Are you a Dallas homeowner, looking to add a little pizzazz to your back patio?
Allow us to make a suggestion…
A summer kitchen would be the crown jewel of your outdoor living area.
It’s the perfect place to kick your feet up or get your grill on…
And your guests won’t be able to resist coming back for more!
But as with any home improvement project, it’s never a good idea to go in blind.
And chances are you have some questions.
Like, what features will make or break your Dallas outdoor kitchen?
Will your backyard be an active construction zone for weeks or months?
And wait… Who’s actually going to build this thing?
We hear you… It can be difficult to get started!
So that’s why we’ve already laid the foundations for your Dallas outdoor kitchen, right here in this article.
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Important Dallas Outdoor Kitchen Considerations
No matter where you live, an outdoor kitchen project can be a huge undertaking.
And as you begin brainstorming, there are a few important considerations to keep in mind.
For starters, what features does your outdoor kitchen design in Dallas actually need?
Spice Things Up With These Fun (And Functional) Features
Summer kitchens are all about having fun and enjoying your outdoor space to its fullest.
So, what features will make your Dallas outdoor kitchen as fun (and functional) as possible?
To best answer this question, we spoke with Grant Phelps from AllPro Grill Cleaning… A Dallas Fort Worth-based outdoor kitchen installer.
After working with countless outdoor kitchens in the DFW area, here are some favorite features that Grant has noticed time and time again.
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Outdoor Kitchen Roofs Are All The Rage in Dallas
It’s no secret, Dallas can get hot!
“Temps frequently get up to 100 degrees,” Grant informed us. And when you’re standing over hot cooking appliances, this heat can be downright unbearable.
Grant also pointed out that “direct heat can put some wear and tear on your patio”... Which is obviously far from ideal!
To deflect the brunt of the heat… Outdoor kitchen roofs are a must-have feature for many Dallas homeowners.
A roof will protect your entire outdoor living space… So you can enjoy open-air hosting and entertaining to the absolute fullest, without worrying about your patio, outdoor dining area, or kitchen countertops cracking or fading in the sun.
Pergolas, cabanas, gazebos, awnings, and pavilions are popular patio covers, perfect for providing some much-needed solace from the Dallas heat and harmful UV-rays.
Round Out Your Outdoor Oasis with a Fireplace
Now, it isn’t always hot in Dallas.
And while it may not snow, the temps do still drop come wintertime.
Grant noted that “outdoor fireplaces are popular” beside outdoor kitchens… For keeping your backyard design comfortable as can be, year round!
Day or night, a backyard fireplace or fire pit would be the perfect spot to cozy up and enjoy the company of friends or loved ones.
The More Cooking Accessories, The Merrier
Last but not least… Bigger is better for outdoor kitchens in Dallas, TX.
Alongside built-in grills, more and more Dallas homeowners are sprucing up their outdoor kitchen designs with “lots of cooking appliances.”
To give you an idea… Outdoor flat top grills, side burners, and pizza ovens are a few sought after solutions for taking outdoor cooking up a notch.
And on top of multiple cooking appliances… Grant pointed out that outdoor kitchen accessories such as refrigerators, trash cans, and storage are almost always included in Dallas outdoor kitchen designs.
It makes sense… These functional features make it possible to keep the party entirely outdoors!
But whichever appliances you go for, you’ll want them to last for the long haul.
So, how do you identify quality outdoor kitchen accessories?
Dallas Appliance & Kitchen Island Quality
Ideally, an outdoor kitchen is an investment that should last you a lifetime.
But if you don’t plan properly, your kitchen may fail you in just a few short years.
To get decades of enjoyment from your Dallas outdoor kitchen… Material quality should be at the forefront of your mind!
Generally, Dallas has great weather! But this doesn’t mean you’re completely in the clear.
With Dallas’s hot summers comes near-constant humidity… And Grant acknowledged that “rain affects the DFW area quite a bit.”
Now, an outdoor kitchen roof will give your island some protection from the rain…
And a weather resistant cover should sufficiently shield your entire kitchen island from humidity and water damage.
But at the end of the day, it’s still crucial to confirm your BBQ island materials are up to snuff.
To prevent rust and corrosion on your appliances and accessories… Look for full 304 stainless steel construction! This is great at holding up to moisture.
And while you’re at it, try to identify appliances with a lifetime warranty! This will give you even more peace of mind that your investment will last.
As for the kitchen island itself? Well, be wary of wood and metal frames.
When exposed to moisture, wood outdoor kitchens will inevitably swell, warp, and rot. Not to mention, wood is combustible… Which makes it a poor choice for supporting piping hot built-in appliances!
