Tips for building an outdoor kitchen for clients

By Steve Constable 

Photo by Richelieu

Outdoor kitchens have been growing in popularity over the years. The benefit of learning how to build an outdoor kitchen is that the profit margins are traditionally higher than standard indoor kitchen remodels given that the select group of contractors with the skill of installing them is small and their services are in demand.

The outdoor kitchen is comprised of four distinct zones: the hot zone, which is where your grill, cook top and pizza oven goes; a wet zone, which is where your sink goes; a cold zone where you keep your cooler or refrigerator; and a dry zone, which is where you want to keep cooking and storage items dry.

Of all the zones within the outdoor kitchen the dry zone requires the most specialized equipment. Special water-tight  and water-resistant cabinets will need to be put in to keep storage items dry. Among the offerings are NatureKast high-density resin and Werever marine-grade HDPE cabinetry that are so impervious you can clean them with a water hose. Kalamazoo also makes beautiful stainless steel cabinets and appliances for the outdoors.

 

Werever marine-grade cabinetry

In regards to appliances for an outdoor kitchen, Kalamazoo makes the nicest, most durable appliances you can buy. They make warming drawers and side burners. They even make outdoor dishwashers, which is a real luxury item if you think about it.

Another aspect of building an outdoor kitchen is to select the right grade of tile. Tiles that work best outside are high-grade porcelain tiles, which are nearly impervious to moisture, and quarry tiles that are highly durable in structure. Another building material you can consider working with is stained concrete with a durable layer of polymer coating.  If you choose to stamp the concrete you want a very low stamp level, which will make cracking less of likelihood. Also if you want to put wood deck flooring in your outdoor kitchen, pick the most water-impervious grade of wood you can. Epay wood is a highly recommended outdoor wood flooring option. Remember sourcing the most durable materials you can and paying more initially is better in the long run as the life of the kitchen can be extended into many decades of time.

Although many keep the outdoor kitchen as closely adjacent to the indoor one as possible, it should not be relegated to just the backyard. You can put outdoor kitchens on the roof as well.
Building an outdoor kitchen is not a necessity but it is a luxury symbol. Many homeowners appreciate what an outdoor kitchen can provide in terms of entertaining guests, and may be eager to have one custom built.

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The Property Brothers' Top 15 Home Remodeling Tips

Find out what you missed from the Capital Remodel + Garden Show

by Michelle Goldchain

 

Photo via Shutterstock/Naphat_Jorjee

This past Saturday, the Capital Remodel + Garden Show hosted over 375 companies, more than 4,000 square feet of "dream gardens," and two frontrunners that stole the show, Jonathan and Drew Scott. These real estate and home renovation celebrities, known for their HGTV show, Property Brothers, spoke on everything from when to be bold to where to find home remodeling inspiration.
For those who missed the show or wish to relive it, Curbed listed the top 15 tips and tricks these two brothers discussed below:

1. The home is the largest investment you'll ever make, so surround yourself with people who will help you succeed. Get someone who understands how you work as well.
2. Dream big. For one moment, forget everything about price. After listing everything you truly desire for your abode, narrow it down to the must-haves. These must-haves should be things that will make your life easier and will up the property value.
3. Get a couple of contractors to come through and quote everything. Do your research. Plan ahead. Take your time. Otherwise, you'll likely blow your budget.
4. Do not be afraid to be bold, but you need to think of resale value. Don't do any renovations that may be too specific to your needs or may go out of style soon.
5. You don't need to get rid of everything during a renovation. Repurpose when you can.
6. Do not be in a rush to buy whatever is trendy at the moment. If you want to buy something, know the pros and cons to that product.



Photo courtesy of Dennys Ilic

7. Breaking down a wall or two to make more space can be unnecessary. Sometimes, just changing furniture layout is enough.
8. Do not look at houses until you know what you can afford.
9. When you make your budget, do not base that budget off of your current income situation. For example, are you planning a baby? Expect some changes to that budget.
10. Once you make your budget, stick to it.
11. Do not do renovations on credit cards.
12. When selling your home, take the emotion out of it. Take a step back and look at your home from the eyes of a homebuyer. You need to resolve any issues as you only have one chance at a first impression.
13. Look for inspiration online.
14. Value your time. It can be worth paying someone to do a job if they will do it quicker than you and with less stress.
15. Be careful when you look to the Property Brothers for home remodeling advice. You will never be able to renovate at the same cost as them. Why? They don't charge for their time.

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Energy Saving Tips for Homeowners

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, homeowners can save 20 percent on heating and cooling costs by sealing and insulating their home. The typical home is said to have the same amount of air leaks as a home with a window open year round. Drafts can be eliminated by weatherizing the home.

“Preventing the unwanted circulation or infiltration of air not only improves the efficiency of a heating and cooling system, but also reduces humidity, dust and pollen; eliminates pests and noise; and even prevents the growth and spread of mold that may eventually compromise the structural integrity of a building. Bottom line, it’s an investment in your health and your home,” said Ruben Ornelas, owner of Beyond Construction & Remodeling.

Ruben shares the most common places to check for drafts and tips for weatherizing a home.

•         Check the attic – weather-strip and insulate the attic access door.

•         Seal around the outside of the chimney with metal flashing and a high-temperature sealant such as flue caulk.

•         Seal around plumbing vents, both in the attic floor and in the roof. Check roof flashings, (where the plumbing vent pipes pass through the roof), for signs of water leakage while viewing the underside of the roof.

•         Have a radiant barrier installed in the rafters or joists of the attic. This will reflect the radiant heat that strikes it.

•         Incandescent fixtures should be upgraded to compact bulbs.

•         Seal all other holes between the heated space and the attic.

•         Replace any broken window glass.

•         Re-putty loose window panes.

•         Install new sash locks or adjust existing ones on double-hung and slider windows.

•         Caulk on the inside around window and door trim.

•         Weather-strip exterior doors, including those to garages and porches.

•         Install foam-rubber gaskets behind electrical outlet and switch plates on exterior walls.

•         Use paintable or colored caulk around bath and kitchen cabinets on exterior walls.

•         Caulk any cracks where the floor meets exterior walls. Such cracks are often hidden cracks behind the edge of the carpet.

•         Close the fireplace damper, when not in use. Make sure it closes tightly when a fire isn’t burning.

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Article Source:  virtual-saving.com and http://www.wenatcheeremodelingcontractor.com.