Outdoor Kitchens near you

Start with how you cook and entertain, then choose components; every appliance added means another line to run, more to protect in winter and more counter to build. Choose appliances sold for outdoor use, since indoor models aren't designed for rain, humidity and cold, and install built-in units in an enclosure that matches the manufacturer's cut-out, ventilation and clearance requirements.

An outdoor kitchen spends months under snow and goes through repeated freezing and thawing, so every material has to shed water or tolerate it. Water that soaks into a porous counter or an open joint expands when it freezes, which is how cracks, spalling and loose veneer start. The frame matters as much as the finish: an island is usually built from masonry block or a non-combustible metal frame, clad in stone or another facing, and set on a base that won't heave.

Placement is a balance between convenience and safety. Close to the back door saves trips, but smoke, heat and grease need somewhere to go, so the grill should face open air rather than a wall, window, soffit or vinyl siding. Health Canada says to keep a barbecue far from combustible materials, windows and doors, and the grill's installation manual gives the minimum clearances to walls, overhangs and anything combustible; those instructions, not a rule of thumb, decide the layout.

An island is heavy and has to stay level through the winter, so it needs a base designed for it: an existing patio may not be strong or flat enough, and a new one is built with the island in mind. Gas, electrical and water lines run under the patio in sleeves or conduit before the surface goes down, so the trades are booked early. A landscape designer or the builder can fit the kitchen into a larger plan for the yard.

A natural gas line to a built-in grill is gas piping, and it is never a homeowner job. In Ontario, it is installed by a fuels contractor registered with the TSSA; in Quebec, by a contractor holding the appropriate gas licence from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec. The technician sizes the line for every appliance on it, installs shut-off valves, tests the piping for leaks and handles any permit or inspection the work requires. Converting a grill between propane and natural gas also calls for the manufacturer's parts and a qualified technician.

Outlets, a fridge circuit and lighting belong to a licensed electrician. In Ontario, the Electrical Safety Authority advises fitting outdoor outlets with ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) and says almost all electrical work must be reported through a notification of work; in Quebec, the work goes to a contractor holding the appropriate licence, a CMEQ master electrician. A roof, a pergola attached to the house or a large masonry structure can also need a building permit, and zoning may set how close it can be to the lot lines, so check with your municipality before building.

A barbecue belongs outdoors in a well-ventilated area. Health Canada warns that using one indoors or in an enclosed space such as a tent or garage risks fire or asphyxiation, and that barbecues can produce carbon monoxide, a gas with no colour, smell or taste. The same logic applies to a kitchen under a low roof or walled in on several sides: follow the manufacturer's requirements for open sides and ventilation, and never close it in with tarps or panels to cook in the cold. Propane is heavier than air, so a leak can collect in the cabinet under the grill, which is why an island that holds a cylinder needs the vents the manufacturer specifies.

Water left in a sink line, faucet, ice maker or fridge can freeze, split pipes and crack fittings, so the most important fall job is draining everything that holds water. A well-designed kitchen has an indoor shut-off and a drain point so the lines empty completely; if yours doesn't, ask a plumber to add them. Follow each appliance's manual for winter storage, since some outdoor fridges are meant to be unplugged and emptied for the cold months.