Outdoor kitchens are a wonderful bonus to any home. Whether you like to entertain family or just enjoy spending time in the great outdoors, an outdoor kitchen not only extends your family’s living space, but it also adds value to your home. Cooking is both easier and healthier in an outdoor kitchen as well as smoke and other odors don’t linger.
When it comes to building an outdoor kitchen, some items are a given, for example a stainless steel barbecue grill, a stone fire pit, and teak patio furniture. Using items made from natural elements, like stone and wood, complement the patio feeling of an outdoor kitchen. These items are also earth-friendly, which is always a bonus.
Another item to consider in your outdoor kitchen is the countertop space. You need something that will provide enough area to prepare and serve meals while holding up to harsh weather and extreme temperatures. This is why granite countertops are the first choice for homeowners with outdoor kitchens. Granite is an eco-friendly material that is built to last.
Maintaining Your Outdoor Granite Countertops
Your new granite countertops installed by Best Granite For Less will look fabulous. But how do you keep them looking that way? Talk to us about using a sealer on your countertops. Sunshine and rain will naturally wash away stains from food, but if the surface is absorbent then you will want to apply some kind of sealer to prevent spills from things like wine or mustard from leaving behind a long-term mark.
Otherwise for general cleaning, you should be able to hose off your granite countertops and then use a non-abrasive detergent to remove surface dust and dirt that builds up from pollen, food spills, and other bits of general outdoor grime. A good way to slow down the buildup of gunk on your counters is to leave them covered when not in use if your outdoor kitchen is not covered by any kind of a roof or awning.
Sun, rain, hail, and natural debris (sticks and leaves) will take a toll on your countertops. Just like natural stone that wears down over time from exposure to the elements, granite countertops in an outdoor kitchen will wear down over time, as well. Keeping them covered and having them re-surfaced on an as-necessary basis will go a long way toward extending their longevity.
Not All Granite Counters Offer the Same Performance
Geologically speaking, there are so many types of stones that are commercially sold as “granite” that you want to do your homework before handing over your credit card or writing out a check. Ask your countertop installer if you can test a sample of the slab you like to make sure that it will not be too absorbent or, which is very rare, react to foods or liquids with acidic properties. Best Granite For Less can provide free samples for testing purposes.
Some granite countertops weather faster than others. This means that the shiny polish that makes the countertop look so attractive might wear away at varying lengths of time. This polishing is what brings out the intense colors within the natural granite. Contrary to popular belief the sealing only affects the absorbency, not the appearance.
As mentioned above, if this happens then there is typically no need to replace your entire countertop. There is still hope for your existing granite countertops in your outdoor kitchen or patio. Just arrange to us resurface it and then, depending on its level of absorbency, resealed by the professionals at Best Granite For Less. A lot of installers recommend leaving outdoor granite unsealed, especially if the stone is in a humid or damp environment and frequently exposed to moisture. Not sealing your countertops allows the stone to breathe and keeps moisture from becoming trapped within it.
Summer Heat and Outdoor Granite Countertops
Just because granite can hold up to extreme temperatures does not mean that it is a good idea to leave countertops in an outdoor kitchen exposed to the sun. By mid-afternoon on a hot summer day, the surface of your granite countertop will be hot to the touch. Use some kind of pergola, awning, umbrella, or some other form of shade that will cover as much as the countertop as possible. This makes it more comfortable for standing or sitting near the counter as well.
Lucky for our clients, we live in a location without snow or freezing weather in the winter. This allows us to maintain the quality of the outdoor kitchen and provided use all year long. Depending on your kitchen location (East or West facing) we can provide you with tips for low maintenance ways to prolong the life of your granite countertops.
Call today to schedule your custom installation. To get your Free sink use Promo Code: GETMYSINK when calling.
954-420-3134