As for metal frames… Like your appliances and accessories, frequent moisture may lead to rusting and corrosion.
In either case, this may quickly result in the downfall of your outdoor kitchen!
Instead, try to work with safer, water-resistant outdoor kitchen materials.
Brick, stone, and cinder block are all decent options… But concrete is by far the best material of all! Concrete outdoor kitchens aren’t combustible… And will withstand even the harshest of climates.
Now, with materials in mind… You may have a clearer picture of your outdoor kitchen design.
But how, exactly, will your outdoor kitchen take shape?
Is Hiring an Outdoor Kitchen Builder the Right Choice?
There are a few methods to achieve a functional outdoor kitchen setup… And depending on which route you take, you may or may not have to hire a builder.
For prefab island kits or modular outdoor kitchens, for example… You won’t need a contractor to get the job done! These are already built for you, and just need to be set up on your back patio.
That said, transporting a fully assembled outdoor kitchen into your backyard may pose its own set of challenges!
Though you may not need an experienced builder… You might still need to hire a professional to operate heavy machinery, so you can get a prefab kitchen where it needs to be.
Another method is our own RTA (ready to assemble) outdoor kitchens. These DIY, custom outdoor kitchen kits are easy to set up on your own, in just a few short hours (more on this, later)!
Ready to finish islands are yet another option, albeit a more involved one. The frame of these will be pre-assembled for you, but you’ll be responsible for applying a finish, as well as placing the countertops and appliances (you may even have to factor in appliance cutouts)!
Though you certainly could complete a ready to finish kitchen on your own, it does require a higher skill cap, and ultimately, we’d suggest leaving it to the pros.
Lastly, you could have your kitchen built from scratch. As you can imagine, this is the most involved method… And unless you’re an experienced builder yourself, it’s one that you should certainly hire a professional to complete.
All in all, if you want a simple option that you can DIY… You should look more into pre designed outdoor kitchen kits!
But if you want your kitchen custom built to your specifications, you may be considering having a contractor build it from scratch.
So, what are the options for Dallas outdoor kitchen contractors?
Outdoor Kitchen Contractors in Dallas, TX
If you’re leaning towards a fully custom design… You may be on the lookout for an outdoor kitchen builder.
So, let’s see who offers outdoor kitchen services in the DFW area!
Note: None of the Dallas outdoor kitchen builders below are endorsed or recommended by us. We are simply providing a comprehensive list for you to browse and collect information.
Dallas Outdoor Kitchens & Hardscape
Dallas Outdoor Kitchens & Hardscape is based out of Frisco, TX… And they’ve been providing outdoor building services to the DFW area for over 25 years.
Their services include fireplaces, fire pits, patio covers, pavers, swimming pools, arbors, walkways, landscaping… The list goes on.
Of course, they also offer outdoor kitchen services!
Dallas Outdoor Kitchens constructs their fully custom BBQ islands from a variety of chopped stone, stone veneers, or stacked stone… With your choice of limestone, flagstone, travertine, or granite countertops.
Though it’s clear you’ll be getting a stone outdoor kitchen, what’s not clear is how they’re built!
If they simply use the frame method with a stone veneer… These kitchens may not be quite as durable as you’d like! It’s worth giving their phone number a ring to check on this… Or, you could fill out their free consultation form.
We’d also like to point out that we didn’t notice any ventilation in their gallery of outdoor kitchen builds… Which leaves us questioning just how safe these kitchens are!
Without proper ventilation, outdoor kitchen islands run the risk of exploding, which you definitely would not want.
Again, it’s worth reaching out to confirm how Dallas Outdoor Kitchens handles outdoor kitchen safety.
As for reviews… On Houzz, they’ve earned themselves a 4.7 star review for their general outdoor living services.
KJ Custom Screens & Outdoor Living
KJ Custom Screens & Outdoor Living is another Frisco, TX based company.
This particular company specializes in patio screens and covers in the DFW area… But interestingly enough, their services also include custom outdoor kitchens and bars.
They claim their kitchens are made from “various stone designs.” However, their gallery only features a handful of fully-stone outdoor kitchens!
And as with the previous company, we didn’t notice any vent openings in their outdoor kitchen builds.
It’s definitely worth reaching out to confirm materials used, as well as to discuss any outdoor kitchen safety measures they take.
Their workmanship has earned them a 4.9 star Google Rating with 27 reviews. However, nearly every review is specific to screen installation rather than outdoor kitchen work… So try not to let this positive ranking sway your opinion!
