Outdoor Kitchen Deck: 7 Smart Tips for Picking a Location
Finding a perfect spot for your outdoor kitchen is the first thing you have to figure out at the very beginning of the design process. People often ask: “Can you even make an outdoor kitchen deck?”
A deck is usually a primary space for an outdoor kitchen, as it’s close to the house, all the utilities are usually in place, and covering is already built.
The most important details to consider are:
- weight limits
- appliances
- utility placement and layout
Not every deck will be suitable for an outdoor kitchen, though. What’s your weight limit? How can your deck size limit your design opportunities or the company you can keep?
My seven smart tips will clear up any confusion, give you some practical ideas, and help you choose the most functional location for an outdoor kitchen deck.
Can You Even Make an Outdoor Kitchen Deck?
Sure you can! The real question is what will actually work for your location and your budget. Usually, a deck is the simplest and most budget-friendly option for most homeowners.
In my opinion, an outdoor kitchen should be treated as an investment, as this addition can boost its value and make it more appealing to future buyers.
An outdoor kitchens’ ROI ranges from 55% to 200% depending on its size, the quality of the materials, and additional features like lighting or utilities.
In general, you’re lucky if you get a 100% ROI (you get what you put in). If you perform good research on materials and location, you may be able to hit 130% ROI.
The reason I mention these numbers is: if you want to treat your outdoor kitchen deck as an addition that increases home value, it’s worth sticking to your budget.
Figuring what location works best for you shouldn’t be done independently of your wallet. Asking yourself a few simple questions about your goal for your outdoor kitchen deck will increase your chances of a successful project.
There are basically two types of outdoor kitchens: perimeter and satellite. Satellites (outdoor kitchens in a distance from the house) usually:
- are more expensive
- require permits
- need a utility connection
- have a long-lasting construction
As an investment, they’re rarely a good idea. On the other hand, a perimeter outdoor kitchen deck is faster to build and is a self-sufficient structure.
Overall, outdoor kitchens built on a deck have plenty of advantages. The main one, of course, is the budget. Utilities, flooring, and roofing are usually already in place, which makes them faster (and cheaper!) to create. They’re just more convenient to use.
An outdoor kitchen can be placed on most of the decks built up to code. Even if the deck needs reinforcement, it’s probably going to be worth it budget-wise, anyway.
There are plenty of questions to be asked, still, that will make you more aware of what you’re willing to do:
- Is your deck strong enough to hold up an outdoor kitchen?
- Is your deck big enough to accommodate an outdoor kitchen?
- Can your desired design be placed on your deck?
- What is the placement of utilities underneath the deck?
- Will an outdoor kitchen deck affect your home’s design?
- Is your deck well situated for how you’ll use your outdoor kitchen?
Answering these questions will help you make an informed and confident decision. You certainly don’t want to ask these in the middle of a project!
How Much Weight Can Your Deck Hold?
There is, unfortunately, no universal answer to this question when designing an outdoor kitchen deck. If you’re lucky this sort of data is in your home’s deck documentation.
If not, a good idea is to ask for professional expertise, as it’s much better to be safe then sorry. Even if the deck is not strong enough, additional structural support can be added.
Can you figure your deck strength on your own? If you’re good with math, sure!
Dead Load and Live Load
There are rules you can use to figure if the deck is a proper location for an outdoor kitchen or not. The simplest one is: a properly designed deck should be able to hold up to 50 lbs. per square foot.
10 lbs out of this number are called dead load – aka, the weight of the deck itself. 40 lbs are called live load – furniture, planters, people, and snow in the winter (in colder states).
Now let’s get into finer details, as the deck structure very often not only affects your outdoor kitchen material choices, but also placement of heavier elements. Usually, a deck is placed next to the house – the area facing the wall can bear the most load.
The main reason most people use this area for an outdoor kitchen? It simply works.
Tributary Zones
To figure the design of an on-deck outdoor kitchen, it’s worth getting to know a bit more about tributary zones. Basically, you can divide each deck into four zones. Each of them can hold different amounts of load.
Tributary zones are worth taking into consideration while picking perfect spots for heavy parts of an outdoor kitchen, such as a grill or pizza oven.
What if a deck gets more load then it can bear? Well, the deck will start to sink. Something to avoid at all cost!
What is the Weight of an Outdoor Kitchen?
So, the code tells us each sq ft of the deck can bear 50 lbs. So if the deck is 50 sq ft it can bear up to 2500 lbs, would that be enough for an outdoor kitchen, furniture, and several people?
We already know that a 500 lbs has to be deducted from this number, as these include deal load (a deck bearing its weight). So for a 50 sq ft deck, we’ll have a 2000 lbs live load.
This is quite a bit of weight, and for some constructions, will be more than enough for an outdoor kitchen deck. Not for all, though.
If you’re looking for a simple BBQ island that’s about 10′ long – even if it’s equipped with a burner, fridge, grill, and cabinet – you’re probably safe. Such construction weights usually hovers at 800 lbs.
For this square feet, the solution could be reinforcing the area underneath a deck. This is a job that will eat into a significant part of a budget for an outdoor kitchen deck, but it could be worth it for your specific idea.
