In our experience at Carolina Custom Countertops, outdoor kitchens are becoming increasingly popular. If you are planning to add an outdoor kitchen to your home for any reason, you can turn to us to get the high-quality custom counters you need.
Because indoor and outdoor kitchens are subject to different conditions, you will need to choose your counters with the specific environment in mind. In this article, we’ll go over some key things to consider when selecting outdoor kitchen countertops.
- Weather Conditions – When choosing outdoor kitchen countertops, it’s important to keep your local climate and weather patterns in mind. Some countertop materials can stand up well to the conditions of an indoor kitchen but will quickly become damaged when exposed to certain outdoor conditions such as freeze/thaw cycles or high humidity. Our team can help you select materials that will perform well in the local climate here in North Carolina.
- Ease of Cleaning – Another important factor is how easy the material is to clean. Whether your kitchen is indoors or outdoors, you need to be able to keep it hygienic. Ease of cleaning is especially important for outdoor kitchen countertops, however, as these may be exposed to contamination you don’t know about. For example, insects or other wildlife may be touching your outdoor counters when you’re not using them.
- Porosity – You should also consider the porosity of each material before you select one for your outdoor kitchen countertops. Porous materials, such as natural stone, will soak up stains and odors, and they harbor bacteria more easily. This makes them poorly suited to outdoor kitchens in their natural state. Fortunately, it’s possible to seal porous materials to prevent these problems—just make sure to get your outdoor kitchen counters resealed regularly to keep them protected.