Winterize Your Outdoor Kitchen

If you are thinking about adding an outdoor kitchen to your backyard, you’ll want to consider making the outdoor kitchen easy to winterize.

Many do not think of this and add an outdoor kitchen with a sink, only to find they have frozen or busted water lines when it’s too late. Maintenance and the protection of your outdoor kitchen will help you to keep the kitchen in good working order so you and your guests can enjoy it the following year.

When you build your outdoor kitchen, you’ll want to make sure you use material that will be resistant to harsh weather. You’ll have several choices, however, teak wood is a great choice for cabinets and furniture as it is rot resistant and will hold up under bad weather. If you choose another type of wood, make sure you take the time to properly maintain it with a waterproofing stain to extend the life of the material. The flooring for your outdoor kitchen should be one that will resist the harsh weather conditions. If you’ve chosen a wood material, like your cabinets, you’ll want to make sure you weatherproof them before winter sets in.

As for your countertops, you can use stone or slate, although stainless steel countertops are becoming more popular, as well. Sinks should be done in stainless steel, however, you can have stone, or copper. The most important thing to remember with your sink is to have a shutoff valve installed inside your home. This will allow you to drain it in preparing for the winter months. Many old use cold water in their outdoor kitchens so this would work well. You can even insulate the pipes running to your outdoor kitchen, as well as hook up a heat tape.

If you have equipped your outdoor kitchen and dining area with a lot of appliances and furniture, you can certainly store them in the garage or shed during the winter months or you can purchase covers for them that will protect them from harsh elements. Cushions and coverings should be put up for the winter under protective cover, however, you’ll want to make sure if you put them in a shed or garage that you place mothballs and other insect and rodent repellents around them. There is nothing worse than hauling out a mouse infested cushion at the end of the winter.

Don’t let the winter months destroy the outdoor kitchen you worked so hard to install. Winterizing your outdoor kitchen will help you prolong the life of all your appliances and furnishings and allow you to enjoy it that much longer.

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