How to Build a Backyard Kitchen & Bar

Measure the space you will allow for the kitchen area. Plan to build the kitchen several feet away from the home's overhangs as a precaution against fire risk. Construct the cooking area away from combustible materials, especially if you will use a charcoal or gas grill. Designate an area 15 feet square, about 15 feet from your home’s back entrance, as a possible choice.

Construct the kitchen space as an "outdoor room." Plan to install a 4-inch-thick concrete patio covered with flagstone, for example, as the base. Include in your plan a 9-foot-square patio roof covering to provide shade and sun protection. Use pressure-treated lumber to construct a hip roof supported by 8-inch-square wooden posts. Plan to build wooden benches for sitting, and buy concrete picnic tables for dining.

Figure out the best way to route electricity and plumbing to the outdoor kitchen. Create underground conduit out of PVC pipe, for example, before you pour the patio. Install water pipes for an outdoor sink and the ice maker on an outdoor refrigerator, which you can use in months that pose no freezing issues. Cut off the water supply to the sink or refrigerator in late fall, for example.

Build framework for the patio floor using 2-by-4-inch boards. Use 10-inch stakes on the exterior of the framed box to hold it in place for the concrete pour. Construct the patio with 2-by-6-inch boards to allow for plastic conduit to run through the concrete. Use metal sleeves to anchor patio porch posts to the concrete during the construction of the patio roof. Construct the patio roof area out of redwood or pressure-treated lumber so the unit will last for years. Build sitting benches into the patio design that attach directly to support posts as a way to add strength during strong winds.

Use metal framework to construct a kitchen counter area. Bolt the framework to patio flooring with angle iron, so the kitchen and outdoor cabinets will remain in place during extreme weather. Cover the sides of the counter area with cut stone veneer. Install a tile countertop with a refrigerator and wine chilling cabinet built under the countertop structure.

Find an old oak cabinet to recycle for outdoor storage. Keep charcoal, plastic dishes and other supplies in the cabinet. Paint it with exterior-grade paint with primer included. Use porch and deck paint as another excellent option.

Hook up any sinks, drains and outdoor light fixtures. Buy or build a fire pit to add ambiance to the kitchen area after dark. Purchase a metal fire pit unit at a home improvement store, along with lawn furniture and plant containers to hold ivy or flowering plants during warmer months.

Construct a sitting bar using recycled boards. Use cedar shakes on the roof area of the bar. Store wines, drink mixes, beer and liquor near the bar during warmer months. Buy a rolling cart to transport these items from the house kitchen as another option. Install appropriate stools that are weather resistant.