Outdoor Kitchen Countertop Maintenance

by Dave
(St. Louis, MO)

QUESTION(s): I'm planning an outdoor kitchen. We live in Missouri and the countertop will be exposed to the sun from 9am until 3pm. We'll be adding a hole for an umbrella to cover at least part of the counter top. We are considering a tan/light brown granite. Is granite the best option for the countertop? What should I expect as far as countertop temperature and maintenance issues?

The kitchen will have a refrigerator, under-mount sink, natural gas grill and 2 burner side unit. I am assuming I will need access doors for under the sink area, but I'm not sure what storage options I will need under the grill and side burner (i.e. drawers and/or shelves behind doors)... any suggestions?

ANSWER: For an outdoor kitchen countertop, granite is overall your best bet. Granite will hold up to use and abuse by you and the weather better than any other surface.

Having said that, it must be noted that not all stones sold as granite (some 2000+ stones) are actually "granite" and not all granites perform alike.

Practically speaking, this simply means that in geological terms, there are many types of stone with similar enough properties to granite that they are commercially sold as "granite," so you'll want to test a sample of the countertop slab you like to be sure that it is not too absorbent or reactive to acids.

Cosmetically speaking some "granites" may weather a bit more than others.... meaning the shiny polish may get worn away some over time and the granite color will become a bit more dull. Don't worry... this not a big issue and...

This is not the same as quartz countertops, where prolonged exposure to sunlight turns the colored pigment yellow.

Intense polishing by friction and abrasion is what brings out the color in granite and natural stone and... sealing or chemical applications have nothing to do with it.

In fact, you should NOT seal any stone outdoors. It should be left to "breath." Any stains on your granite countertops (unlikely if you test your slab to be appropriate for kitchen use) will be effectively removed by the sun and rain.

Choosing a lighter, earth tone color is smart for an outdoor kitchen. It blends well and you won't notice as much if the polish wears and the color is not as intense. A color-enhancer can be applied to give that "wet look," but outdoors that will wear off quick.

If this gives you pause, consider that every other surface will have similar or worse cosmetic issues outdoors. This is just nature running its course and it's best to just let it.

Pound for pound, granite is the most durable and best choice for an outdoor kitchen.

Hot Countertop

Any surface will get hot when exposed to prolonged, mid-day sun, so it's best to build in some sort of shade... like your umbrella or a pergola that will cover most of the area and not just part of it.

Of course, shade will make it more comfortable while cooking and for you and your guests when eating at the countertop.

Personally, I'd rather build a permanent overhead shade structure rather than put a hole in the granite and a pole in the middle of it all. However, you could get a cantilevered or offset umbrella that would work.

Storage

I would build in as much storage as your space allows. Under the grill or burners it's nice to have a drawer or two or three to store/warm hamburger and hot dog buns, foods waiting to be grilled, utensils or spices.

Cupboard space is good for storing pots and pans, cutting boards, a trash receptacle, cleaning products, fire extinguisher, etc.

If you want to get real fancy, you can install specially constructed pull outs for trash, ice, paper towels.

There's really no limit. Good luck and have fun. I'm sure you'll enjoy it a lot this summer and for years to come.

Ryan