Texas Custom Patios
Texas Custom Patios is stationed in Irving, TX… And they provide a variety of outdoor living services to the DFW area.
These services include patio covers, outdoor living rooms, fireplaces, decks, railings, pool houses, and custom outdoor kitchens.
Their outdoor kitchens can be built with stonework, brick, or stucco finishes… As well as granite, tile, or concrete countertops.
Now, Texas Custom Patios provides some transparency… Their islands are built with steel framing.
As we mentioned earlier… Metal frames aren’t ideal! Especially when the kitchen is exposed to frequent rain or humidity, the inner frame may ultimately take on rust.
And when the frame rusts, this may cause pieces of your kitchen’s exterior finish to fall off! Yikes.
So, proceed with caution, here! Especially if you want peace of mind that your investment will last… The frame method is unfortunately not the best route to take.
And again, we couldn’t identify any outdoor kitchen vents in Texas Custom Patios’ gallery, so be wary of this!
With 67 Google reviews, Texas Custom Patios has a 4.4 star rating… But only a handful of these reviews are specific to outdoor kitchens.
THE PERFECT OUTDOOR KITCHEN FOR DALLAS
Texas Best Fence and Patio
Next up to bat… Texas Best Fence and Patio.
Operating out of Lewisville, TX… Texas Best Fence and Patio are general contractors rather than outdoor kitchen specialists. (Like every other company on our list!)
Along with outdoor kitchen services, they build automatic gates, arbors and pergolas, fireplaces, patios, and decking.
Admittedly, there’s a lack of clarity on exactly how Texas Best Fence and Patio constructs their outdoor kitchens.
They have a small gallery of past outdoor kitchen work, and these all appear to be made with stone… But we’d suggest reaching out for more detail!
It’s also worth checking in on any safety measures they may take, as we didn’t notice any outdoor kitchen vents in their past builds.
With 392 Google reviews, Texas Best Fence and Patio has a 4.8 star rating. However, nearly all of these reviews are related to (you guessed it) fences or patios.
Summerhill Pools
Summerhill Pools has been serving Texas homeowners in the Dallas area for over 30 years.
As you can infer from the company’s name, their specialty is in swimming pool design and remodels.
Their other outdoor living work entails fully custom outdoor kitchens, fireplaces and fire pits, as well as water features.
Summerhill Pools claims that their outdoor kitchens are high quality and long lasting… But they neglect to provide any specific details!
Their small outdoor kitchen gallery displays a handful of stone outdoor kitchens… But it’s unclear how these are built (including just how safe they are).
The company has a 4.5 star rating with 60 Google reviews. As you can imagine, the bulk of these reviews are related to swimming pool projects.
Garden Design Landscaping
Garden Design Landscaping is headquartered in Farmers Branch, TX.
They offer landscaping services, water and fire features, and custom outdoor kitchen builds.
As with many of the other outdoor kitchen contractors on our list, Garden Design Landscaping provides no clear information on how their kitchen islands are built… And we couldn’t identify any outdoor kitchen vents when perusing their gallery.
Their outdoor kitchen portfolio spotlights stone outdoor kitchens… But it’s worth reaching out for more specific details on their outdoor kitchen services!
That said, they do provide some specifics on their outdoor kitchen appliances.
When you work with Garden Design Landscaping, you’ll have your choice of built-in cooking appliances and accessories from either Coyote, Lion, Bull, Blaze, Lynx, or Big Green Egg.
On Yelp, Garden Design Landscaping has a 3 star rating with 32 reviews… But again, most don’t pertain to their outdoor kitchen work.
Allied Outdoor Solutions
Allied Outdoor Solutions is a general outdoor contractor business operating out of Grapevine, TX.
Along with outdoor kitchen services, they’ll do work on patios, pool decks, shade structures, pools, driveways, fire features, and more.
Looking at their custom outdoor kitchens in particular… Their BBQ islands are made with either paver blocks, stone, brick, stucco, or decorative blocks (which appear to be specially designed cinder blocks).
They make their countertops with granite, marble, quartz, or concrete.
Though Allied Outdoor Solutions certainly provides some more clarity on the matter… It’s still hard to say just how their kitchens come together. The different finishes may simply be veneers over wood or metal frames, and it’s unclear how they account for outdoor kitchen safety… It’s worth checking on both of these details!
As for appliances, you’ll have your pick from Coyote, Bull, Viking, Wolf, and Big Green Egg.
Currently, Allied Outdoor Solutions has 4.1 stars with 204 reviews, most of which speak to their other outdoor craftsmanship.
What’s the Best Outdoor Kitchen Dallas Solution?
