If you’ve been itching to give your backyard a good upgrade… it’s likely that an outdoor kitchen is starting out near the top of your list!
It’s an excellent inclination. There are few projects that’ll allow you to enjoy your backyard more.
But at the same time, you may have some hesitations.
Is an outdoor kitchen really a good choice in Ohio? Are you going to use it all that much?
These are great questions to ask… and important ones to get answered clearly.
Lucky for you, that’s exactly what we will explore in the following article. We’ll discuss all the considerations you need to know for an outdoor kitchen in Ohio… and by the end, you’ll be able to decide if this project is right for you or not.
Is an Outdoor Kitchen in Ohio Worth it?
Currently, outdoor kitchens aren’t as popular in Ohio as they are in areas like Florida or Texas… where every other backyard seems to have one.
Is there a good reason for this?
Outdoor kitchens may not have been all that common in the past… but now, the tides are changing and demand has sharply increased in the past few years.
From our perspective, a BBQ island is an extremely desirable backyard upgrade in Ohio! You just have to be aware of the unique needs of an island in your climate… which leads us to the first consideration.
Consider Your Climate
It’s no surprise to anyone that Ohio’s climate isn’t nearly as warm year-round as it is in Texas or Florida.
Cleveland and other towns bordering Lake Erie are known to get battered from lake-effect snow during the winter months… and southern portions of the state still get some snow and cold weather, too.
With the long winter season in mind… you might think you won’t get much use out of your Ohio outdoor kitchen. Au contraire!
If you plan your outdoor kitchen area well, you can enjoy grilling outside nearly all year-round.
A gazebo or pavilion over your island will provide shelter from rain, snow, and possibly shield out some wind.
Additionally, a patio heater will keep your grilling area comfortable in early spring, late fall… and possibly even the winter, if you live in southern or central Ohio. A fire pit can also add warmth and a cozy feel to your backyard space.
Point is, you can get plenty of use out of your outdoor kitchen in all seasons! You’ll be able to enjoy it more comfortably than other backyard upgrades, too.
You probably won’t be taking a dip in the pool in March… but you can definitely fire up the grill to make burgers!
Outdoor Kitchens as an Investment
But there’s benefits to owning an outdoor kitchen that extend beyond all-season use.
An outdoor kitchen presents an excellent opportunity to add investment value to your home.
A few years ago, we surveyed realtors across the country to understand what the ROI of a BBQ island is. The results were surprising!
Depending on the locale, an outdoor kitchen could net a 50% – 200%+ return on investment. Some realtors even cited numbers as high as 300%!
Also consider that Ohio is currently an underserved market when it comes to outdoor kitchens. So if you decide to sell your home in the future… your property will be more desirable (and more valuable) as a result!
Even if you’re settled into your forever home, an outdoor kitchen can easily pay for itself over time! You’ll be encouraged to save money making delicious meals at home… and may even turn your backyard into a staycation destination rather than taking an expensive overseas trip.
Either way, an outdoor kitchen is a worthy investment for your backyard space!
Make The Most of Your Backyard
If you’re looking for a backyard upgrade that offers the most functionality possible… there’s nothing better than an outdoor kitchen.
Whenever you gather two or more people together, food is going to enter the equation at some point. So as you might expect, an outdoor cooking area is the no-brainer way to bring your loved ones together!
We could go on and on about how an outdoor kitchen helps you enjoy the fleeting summer season to the fullest… but let’s just stick with some of the high points:
- You can whip up your BBQ favorites at a moment’s notice
- Adding a bar area to your island will allow you to have a cooking area and outdoor dining area in one feature
- A well-designed outdoor kitchen improves the ambiance of your landscape design
- Your backyard will become the designated hangout (no need to travel, everyone comes to you!)
Whether it’s a laid back weeknight dinner or a backyard BBQ bash… an outdoor kitchen will allow you to truly make the most of your backyard.
Starting to Dream Up Your Outdoor Kitchen?
Outdoor Kitchen Material Considerations for Ohio
Before you race ahead to start building your outdoor kitchen… a little temperance is needed!
Because Ohio winters can be quite harsh, snowy, and icy… most standard outdoor kitchen materials won’t hold up to your climate.
Which means, you can’t just buy whatever outdoor kitchen crosses your purview first. The following material considerations will ensure you make the best choice.
Stay Away from This Material at All Costs!
It might be the most affordable and easiest to work with… but if you’re using wood for your outdoor kitchen build, you’ll be kicking yourself down the line.
Why is this?
Well, wood is a no-go for an Ohio outdoor kitchen for two reasons:
- It’s a combustible and unsafe outdoor kitchen material
- It cannot survive harsh winters and rapid temperature fluctuations from day to day
We’ll start with the safety component.
Wood might be an okay building material for a pergola… but your outdoor kitchen will house a built-in grill that can reach temperatures in excess of 1,000°F.
By putting wood in such close proximity with a hot, open flame… you’re risking a serious fire breakout every time you crank on your grill. Simply put, it’s just not worth the risk!
But even if the fire danger wasn’t enough to dissuade you… a wood outdoor kitchen just isn’t going to hold up in the Ohio climate.
As we’ve already mentioned, Ohio can be subject to long, harsh winters in the northeast… and even in the southwest, occasional snow showers are not uncommon.
With all of that moisture, humidity, rain, snow, and ice constantly barraging your wood outdoor kitchen… over time, you’ll end up with rot, warping, molding, swelling, and possibly even termite damage.
