Homeowners in the United States often invest a lot of money into remodeling the interior of their houses, and the interior remodeling industry is a big one. This is done to improve a property’s appeal on the real estate market when the owner puts it up for sale. Something similar, meanwhile, may be done with the front and back yards. This is known as landscaping, and landscaping companies may be hired to plant trees or shrubs or put down bark dust around trees. Landscape design does not stop there, however; man-made items such as custom outdoor kitchens, outdoor living spaces in general, and a wooden fence may be great fun for the current homeowner and appealing to home buyers later on. Many statistics show that investing in landscaping is a good idea just like interior remodeling is, and investing 5% of a property’s value into landscaping may yield a ROI (return on investment) as high as 150%. In particular, this landscaping may take the form of building a custom outdoor space that includes custom outdoor kitchens. How might this be done?
Build Custom Outdoor Kitchens
Custom outdoor kitchens function much like an indoor kitchen, and can be used during pleasant weather to cook meals and barbecue for friends and family for an outdoor picnic or party. This will take some work, however, and all but the most skilled and experienced homeowners may want to hire contractors to install all of the necessary hardware. For the most part, these custom outdoor kitchens may be built on a patio or a wooden deck as opposed to the bare ground, and this makes them easier to use and set up. An interested homeowner may consult the staff at their local hardware store and also look online to find local contractor teams who can build such a kitchen, or at least provide the parts to build one.
What goes into building an outdoor kitchen? Much like an indoor kitchen, this involves appliances such as a stove (gas or electric powered), a fridge and freezer, and even a microwave oven if so desired. And, of course, a sink with running water. All of these items need the correct utilities, so electric cables, water pipes, and natural gas pipes may be installed underneath the patio or wooden deck to keep these appliances running.
These outdoor kitchens are exposed to elements such as sunlight, rain, changes in heat and cold, and more, so they must be built or protected correctly. These items are not being sheltered by a house’s walls and roof, so covers may be placed over these appliances and surfaces when not in use. Otherwise, rain, UV light from the sun, or extremes of temperature may compromise metal or wooden surfaces. Cooking utensils such as tongs, forks, and more can be kept in sealed plastic containers and bags and put inside cabinets so that they do not rust or become warped due to exposure. Open counter tops may be engineered to endure constant exposure to the elements. Finally, an outdoor kitchen may include a grill for barbecuing meats and vegetables of all sorts.
Other accessories may be set up to help complete this outdoor kitchen and dining area setup. For one thing, lighting fixtures may be set up on the deck’s railing or on the roof’s eaves to light up the environment during the evening for everyone’s convenience and safety. On top of that, someone with an outdoor kitchen and dining area is urged to drape mesh netting around the entire patio or wooden deck. Otherwise, unwelcome flying insects such as flies, mosquitoes, and wasps or hornets may arrive and interfere, drawn by the food and people alike. At best, these insects are annoying and unsanitary to have around, and at worst, they may cause painful stings or transmit disease with their bites. During spring and summer, a homeowner will want to keep away mosquitoes in particular to prevent the transmission of contagion during bites, and some people are in fact allergic to wasp or bee stings. Such nets can be draped from poles or other items, and they should be checked regularly for any holes or rips. Defects should be fixed at once, or insects may get through and pester people and pets.