Alright. At this point, you’ve seen what you can expect from a handful of the top rated outdoor kitchen contractors in Dallas, TX.
Did you notice a common theme here?
Every single outdoor kitchen contractor in the Dallas area is a generalist rather than an outdoor kitchen specialist!
This means their focus is on a broad range of backyard projects, rather than solely on outdoor kitchens.
And while there’s nothing wrong with this… It does make it challenging to gauge exactly how they’ll be able to handle a custom outdoor kitchen project.
Nearly every company serving the DFW area offers shockingly little information on how they build their outdoor kitchens, including how they account for outdoor kitchen ventilation and safety.
And for the most part, their grill station portfolios aren’t terribly extensive.
Though each company may be well reviewed… Hardly any of these reviews actually pertain to their outdoor kitchen work!
Of course, you can always reach out for more details.
But at the end of the day, reaching out to each and every local contractor to get some clarity is far from the most convenient solution.
If you’re looking for an option that provides everything you need to know up front… We have a great alternative for you.
It doesn’t get any better than RTA Outdoor Living!
Allow us to tell you why RTA is an all-around great choice for your custom outdoor kitchen design in Dallas, TX.
RTA Offers Transparency Up Front
With RTA, you don’t need to do any digging to get all the details you need.
There are no secrets when it comes to our ready to assemble outdoor kitchens… You can find everything you need to know quickly and easily, right here on our website!
Our designated Learning Hub delves into detail on all things outdoor living…
And our team of outdoor kitchen experts are happy to answer any and all of your questions!
There’s no beating around the bush, and no hiding important info… You deserve all the details!
From the materials and appliances we use, to how our kitchens come together, to what you can expect from the process, and how we prioritize safety… We want you to know what you’re getting into, so you can feel confident about your project, before you even begin planning.
RTA Values a Personalization, Without Skimping on Convenience
We strive to make the outdoor kitchen process as convenient as can be… And in our eyes, that convenience starts with a personal connection.
From the start, you’ll be in control of your project.
We’ll always be here to answer your questions and keep you up-to-date… But you’re the real leader here!
So, what exactly does this personalized process entail?
Well, our goal is to help you design a custom outdoor kitchen that’s tailored to your specific wants and needs.
And that’s where our free online Design Tool comes in. In just a few minutes, you can customize your kitchen’s size, layout, finish, countertops, and select all of your appliances.
Once you’re 100% satisfied with your design, we’ll meticulously handcraft it to match your specifications.
And from there, we’ll ship your kitchen straight to you, 95% complete and ready to assemble.
Assembly is a breeze… Simply attach the panels, place your countertops, and slide in appliances and accessories. That’s it!
Our ready to assemble kitchens eliminate the need to hire a contractor, and can be completed in a single afternoon.
You won’t have to wait weeks or months for a builder to finish the job… Since you’ll be working on your own schedule!
Of course, if you’d rather not DIY this… We have an extensive contractor network to complete your outdoor kitchen installation in Dallas (Including Grant!)
But either way, you’re in control! Every aspect of your kitchen design is completely up to you, from start to finish.
At RTA, Outdoor Kitchen Safety is Our Top Priority
At RTA, each and every one of our kitchens is designed with safety in mind.
Not only are our concrete kitchen islands non-combustible…
We also ensure our kitchens are all above safety regulations, with vents on the top, bottom, left, right, and back sides of all of our islands.
Our frameless structure also allows for completely uninhibited airflow, for even more peace of mind.
To us, ensuring you and your family’s safety is a no-brainer!
RTA Kitchens Are Built To Last
Last but not least… RTA kitchens are built to last!
Our kitchens are frameless, which means there’s no need to worry about rot, rust, corrosion, or pieces of your island crumbling off.
Quite the opposite, actually! Our islands are made with reinforced concrete panels, rated for 100 years and backed by a structural guarantee (and a limited lifetime structural warranty, to boot).
Plus, our granite or concrete countertops are just as durable as the island itself.
This means our grill stations are heavy duty enough to withstand rain, humidity, and the beating hot sun!
As for our outdoor appliances, we partner with Coyote Outdoor Living.
You’ll have full access to their suite of premium appliances and accessories… Made with durable, 304 stainless steel, and backed by a best-in-class lifetime warranty.
So, you can conveniently get your custom Dallas outdoor kitchen online… Take complete control of your project… And have confidence that it’ll last for decades!
With RTA, your dream Dallas outdoor kitchen doesn’t have to be complicated.
If this all sounds good to you… You know where to start!
Read through our Learning Hub, or get going with our online design tool. Then, we’ll be in touch.
