If you live in an area with a lot of cold weather and snow, and you want an outdoor kitchen… you’re probably wondering how to build a durable outdoor kitchen for your climate.
Hence, why you’re asking: “What is the best outdoor kitchen build for a cold climate?”
As an outdoor kitchen manufacturer who has engineered their product specifically for harsh New England winters… we have a deep understanding of how to properly construct an outdoor kitchen in cold climates.
In this article, you will learn what qualities make an outdoor kitchen good in a cold climate, what materials are best, what materials you should avoid, and what build method is best for your climate.
What Qualities Make an Outdoor Kitchen Good in a Cold Climate?
The following attributes make an outdoor kitchen good in a cold climate:
Resistance to Moisture Absorption: In addition to the rigors of cold temperatures, cold climates are also known for frequent precipitation like rain, snow, hail, and ice. With a constant onslaught of moisture, it’s essential that your outdoor kitchen comes with a high degree of moisture resistance.
Resistance to Freeze-Thaw Cycles: A hallmark of cold climates is their freeze-thaw cycles, where temperatures rapidly fluctuate from freezing to above freezing in a single day. In the presence of moisture, this constant expansion and contraction of water into ice from temperature swings can wreak havoc on your outdoor kitchen in as little as a single season. A high quality outdoor kitchen will have strong resistance to freeze-thaw cycles.
Resistance to Rot, Mildew, Rust, and Corrosion: As we all know, the cool damp moisture in cold climates is the ideal breeding ground for rot and mildew… and if you leave any metal exposed, it won’t take long for it to rust or corrode, either. A good outdoor kitchen for a cold climate will have resistance to moisture-related damage.
What Outdoor Kitchen Materials are Best for a Cold Climate?
HDPE
HDPE (high density polyethylene) is a type of plastic used by some outdoor kitchen brands for their product line. You may see panel style HDPE that locks together (like RTA’s MOKs system) or more traditional style outdoor kitchen cabinetry that makes use of HDPE. This material is most commonly used in marine applications due to its extreme durability in the presence of moisture.
As such, HDPE is an excellent choice for outdoor kitchens in cold climates. This material is 100% nonporous, which means there is no opportunity for moisture to penetrate it. This makes HDPE immune to moisture absorption issues, mold, mildew, rust, and corrosion. And since freeze-thaw temperature swings are just a fact of life, you can rest easy knowing your HDPE outdoor kitchen isn’t getting damaged by this… as there’s no moisture inside the material that can freeze and thaw up!
The only thing to note about HDPE is that it is a combustible material. So because HDPE outdoor kitchens will house a grill with an open flame… you need to make sure you use insulated jackets with any and all cooking appliances for heat protection.
High Performance Concrete
High performance concrete panels are used in RTA’s outdoor kitchen line. This is a premium grade of concrete that is far stronger and more dense than traditional CMU construction. RTA panels are completely structural and the finish is fully integrated, meaning this is a single-layer construction method.
As mentioned in the introduction, this blend of high performance concrete was specifically engineered to thrive through harsh New England winters. This material is exceptionally dense, and has low moisture absorption. This virtually eliminates any issues related to moisture absorption and freeze-thaw cycles. Additionally, concrete in and of itself is immune to mold, mildew, rust and corrosion. High performance concrete is essentially non-reactive to cold climates, and won’t get damaged by even bitter cold, sub-zero temperatures.
What Outdoor Kitchen Materials Should You Avoid in a Cold Climate?
If you’re building an outdoor kitchen in a cold climate, avoid using wood and metal frames with cement board.
Wood
Wood is an absolute no-go in a cold climate for multiple reasons. Wood outdoor kitchens offer little to no resistance when it comes to warping, rotting, and swelling. Wood readily absorbs moisture, and in a cold climate with a near-constant assault of precipitation… it won’t take long for your wood outdoor kitchen to show signs of significant damage.
In addition to this, wood is simply unsafe to use as a structural outdoor kitchen material. A grill with an open flame will be housed in this structure, posing a strong fire hazard! For this reason alone, avoid using wood in your outdoor kitchen at all costs.
Metal Frames with Cement Board
Although not as egregious as wood, metal framed outdoor kitchens with cement board are also problematic in cold climates. Metal framed outdoor kitchens are constructed with an aluminum or steel skeletal frame, covered with a layer of cement board, and then the finish material is applied to the exterior. (Stucco, tile, brick, and stone veneer are common finish materials.)
Just like with wood outdoor kitchens, moisture absorption is the metal framed outdoor kitchen’s downfall. Cement board in particular has a high moisture absorption rate, especially if it has contact with the ground… where it can wick up any water it comes in contact with. As cement board takes on moisture, it expands, exerting pressure on the metal frames and finish. This results in pieces of the finish cracking or falling off, allowing even more moisture to penetrate the structure. Over time, this moisture exposure will lead to the metal frames rusting or corroding… and left unchecked long enough, the entire outdoor kitchen could become structurally compromised.
When you add in the effects of constant freeze-thaw cycles on top of this, the expansion and contraction of cement board is highly accelerated and repeated… leading to significant damage more quickly than if it were in a warmer climate.
What Outdoor Kitchen Build is Best in a Cold Climate?
Now that you have an idea of what qualities make an outdoor kitchen perform well in a cold climate, and what materials you should use or avoid… now you need to know what outdoor kitchen build method is best in a cold climate.
As mentioned earlier, HDPE performs exceptionally well in cold climates. The material is nonporous and cannot attract mold, mildew, rust, or corrosion. However, it does require the use of insulated jackets with all cooking appliances for safety reasons.
There’s also high performance concrete, which was specifically engineered to endure New England winters. This high density material soaks up very little moisture, is highly resistant to freeze-thaw damage, and is immune to mold, mildew, rust, and corrosion. If you want an outdoor kitchen in a cold climate with the best chance for optimal longevity, this build method will be your best option.
And if you need more context on how durable high performance concrete actually is… this article will provide you with all the information you need. Enjoy the read, and we’ll catch you in the next one.