It can only take a season or two for the damage to show up, too. And when you’re spending several thousand dollars for a backyard upgrade like this, you don’t want it to be rife with problems!
Moral of the story? Steer clear from wood for your outdoor kitchen.
Slightly Better, But Still a Problem for Ohio
Another common outdoor kitchen installation method you’ll see is metal frame.
They’re certainly more robust than wood… and you don’t have the issue of combustibility from a safety standpoint.
However, a metal framed outdoor kitchen is still a poor choice for Ohioans. And again, it comes down to climate.
The primary issue comes from the fact that these islands are constructed in layers. You start with the metal frame, you add on a layer of cement board, cover it with mortar, and then finish it off with tile, stucco, brick, or stone.
Each layer in this system has weaknesses that cause a cascading chain reaction of problems.
Most often, it will start with your cement board.
Despite being commonly used outdoors… cement board is actually highly susceptible to damage from moisture. It’ll weaken and absorb water over time, which then puts pressure on the other layers.
Your metal frame will continue to hold strong from this pressure… which means all that force is being directed to the finish layer. This will land you with cracked stucco, tiles and stones popping off, and the like.
And once your finish starts to get damaged, now water can enter into your outdoor kitchen structure unhindered. Cement board will continue to degrade… and your metal frame will begin to rust and corrode.
It’s only downhill from there. And at this point, you might be wondering… is there any such thing as a perfect outdoor kitchen material?
The Best Outdoor Kitchen Material in Ohio
We’re glad you asked, because there is!
Concrete is far and away the best material for an Ohio outdoor kitchen.
Concrete is non-combustible, which means you won’t have to be concerned about a potential fire hazard. So safety’s checked off, there.
Equally as important, a concrete outdoor kitchen can handle your Ohio climate like a champ.
Whether it’s excess humidity, high winds, rain, snow, or ice… concrete islands are completely unaffected by these weather conditions.
You won’t have to deal with rust, corrosion, rot, swelling, warping, or even insect damage.
Truly, this method is about as low maintenance as it gets!
And possibly best of all… a concrete outdoor kitchen can look good as new for a decade or more.
So now that you’re interested in an outdoor kitchen, how can you get started?
Thinking about Your Dream Outdoor Kitchen Design?
Who Can Locally Build Your Custom Outdoor Kitchen?
Visions of your dream outdoor kitchen are now dancing in your mind… and you’re ready to learn more about the process.
Diligent homeowner such as you are… one of the first things you’ll need to lock down is your builder.
Who is available locally to construct your outdoor living area?
We have something in mind for you.
Consider These Locally Built Outdoor Kitchens
If you want a high-quality outdoor kitchen that checks all the boxes… consider RTA Outdoor Living!
Our manufacturing facility is located in neighboring Cambridge City, Indiana. Which means your custom outdoor kitchen won’t have far to travel.
Compared to other brands… you’ll get to enjoy far lower shipping costs, and a reduced environmental impact from fuel usage.
Additionally, you won’t have long to wait for your island. Every RTA outdoor kitchen is made to order… and with only a few hours of travel, you’ll receive your island as quickly as possible.
But close proximity to Ohio isn’t the only reason to consider RTA.
Designed for Ohio’s Unique Climate
There’s no other way to put it… we produce a quality product that’s tailor made for Ohio’s unique climate!
You should be able to use your outdoor cooking space for years, without any worry of what the weather will do to it.
We ensure this very idea through the materials we use. Every RTA outdoor kitchen is constructed with ultra high performance concrete. This concrete is rated for 100 years… and can withstand just about any weather condition!
Rain, snow, ice, high winds… none of these are a match for our concrete outdoor kitchens. You’ll never have to worry about rust, corrosion, rot, swelling, warping, or insect damage, either.
Better yet, all the components we pair with our outdoor kitchens are just as top notch. Every island will come with a set of concrete or granite countertops… both of which are equally equipped to handle the outdoor environment.
For appliances, we partner with Coyote Outdoor Living. Their entire appliance line is constructed with rust and corrosion resistant 304 stainless steel. From refrigerators, to pizza ovens, to grills, to griddles, to side burners… you name it, they have it!
1-on-1 Design Expertise & Installation Guidance
Materials and appliance options aside… RTA goes the extra mile to ensure your outdoor kitchen design is tweaked to perfection.
Most customers will get started with our free online design tool. It’s a self-serve software that’ll guide you through creating a custom layout… and it couldn’t be easier to use!
And while it’s a good start, your design will need some refinement from an expert. Hence, why we connect every customer with their own personal Design Expert!
They’ll speak with you 1-on-1 to understand the particulars of your project, and how you plan to use your outdoor kitchen. With this information in mind, your Design Expert will make adjustments to ensure the layout properly meets your needs.
Even when the design is complete, we still provide individualized support throughout the rest of the process!
When your outdoor kitchen blueprints head over to our manufacturing facility in Indiana… you’ll then be connected with a Project Success Manager (PSM). Your PSM will provide guidance for installation and delivery acceptance.
And once your outdoor kitchen is successfully installed… your PSM is your designated point of contact for anything you may need in the future.
Point is, when you work with RTA, we’re in it for the long haul.
Start Customizing Your Outdoor Kitchen Ohio
If all this talk of an outdoor kitchen is starting to sound good… why not get an inkling of what this project might look like?
As we mentioned earlier, the best place to start is with our free online design tool.
It’ll only take a few minutes to whip up your design… and you’ll get to see what your dream outdoor kitchen will look like.
We won’t drag it out any longer. Create your free design, and we’ll be in touch soon!
