What are the best countertops for an Outdoor Kitchen? Best Outdoor Kitchen Designs 2021

Concrete Countertops

Concrete countertops come in many different variations of colors. The reason concrete countertops come in different colors is because each mixture contains different types and amounts of cement and aggregates. Some popular color variations include: gray, white, brown, and variations of orange, blue, and purple. 

Concrete countertops are easy to maintain and relatively inexpensive. You will need to decide if you would like a precast countertop or a free pour. Free pour concrete countertops tend to be more messy and used in new construction. If you are remodeling or already in the home it would be wise to use a precast concrete countertop. The only downfall is that these are very heavy and difficult to install. There also is an option to overlay a concrete countertop if your existing one is in good condition.

How do I clean my concrete countertop?  You can do several different things. The quickest solution is to clean it with soap and water. You can even use laundry detergent! For tougher stains you can create a hydrogen peroxide paste.

Will my outdoor concrete countertop crack? Concrete countertops can develop small cracks overtime. This is because concrete is nonstructural and has natural shrinkage with the heating and cooling of temperatures. There are various methods and fabricators you can use to help prevent and fix these cracks. 

Is concrete good for an outdoor countertop? Yes, concrete is great for outdoor countertops! The reason is because it is very weather resistant. They do not need grout and are very easy to maintain and clean. 

How long will a concrete countertop last? These countertops will last decades! Since they are long-lasting, make sure you pick a color and style that you will enjoy in years to come.

Granite Countertops

Granite, an igneous rock, is very dense, hard, and brittle. It does handle well with high traffic areas and is ideal in high stress situations. They also come in a variation of styles and colors. 

Granite countertops can make a beautiful statement to any outdoor kitchen. The one downfall of granite is cleaning it. It is fairly resistant to heat and scratches, but it does take more time and special instructions to clean it. You may not clean granite with any harsh chemicals in  most all purpose and household cleaners. Granite needs to have a certain Ph balance, which harmful cleaners and bleaches can damage. 

Do granite countertops need to be sealed? You will need to test your granite to decide if it needs to be sealed. If you put water on your granite countertop and when you wipe it up and it leaves a dark stain, then it needs to be sealed. If it does not leave a dark stain, then you do not need to seal your granite countertop. It can cause a mess if your granite countertop doesn’t need to be sealed. 

What are the pros of having a granite countertop? Granite is resistant to most acids such as different fruit juices. It provides a very polished and clean look to your outdoor kitchen. Granite is also for the most part heat/scratch resistant. 

Are granite countertops expensive? Having granite in your outdoor kitchen can be expensive. They can range from $45-$200 a square foot. To cut costs, you may want to choose a cut that is less thick.

Tile Countertops

You can choose to have a porcelain or ceramic tile outdoor kitchen countertop. Both are pretty stain resistant, but there are several differences between the two. 

• Porcelain: Porcelain countertops are hard and difficult to scratch. Since they are composed of a hard material they do not chip or crack easily. Porcelain is also a consistent color all the way through, so if it does happen to chip, the color will not be a different shade. 

• Ceramic: Ceramic is similar to Travertine or marble. They can all scratch more easily than other materials that you might want to lay your outdoor kitchen countertop with. A ceramic countertop would work nicely on an outdoor countertop because it is still fairly durable.

You do want to be careful when choosing tile for your outdoor countertop. This reason is that it doesn’t do the best in harsher weather. So if you live in a cooler area, research what material will work best. It does not do well when you have a repeated freeze and thaw cycle.

Natural Stone Countertops

If you want an extremely long-lasting material for your outdoor countertop, a natural stone will do the trick. Since it is a natural stone, it will probably last longer than your own home! The three main types of stone that most people use on a kitchen table are marble, soapstone, and Jerusalem stone. 

It is unaffected by high temperatures and needs little routine maintenance. You will want to wipe off your countertop to stop any staining or dirt residue. You can also clean your natural stone countertop with dish soap and water. Natural stone comes in a variety of colors and variations.

Limestone Countertops

A limestone countertop would be a showstopper for your outdoor kitchen! This beautiful stone has thousands of fossils in it and is very unique. It gives a natural look and compliments your entire outdoor kitchen. 

Limestone tends to be very heavy and requires experienced workman to complete the job accurately. Limestone can mold into almost any shape. Limestone is relatively inexpensive compared to other materials to lay your countertop with.

Travertine Countertops

If you are looking for a unique but very natural look you will want to gather more information about travertine. Travertine is real stone. It can be found in many different types throughout the world and each type varies since it comes from nature. There are a large variety of colors it can come in. It is not as popular as other pavers, such a brick, but it is very durable and a good investment. Travertine countertops are fairly easy to install and are very low maintenance. Since it is a natural stone, it handles heat very well. 

Travertine is very popular around pool areas because it tends to keep cool in the sun. For this reason, it would also be great for an outdoor kitchen countertop. These outdoor countertops handle heat from the sun, grills, hot plates, and more. It does not fade or change color over time.  Installing your travertine countertop is done two ways: Dry Install or Wet Install.  The sales team at American Paving Design will go over each option with you so that we make sure your travertine countertop is installed correctly.

Is travertine expensive? Travertine can cost about $8-$15 a square foot. It is a good investment because it does require very little upkeep and can handle multiple weather conditions. 

Do I need to clean and seal my travertine countertop often?  You should clean your travertine countertop often. Since this is a very porous and soft stone, it soaks in material quickly. You should reseal it about once a year.