You want to get an outdoor kitchen… but there’s a problem.
You live in an area that’s got rough weather conditions. Whether it’s snowy winters, salty oceanside air, blistering high heat, or you’re in the hurricane belt… you might have just about given up on your outdoor kitchen dreams.
Because… what’s the point of spending all this time building an outdoor kitchen if the weather’s just going to ruin it in a couple years?
It’s a perfectly valid question.
You need an outdoor kitchen that’s strong in all environments. Something like… Weatherstrong, perhaps? (It’s right in the name, after all!)
Is Weatherstrong really as durable as they claim to be? Are they a great outdoor kitchen solution? Well, that’s what you’re about to find out.
In this article, you’ll encounter an in-depth review of Weatherstrong cabinets. And by the end… you should know if they’re the right fit for you or not.
Without further ado, let’s dive in.
Quick Links:
- The Run-Down on Weatherstrong’s Construction Method
- Finishes, Countertops, and Door Colors: What are Your Options?
- Weatherstrong Appliance Selection: What’s Compatible?
- Is Weatherstrong Built for All Weather Conditions? We Take a Closer Look
- 2 Safety Considerations You’re Not Thinking About
- Weatherstrong Business Model: How Can You Order?
- Weatherstrong Cabinets Reviews to Assist Your Decision
- A Sleeker Alternative to Weatherstrong
Weatherstrong Construction Method
First and foremost… how does a Weatherstrong outdoor kitchen come together?
Weatherstrong is a modular outdoor kitchen solution.
And if you’re not familiar with modular islands… worry not, we’ll explain!
Unlike an outdoor kitchen that’s built from scratch from a contractor, piece by piece… modular islands are shipped to your door as units for personal installation.
They’re normally flat-packed, and you screw all the individual pieces together… just like you would for a set of indoor cabinets.
The modular system is also a little different in terms of design.
Rather than working with a designer to create a fully customized layouts… you’re limited to a select variety of units that you choose and arrange as desired.
That said, Weatherstrong is a bit more customizable than your typical modular outdoor kitchen.
While there are limitations on appliances and layouts… you do have access to quite a few finishes and door styles.
Speaking of which… let’s take a closer look at the aesthetic options.
Finish & Countertop Options
The functionality of your outdoor kitchen is important… but so are aesthetics!
If you don’t like the look of your outdoor kitchen… there’s not much point in continuing to pursue the project.
Thankfully, Weatherstrong offers quite a few styles that are likely to tickle your fancy.
Cabinet Styles
In total, Weatherstrong offers 4 unique cabinet styles: Daytona, Miami, Sanibel, and Tampa.
And really… the only differences seen here are on the door faces!
Some have more grooves… others have less grooves… and in the case of the Miami series, the door faces are perfectly smooth.
Overall, not much to report on here!
Finish Colors
Weatherstrong’s finish colors are where you can start to get dangerous.
They offer a set of “wood grain” or solid color finishes.
The wood grain options are just as they sound… they’re slightly mottled to appear like real wood.
In total, 7 wood grain hues are offered. These range from white, to beige, to gray, and nearly black. Teak, weatherwood, and whitewash appear to be 3 of the more popular options.
On the solid color side, there’s even more selections available… rounding up at a nice even 10.
Neutral tones match what you’ll find in the wood grain series… plus a couple shades of blue and a nice, emerald green. Shell white and pitch black appear to be the most popular hues in this style.
Countertops
Here’s where things get a little unclear.
Whether it’s on Weatherstrong’s website or a product page on Home Depot or Costco… there’s no mention of countertops anywhere.
Which leads us to believe that Weatherstrong does not include countertops with their product.
We can’t 100% verify this… so be sure to reach out to Weatherstrong if you’re considering a purchase.
If no countertops are included, that means you’ll have to source them yourself.
Is it the end of the world? Well, no. However, it is an additional step that introduces some more friction into the planning process.
