THINKING OF BUILDING AN OUTDOOR KITCHEN? HERE ARE THE PERFECT CHOICES FOR OUTDOOR COUNTERTOPS
By Barbara Nyke, NIKKA DESIGN
Outdoor living continues to grow in popularity with more homeowners increasing their property values by upgrading their yards. Statistics show that along with interior kitchens and bathrooms, designed and curated outdoor living spaces can contribute to a strong R.O.I. upon selling. Outdoor kitchens are leading the pack!
One major aspect of outdoor decorating and design is selecting the appropriate material for countertops. Several criteria need to be considered for an enduring, low and/or maintenance-free counter:
√ UV resistance
√ staining, scratches, chipping
√ freeze and thaw cycles
√ allows design to flow from indoors to outdoor design using one continuous product
√ size formats
All of these criteria are considered with these following recommended options:
SOLID SURFACES
Some man-made solid surfaces offer a significant breakthrough for indoors and outdoor countertops. A new product on the market has a new product that is made from a mixture of inorganic raw materials found in glass, porcelain tile and natural quartz. Its technical characteristics support outdoor use:
√ unique UV resistance for colour stability
√exceptional strength and performance.
√ highly resistant to impact, scratches and abrasion
√ provides thermal shock resistance against heat, frost and thawing
CONCRETE
Concrete countertops are both highly functional and attractive because of its relatively maintenance-free properties and design flexibility. Like natural stone, concrete is porous and it’s recommended to protect the surface with a food-grade sealer, or finishing wax to prevent water and stain absorption.
More noticeable with darker concretes is the tendency to fade and turn yellow in the sun.
Homeowners have a choice with the type of concrete to order: If sustainability and/or reducing the weight of the countertops is a concern, glass-fiber-reinforced concrete (GFRC) is a good option instead of conventional pre-cast concrete. GFRC uses significantly less portland cement than regular concrete, and it often incorporates large quantities of recycled materials. GFRC is also stronger than standard concrete allowing countertops to be cast in thinner slabs and weigh as much 75% less.
NATURAL STONE: GRANITE, MARBLE, SOAPSTONE, TRAVERTINE, LIMESTONE
These stones will always be enduring and classic choices for indoors and outdoors. As with other surface materials, a full-slab countertop is the most attractive and functional.
Granite in particular is popular for outdoor uses. But you’ll want to be mindful of the porosity of the granite you choose: it will determine the level of maintenance required.
Granite is typically a silicate-based stone versus a calcite-based stone like: marble, travertine and limestone. However, granite could also be a mix of silicate/calcite. Which means that the surface could corrode or “etch” when exposed to acidic foods and liquids, ie: alcohol, lemon juice, vinaigrettes, etc. Sealing is a good idea to prevent stains though many varieties are dense enough that you don’t need to apply a sealer.
Test porosity using the lemon juice and oil test
PORCELAIN
Porcelain is an excellent choice for outdoor countertops. It’s very dense, non-porous and it’s wears very well particularly with through-body tile. Overly large formats and very thin profiles are now available with incredible density and strength. And they are rated for residential and commercial outdoor use.
STAINLESS STEEL
Stainless steel has many pros and cons for residential usage indoors and outdoors.
On the plus side, it’s a cinch to clean up, doesn’t harbour bacteria and requires zero maintenance. Using a stainless steel countertop harmonizes the flow of steel appliances.
It creates a modern and clean-lined aesthetic. Depending on your style preference, this may or may not be appealing.
Let’s talk about the pitfalls of using stainless outdoors:
*Unless the steel countertop is shaded, it will get hot when exposed to sun and is highly reflective in the sun.
*Like some stone, it has a higher price point to custom fabricate.
*Stainless steel countertops can create noise from ordinary usage when setting dishes or tableware down. Insulating the countertop can help to dampen excessive noise.
NOT RATED FOR OUTDOORS
Corian and Quartz: colour will fade, prone to stains, burns and scratches.
PROFILE of Barbara Nyke
Barbara’s talent, expertise and passion have contributed to her success designing functional and stylish interiors for her residential and commercial clients.
Recognized for her inviting, sophisticated and timeless interiors, Barbara says: “I absolutely love successfully transforming my clients’ spaces to reflect their style preferences and functional needs.”
Barbara is part of the team organizing the 2nd annual Design Outdoors Canada, www.DesignOutdoorsCanada.com
NEW: Trade Day & Consumers’ Day – March 22 & 23, 2017
The International Centre, Hall 1
As a guest contributor to media stories on interior decorating, outdoor decorating and sustainable design, Barbara’s outdoor decorating was featured on the cover of Our Homes, Mississauga in the Spring 2016 issue. She’s also been invited as a guest expert in Toronto Home magazine, on The Zoomer TV show, The National Post, CBC Radio and has been featured on many online sites.
She was a guest speaker at various GTA Home Shows, a spokesperson and brand ambassador for LG Canada and Johnson & Johnson Inc. She also gives tailored presentations on interior decorating trends and sustainable design to public and design industry groups.
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