How To Turn An Existing Grill Into A Budget-Friendly Outdoor Kitchen Set Up

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Outdoor kitchens are a fantastic way to cook, entertain, and enjoy the fresh air all at once. They add style and function to any outdoor space, making gatherings more fun and meals more memorable. The average cost of an outdoor kitchen, though, is between $6,000 and $26,000. That's well out of budget for many people. If you dream of having a full outdoor kitchen with a grill, counter space, drawers, and maybe a little refrigerator, but for now all you've got is a regular gas grill, all hope is not lost. There is a way you can turn a simple gas grill into a fabulous outdoor kitchen. 

This budget-friendly outdoor kitchen project involves using your grill as a starting point and building the rest of the kitchen structure around it. The materials you need include plywood, cement boards, two-by-fours, countertops of your choice, sealed outdoor cabinets and drawers such as this Outdoor Kitchen Double Drawer, hardware, glue, and power tools.

When you are through with this project, you will have an amazing-looking outdoor kitchen, and no one will be able to tell that you didn't spend a fortune on it. Though this DIY is not the easiest for beginners, the concept is brilliant. This project can be done on a tight budget, by repurposing wooden pallets and buying thrifted cabinets, but you can also make it as fancy as you want.

Sketching out your design is one of the best pointers to know before building your outdoor kitchen. By doing so, you can determine the perfect layout and measurements you'll need. Start this DIY by applying painter's tape to your patio where each part of the kitchen will be, then cut and nail together two-by-four boards to create the frame. Lay the frame in place, remove the legs and side table from your grill, and screw it into the frame using metal brackets. Now, cut 2-by-4 boards to create the frame for the countertops on both sides of your grill and secure everything into the deck with screws. You should now be able to see the basic skeleton of your kitchen.

Measure, cut, and secure two-by-fours to frame in the drawers, cabinets, and any other features you'd like, such as a small refrigerator. If you want a multi-use cabinet, box it in using plywood, create a door frame with boards, and attach a door. When you have everything in place, secure two-by-fours vertically to form the outer wall of the structure and add trim wherever it's needed, as well as mitered corners. Before closing in the area immediately surrounding the grill, place cement boards on each side to block the heat. Secure the countertop slabs on top of your cabinets using heavy-duty glue to complete your awesome outdoor kitchen.

While this DIY build will look nice and serve its intended function, there are some drawbacks to consider. Wood that is kept outdoors may attract termites, harbor mold, and be susceptible to eventual rotting, no matter the weather-proofing measures you take. Another very serious drawback to this build is that you're using a highly flammable material to build a frame around a combustible liquid canister and open flame. Using concrete boards may help, but to further address this issue, you can apply fire-resistant paint and install removable panels around the grill. This ensures proper ventilation while cooking, allows you to clean grease from the grill, and enables you to inspect the gas lines. This will help protect both the kitchen unit and your wood deck.

To prevent a termite infestation, you will need to inspect the structure regularly and know the signs of when to call a professional if you see any damage. Weather-resistant sealant will help prevent mold growth, but you will also need to regularly clean away dirt, leaves, and debris. Since wood is eventually going to rot when it's exposed to the elements, you need to take care of it to make sure it lasts as long as possible. Applying wood sealant and placing pieces of composite decking under the structure will both help prevent wood rot. A way you can avoid the majority of these issues, though, is to use non-flammable materials like brick or stone to build the kitchen. With proper care and attention, you can enjoy your brand-new — and budget-friendly — outdoor kitchen.