But of course, your outdoor kitchen is more than just cabinets and countertops. What can you expect for appliance selections?
Looking for Something More Tailored to You?
Appliance Selections
When it comes to appliances… We must admit, Weatherstrong outdoor cabinetry is also quite vague on this front.
Normally, when you work with an outdoor kitchen company… they’ll let you know what appliance brands are compatible with their product.
In this case, there’s no indication of brand compatibility on their website. That said, cutout dimensions are made available… so you can do a little sleuthing to figure out if the grill you want to buy will fit in the structure.
At the same time, it’s also important to know what appliances Weatherstrong can actually accommodate.
Their online product guide only mentions having cabinets for grills, side burners, and kamado smokers… but pictures in the gallery reveal islands with sinks and refrigerators as well.
So you should be able to cover all the basics with your design… but once again, you’ll need to contact Weatherstrong for full details.
Still with us? Now, let’s take a gander at materials.
Weatherstrong Cabinets Materials
Is Weatherstrong truly weather-strong?
Unfortunately… things are still looking a bit dicey, even in this area.
With the way Weatherstrong talks about their outdoor kitchen cabinets… you would be led to believe that their islands are constructed with 100% HDPE (high density polyethylene).
Normally, we’d say this is a good sign. HDPE is a marine-grade material that is impervious to rust, corrosion, rot, insect damage… and other issues you would encounter with a wood or metal framed outdoor kitchen.
So what’s the problem here?
Well, these cabinets are not actually made from 100% HDPE.
If you hop on over to their web page titled “The Weatherstrong Difference”, you’ll see what we mean.
Only the door and drawer fronts are described as being made from HDPE.
Which leads you to wonder… what is the rest made from?
The remainder of your Weatherstrong cabinets will be made from 3/4” thick All‑Weatherboard® composite material.
Well that surely clears it up, doesn’t it? Doesn’t it?
To be honest, we’re scratching our heads at this too. That description is about as clear as mud.
In order to get the full answer, you’ll have to do a deep dive into their product guide.
Weatherstrong’s All-Weatherboard® composite material is “crafted from phenolic resins, zinc borate, wax, and wood fibers through a patented process”.
So basically… these cabinets are made from an MDF-type material.
They do at least coat these boards with waterproof PVC edging, but still… this is not a material that will perform even remotely well in the outdoor environment.
It likely won’t take much to punch through that coating, and when it happens… the interior composite material will be exposed to soak up water like a sponge.
This leads to swelling, warping, and quick deterioration of your base cabinets. Not exactly a recipe for success!
And to add insult to injury… we’ve got some serious safety concerns to address with these outdoor kitchens.
Weatherstrong Safety Considerations
Although it’s not spoken about often… it’s essential to consider the safety of your outdoor kitchen. (There are lots of things that could go wrong!)
If there’s no ventilation, your outdoor kitchen could explode from gas buildup… and you also must avoid outdoor kitchens that use combustible materials.
It’s the latter that Weatherstrong runs into some problems.
Remember that composite material we mentioned just a moment ago? It’s highly combustible. (The HDPE is too, but to a lesser extent.)
Which means if your grill gets too hot or you end up with a grease fire… your outdoor kitchen will easily catch flame as well and make the problem 100x worse.
So when it comes to Weatherstrong cabinetry, you’re literally playing with fire. For this reason alone… we believe Weatherstrong’s material choice is unsafe for use in an outdoor kitchen.
That said, we do have to give them credit for including ventilation in their cabinets. Most companies overlook the importance of this… and it’s good to see the need for ventilation recognized.
If you’re still not phased by the aforementioned safety concerns… let’s move forward to Weatherstrong’s business model.
Weatherstrong Business Model
When it comes to purchasing Weatherstrong outdoor cabinetry… there are two different routes you can go down.
