If you’ve been thinking about building an outdoor kitchen, but you live in a rainy climate like Washington or Oregon… you may have concerns about the best way to build for your climate.
So naturally, this leads you to the question: “What is the best outdoor kitchen build for a rainy climate?”
As an outdoor kitchen manufacturer that delivers our grill islands across the country (including high precipitation climates)… over the years, we’ve learned a great deal of what makes an outdoor kitchen good, or not good, in a rainy climate.
In this article, you will learn what qualities make an outdoor kitchen good in a rainy climate, what materials are best, what materials you should avoid, and what outdoor kitchen build is best in your area.
What Qualities Make an Outdoor Kitchen Good in a Rainy Climate?
The following qualities make an outdoor kitchen well-suited to a rainy climate:
- Resistance to Moisture Absorption: Of course, the primary issue with rainy climates is moisture! Ideally, an outdoor kitchen in a rainy climate should absorb as little moisture as possible. The less moisture absorbed, the less risk of damage down the line.
- Resistance to Mold, Mildew, Rust, and Corrosion: Rainy climates are a breeding ground for mold and mildew… and it doesn’t take long for rust and corrosion to set in on any metal components sitting outside. An outdoor kitchen in a rainy climate should be resistant to these types of damage.
- Flood & Standing Water Resistance: If you live in a rainy climate, you’re likely used to flooding and issues with standing water. Therefore, you need an outdoor kitchen that won’t get wrecked if it may be partially submerged in water for several days from flooding.
What Outdoor Kitchen Materials are Best for a Rainy Climate?
The best outdoor kitchen materials to use in a rainy climate include HDPE, concrete masonry, and high performance concrete.
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 rainy 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 if you live in a flood-prone area… you won’t have to worry about your outdoor kitchen getting ruined from water submersion.
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.
Concrete Masonry Blocks (CMU)
Concrete masonry blocks (also known as CMU) is a type of outdoor kitchen constructed with cinder blocks. These cinder blocks are mortared together to create the structure, and a finish is applied to the exterior. Common finishes include stucco, brick veneer, and stone veneer.
Overall, concrete is exceptionally durable in rainy environments. It can’t mold, get mildew, rust, or corrode… and although it does have porosity, its capacity to absorb moisture is far less than the materials we recommend avoiding. (We’ll discuss this shortly!)
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.
All the aforementioned benefits of concrete also apply to high performance concrete: no mold, mildew, rust, or corrosion. Where high performance concrete gets an edge over cinder block is moisture absorption. Due to the high density of high performance concrete, this material is far less porous… which means far less moisture can get into this material, providing superior resistance in rainy climates where flooding is possible.
What Outdoor Kitchen Materials Should You Avoid in a Rainy Climate?
If you’re building an outdoor kitchen in a rainy climate, avoid using wood and metal frames with cement board.
Wood
Wood is an absolute no-go in a rainy 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 rainy, flood-prone climate… it’s only a matter of time before damage sets in.
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 rainy 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.
What Outdoor Kitchen Build is Best in a Rainy Climate?
Now that you have an idea of what qualities make an outdoor kitchen perform well in a rainy climate, and what materials you should use or avoid… now you need to know what outdoor kitchen build method is best in a rainy climate.
As mentioned earlier, CMU outdoor kitchens perform well in rainy climates, although the concrete used can be porous. If you want the best-of-the-best for a rainy climate, you truthfully cannot do better than a high performance concrete outdoor kitchen from RTA.
The high performance concrete used offers all the same weather resistance as regular concrete, but adds on a layer of high density… providing robust resilience to moisture absorption in rainy and flood-prone climates. If you want an outdoor kitchen in a rainy 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.
