Tips For Choosing Granite Countertops For Your Outdoor Kitchen
An outdoor kitchen and BBQ area is a great way to make even more use of your home in the spring, summer, and fall and spend more time outside. And an outdoor area for cooking also increases the value of your home.
Building your outdoor kitchen will take some planning. You’ll need to outline the setup, including room for a BBQ, refrigerator and sink, cabinets for storage, and of course outdoor furniture. You’ll also need to decide how much countertop space you want and what type of countertop material is going to work best in an outdoor kitchen.
Selecting Your Outdoor Countertops
When choosing outdoor countertops, consider two things – durability against the outdoor elements and resistance to heat from the sun and BBQ. Opt for countertops that are easy to maintain and that look good even after a few seasons outside.
By far the best choice for your outdoor area is granite. Other options such as tile, concrete, and natural stone just won’t stand up to outdoor use. Granite is both strong and durable and won’t fade from the sun beating down on it. It’s also much more stylish than concrete, which for years was the go-to standard for outdoor surfaces. Dekton and Laminam are also great choices but are more expensive.
Granite also won’t lose it’s shine or become etched over time, making it more cost effective than other countertop materials. After properly sealing granite, it’s also resistant to mildew, mold, and stains.
Choosing Your Granite Countertops
Once you’ve decided that granite is the right choice for your outdoor kitchen and BBQ area, it’s time to decide on design. Granite slabs come in a variety of natural patterns and colors. Slabs come both honed and polished, with honed granite giving a softer and less glossy sheen.
Each slab of granite is unique, which can make it hard to narrow down your choice to just one. Select one that complements your outdoor kitchen and BBQ area. Good color choices for outdoors include golden browns, greens, and pale pinks. For patterns, granite with a pebbled or flecked appearance adds style and elegance to outdoor countertops.
How To Maintain Your Granite Countertops
Once installed, your granite countertops will not only be functional, they’ll also look great. The best way to clean granite is with a natural stone cleaning product or gentle dish soap, warm water, and a soft microfiber cloth.
If your outdoor kitchen area isn’t covered by an awning or roof, consider keeping countertops covered with a loose or fitted tarp when not in use. This will help to keep off dirt, leaves, and other outdoor grime so you don’t have to clean your countertops before each use.
During the winter, if you live in a colder climate, granite will be able to withstand the winter elements. Just cover after your last use until warmer weather arrives. In the spring, when you’re ready to start cooking outdoors again, just wipe the countertops clean with warm water and mild soap.
Never use an abrasive cleaner or bleach when cleaning granite. Both can damage and dull granite and also weaken the sealant.
Contact Granite au Sommet and their knowledgeable and trained staff to answer all your questions about granite countertops for the outdoors.