You could seek out a dealer in your area, or buy a limited set of modules online. Costco, Home Depot, and Lowes are all online retailers that carry Weatherstrong cabinet boxes.
In fact, Weatherstrong has a unique relationship with Costco that allows you to design a custom island through them. (Only if you are a Costco member, however.)
If you’re not a Costco member or you just want to have a customized experience… it may be best to work with a dealer. Weatherstrong has a dealer locator on their website to help you narrow down the search.
But before you make your final decision… it’s always a smart idea to check out the reviews.
Want a More Hands-On Outdoor Kitchen Experience
Weatherstrong Cabinets Reviews
As you know, an outdoor kitchen is no small investment!
With that in mind, it’s important to know what other Weatherstrong customers think about the product.
Unfortunately, Weatherstrong outdoor cabinets reviews are quite sparse. Most retailers don’t have reviews of the product… and there’s no trace of a Google reviews panel for the brand.
That said, there are 128 reviews on Costco’s page for their customizable product listing.
Currently, Weatherstrong is sitting at a 3.9 star rating on this listing… so we’d suggest scrolling through and coming to your own conclusions on the product.
And if you’re still feeling unsure about Weatherstrong cabinets … you may want to consider an alternative solution.
A Sleeker Alternative to Weatherstrong
Looking for something that’s a bit more weatherstrong, in the true sense of the word?
Then your ears are going to perk up when you hear about RTA’s line of modular outdoor kitchen cabinets.
In fact, our U.S.A. made MOKs line is a near-identical swap for Weatherstrong cabinets… just with an upgrade in materials and slightly different design.
MOKs islands are made with 100% marine-grade HDPE (no composite material here)!
Rain, snow, or shine… these outdoor kitchens will hold up beautifully no matter the weather.
So you’re getting the sleek, modern look of that HDPE polymer… without sacrificing quality with the rest of your island.
It’s true that you won’t get a choice of different door styles… but if you’re into the contemporary look, there’s a lot to love about the clean lines on MOKs.
You’re also able to select from 4 stylish colors that’ll make an undeniable pop in your backyard!
And of course, we make sure to keep your safety in mind. Every MOKs island comes with ample venting on all sides of the island… and will come with insulated jackets for all cooking appliances.
Although pre designed layouts are our standard offerings with MOKs… there is some customization potential if you work with a Design Expert.
And if you’re looking for something even more personalized…
Consider Concrete for Your Outdoor Kitchen
While MOKs is an excellent innovation in the outdoor kitchen space… our flagship line remains to be our concrete ready to assemble islands.
Our standard islands are constructed with 100% high performance concrete composite, that’s further reinforced with proprietary fibers… and topped with your choice of a concrete or granite countertop.
It’s about as rock-solid as it gets.
Whether you’re dealing with snowy nor’easters or coastal tropical storms… RTA’s concrete islands will resist and persist, no matter the climate.
Plus, concrete is a non-combustible material. So if the unexpected and unfortunate grease fire breaks out… there’s no worry of the fire spreading to the rest of your island.
And just like with MOKs… RTA’s concrete islands come with ample ventilation in 7 unique locations.
Which brings us to appliances. Both MOKs and standard RTA islands will come part and parcel with appliances from Coyote Outdoor Living.
This premium appliance line features complete 304 stainless steel construction throughout. So not only are they weather-hardy… they’re also heavy-duty and built to last!
These high-quality islands are also completely customizable. Our free online design tool will show you the depth of what’s possible… and our Design Experts can take you even further, if needed.
With RTA, there’s no need to compromise on your outdoor kitchen design. We do everything in our power to make your dream design come to life!
And of course, we can’t wrap this up without mentioning our limited lifetime warranty on the island structure. So for your peace of mind… rest assured that we stand by our product for the long haul!
Ready to take your outdoor living space to the next level? It only takes a few minutes to see what’s possible.
Give our free online design tool a whirl… and our design service will help you bring your dream outdoor kitchen to life!
