Explore Surfaces Suitable for Outdoor Kitchens
As you design your outdoor kitchen, there are important factors to consider when selecting key elements, including the surfaces.
Like any project, budget is an important consideration as is your design style and lifestyle.
Design style considerations include factors such as color – do you want the surfaces to be neutral or are you interested in a design that pops with color to be the focal point? Will there be a waterfall effect where you want to match veining?
Important lifestyle considerations include assessing if the look you desire is casual or formal; will this outdoor kitchen be integrated into an active backyard for children’s play? Ease of maintenance may be an important consideration as well as sunlight exposure.
It is our goal to provide you with information to help guide you to surface types that may work best to achieve the outdoor kitchen of your dreams.
Below is an overview of surfaces suitable for outdoor kitchens
Granite
A long-time popular choice for countertops due to its natural beauty and hard surface. Granite is a natural stone and is suitable for countertops, wall cladding and flooring, making granite a viable consideration for outdoor kitchens.
Advantages
High heat and scratch resistance
Low maintenance
Natural material with classic appeal available in a very wide range of colors and patterns
Considerations
Porous; requires periodic sealing
Appearance may change if improperly sealed
Marble
A luxurious natural stone highly prized for its timeless beauty. Suitable for outdoor kitchens and many additional applications. Marble is known to ‘age’ so a consideration when selecting marble is that the natural stone appearance will change over time. For many, this can be a beautiful effect of marble.
Advantages
Medium UV resistance
Medium heat resistance
Unique veining
Considerations
Porous; requires periodic sealing
Low stain and etching resistance
May scratch
Porcelain
Laminam is a state-of-the-art beautiful and durable surface imported from Italy. Boston Granite Exchange is the exclusive distributor of Laminam in New England. Laminam is suitable for outdoor kitchens as well as pool decking and other exterior flooring applications.
Advantages
Water resistant
High stain, etching and abrasion resistance
Easy maintenance
Book-matching for beautiful, consistent designs
Considerations
None
Quartzite
A beautiful and durable natural stone. Suitable for exterior countertops, bar tops, wall covering and flooring.
Advantages
Unique natural designs
High stain, etching and abrasion resistance
Medium heat resistance
Considerations
Bi-annual sealing recommended
Soapstone
A classic natural stone for countertops with an antique, historic look. Suitable alternative for an outdoor kitchen as the surface can be used for countertops, bar tops and fireplace surrounds.
Advantages
Natural, rich color
Absorbs and distributes heat
Easy to maintain
High stain, etching and UV resistance
Considerations
Low abrasion resistance – scratches may require sanding
May darken/weather over time
Terrazzo
A manufactured stone from COMPAC, a quality provider of beautiful quartz from Portugal. This product line offers a classic look from Venice, Italy, now modernized. Suitable for outdoor kitchens as this surface can be used for countertops, bar tops, wall cladding and flooring.
Advantages
Water resistant
Easy maintenance
High UV resistance
High stain, etching and abrasion resistance
Considerations
Limited design choices
For inspiration, visit our Imagine Gallery or start planning your project
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