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Outdoor Living
More people enjoying their leisure time outdoors in their own backyard than ever before. According to the Southern Building Material Association, the decking market has grown an average of eight percent every year since 1991, outpacing new home construction as two to three million new decks are built every year in the United States. The Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association agrees saying that the concept of outdoor living is a rapidly growing phenomenon fueling a $6.2 billion “leisure lifestyle” industry segment.
And this great outdoor migration is not confined to warm weather climates. The growth in new outdoor living spaces is happening across the country fueled in no small measure by the new options in outdoor cooking, heating and lighting made possible with natural gas.
Outdoor Kitchens
Though the term “outdoor kitchen” conjures up images of stone-encrusted, built-in grills, cook-tops and brick-lined pizza ovens, an outdoor kitchen doesn’t have to be that elaborate. A built-in grill, some counter space for food preparation and sink for clean-up are the basic building blocks. From there the additions will depend on your budget, your culinary skills and aspirations and the amount of entertaining you do.
Those considerations will drive your decisions on the size of the grill and the need for accessories like a deep-fryer, a wood-burning pizza oven, an extra burner or two, a refrigerator, an ice-maker or even a wine-cooler.
Unless you’re an avid do-it-yourselfer, consider hiring some professional help in designing and installing an outdoor kitchen.
First, give some serious consideration at to where it’s going to go. Try to avoid south or west-facing wall, which tend to be hotter than a north-facing wall. And, if you’re in the colder parts of the country, you may need to shelter the space from the weather with a roof and some trees or a wall for a windbreaker. But be aware that what’s overhead—trees, trellises, and patio roofs—could pose a fire hazard.
What About Utilities?
Remember to allow for utilities such as a water supply and a drain, electricity and a natural gas supply line. Placing the kitchen closer to the house will make it easier to re-route the lines you’ll need.
Before finalizing your design, check zoning requirements to make sure your outdoor kitchen will be up to code and sited well within your own property lines. Different municipalities have different rules regarding the placement of outdoor kitchens relative to your house and your neighbors as well as the placement of electrical, water and natural gas lines. Your gas grill may need to be enclosed in non-flammable material and you may need permits for any electrical or plumbing work.
Make sure you build it to last. If your kitchen will include amenities like a brick oven or a fireplace, you’ll probably need a steel-reinforced concrete slab over a bed of gravel. And don’t forget to install any plumbing or wiring conduit before the slab is poured.
If you’re going to be eating out as well a cooking out, you’ll need to consider where to put the table. The area needs to be roomy enough for comfortable seating and far enough away from the grill to avoid he heat. And for all-weather eating out, you’ll need to determine what kind of cover you might have to keep the sun out of your guests’ eyes and the rain off their heads.
Natural Gas Heating and Lighting
For chilly evenings, consider adding natural gas heating to your outdoor kitchen. Firepits made their debut in just the past few years but have become more and more popular due to their beauty and convenience. Much like an old-fashioned campfire, natural gas firepits produce between 50,000 and 70,000 BTUs of heat and radiate it in a 360 degree circle. Some even come with grills and can be used for cooking.
With natural gas fireplaces and firepit there’s less mess and hassle and air pollution than with wood or charcoal, which need to be hauled to the fire and can give off harmful smoke and other pollutants. With natural gas, the flame comes on instantly with a flick of a switch and there’s no clean-up.
Natural gas patio heaters are also quickly gaining popularity. Their heat usually radiates out further than the heat from a firepit—some up to 25 feet in all directions. A stand-along patio heater can produce 35,000 to 45,000 BTUs, while “table-top” units produce up to 10,000 BTUs.
As for those dinners that go on into the late evening, consider natural gas lighting. You won’t see bugs swarming around your natural gas lights since they just aren’t attracted to natural gas lights like they are to electric bulbs. Natural gas lights also provide a soft amber glow that can illuminate you backyard, patio, walkways and driveways with no harsh shadows. They also work when there is no electricity.
And finally, for that evening dip after dinner, remember that natural gas pool and spa heaters heat water twice as fast as electric models proving an even temperature that easy to maintain and costs less.
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