How to Minimize the Weight of an Outdoor Kitchen
There are plenty of ways to reduce the weight of an outdoor kitchen. First of all, size matters.
Not only size – the number of appliances, too. If the kitchen is too heavy for your deck, reducing its size and getting rid of unnecessary appliances will make a huge difference.
If you plan to sell your house at some point, include in your outdoor kitchen deck the basics of a fridge, sink, grill, and storage. This is the list of the most wanted parts by buyers (made by real estate agents). If not, omitting the fridge and sink is fine if your deck’s close to an indoor kitchen.
If you already downsized your project and the weight is still too high, it’s time to rethink the structure. Cinderblock and wood are usually heavier than aluminum and steel studs. If you’re a DIYer, going with steel studs or aluminum will be a bigger challenge, as this requires specific tools.
Otherwise, your contractor is probably going to use metal, anyway, as aluminum frames don’t rust or sag.
Finishes also play a major role in making the construction lighter. Stone or tiles are pretty heavy compared to stucco. Even if you’re a huge fan of a specific look, changes in this area can make a huge difference for your timeframe.
What is a Proper Deck Size for an Outdoor Kitchen?
An outdoor kitchen can be placed on most decks. It’s pretty important to realize how much space it’ll take before constructing, though.
What are deck space requirements for an outdoor kitchen? A small grill station requires not much more than 3 sq ft of space.
On the other hand, if you want to have a multi-piece with a dining table, it will take up to 168 sq ft. On average, a regular outdoor kitchen without a dining area requires a section of 60 sq ft or so.
So, the size of an outdoor kitchen depends not only on your budget, but also on the activities you want to dedicate to it.
Is Your Deck Well Placed for an Outdoor Kitchen?
Cardinal directions are a pretty important factor. Usually, people use an outdoor kitchen mostly in the evenings and nights.
This is not a hard-and-fast rule, as breakfasts made in one taste delicious, too. In fact, there are plenty of people who use their outdoor kitchen deck all day long! What’s important is figuring out how it’ll work with you.
If your patio is directed to the West, you’ll be able to view sunsets on a daily basis. This is usually the most desired location.
If it is directed to the East, it’ll be well illuminated in the morning, but later on, it’ll need extra lighting.
South direction is an angle screaming for roofing, but delivers a lot of natural light through most of the day.
Each of the above directions has advantages that can create entirely new effects and experiences for your outdoor kitchen deck.
How Does the Deck Influence an Outdoor Kitchen Design?
Nearly any design of an outdoor kitchen can be placed on a big enough deck. There are multiple factors, though, that can influence how your outdoor kitchen deck will look and feel
- total weight
- wind direction
- utilities (and their placement)
- wooden railing
Total Weight
Weight is an important factor on a deck. An outdoor kitchen is usually pretty heavy, as even small sizes weigh about 800 lbs.
A pizza oven alone weighs about 400 lbs. Choosing lighter solutions for your outdoor kitchen deck might be the way to go, as well as reinforcing the area underneath your deck.
Wind Direction
Wind direction is an important factor that’s rarely discussed. We grill and smoke outside the house for a reason – the process is smelly and smoky.
It’s vital to place cooking appliances downwind from the house and the sitting area. If the wind blows in different directions, try to find the most common one or if there is some sort of pattern.
This detail seems minor, but neglected, can lead to a huge headache later on while cooking in your outdoor kitchen deck.
Utilities (and Their Placement)
Utilities are an important factor for both design and budget. If they’re in place, it might be necessary to put proper appliances close to them.
If they’re not where you need them to be, a long and pricey process begins with getting permits and hiring a proper contractor. A general contractor costs between $50 to $150 per hour.
Why is it so important to build up to code with permits? First of all, if someone notices you built an outdoor kitchen deck with utilities and didn’t get permission, you could receive a demolition order.
Secondly, while selling a house with parts built not up to code, it may occur you have to fix everything first. It gets pricier to fix later than build up to code now.
Wooden Railing
The wooden railing shouldn’t be close to the grill, either. Since wood is highly flammable — especially when painted — it’s a safety hazard that should be avoided at all cost.
Keep a fire blanket outside in case of an emergency.
How an Outdoor Kitchen Deck Affects the House’s Interior
When you’re so wrapped up on whether or not you can create an outdoor kitchen deck, you may overlook how the outside will impact the inside.
First of all, you’ll need new walking paths, so consider this detail right at the start. People will walk inside with dirty shoes (or dirty bare feet) from the backyard to the inside kitchen or toilet.
These pathways should be resistant to dirt and moisture. This way guests will safely reach desired areas without angering the hosts.
Secondly, an outdoor kitchen deck can take a lot of daylight from the interior. If your patio is uncovered and nothing stands between the windows and the view, the change may be drastic.
Thirdly, an outdoor kitchen placed deck vastly enlarges the living space. You’ll be able to host more guests more comfortably. There are plenty of reasons to build one, but this one is especially important if you’re social!
An Outdoor Kitchen Deck is Possible With a Little Research
Building an outdoor kitchen deck isn’t too hard when you have all the details in place. As long as your deck is up to code and comes with a permit, you have a world of entertaining and cooking opportunities.
Need more design inspiration or help putting together a cooking space? You’ll love the following guides:
