiration and check out some previous bar and grill installations. Or, check out the list or reasons of why our cabinets are the best in the industry, and the best investment for your home.
Follow us on Facebook: RM Landscape Construction or see some of the more current projects at our "Outdoor Kitchen Inspirations Page", also on Facebook.
For more information about adding an outdoor bar & grill or a kitchen area, then please get in touch with us today. We will gladly answer any questions or concerns you may have about outdoor kitchens and their installation process. When you reach out, we can provide you with a free consultation and go over any budget concerns you may have about the upcoming project. We are also a certified ICPI contractor. Once we have a handle on what you want, we can provide you with a fair and accurate estimate. So please, do not hesitate to reach out today!
