When you have a backyard, it’s almost mandatory to build an outdoor kitchen so you can enjoy the weather and cook whatever you want whenever you feel like it. Maybe not mandatory, but definitely encouraged – having an outdoor kitchen is one of the best ways to bring the indoors out in your home.
But of course there are a few things that will make or break your new space if it’s going to become a regular summertime hangout for everyone who comes over.
Whether you’re just starting or want to add another grill area, this article gives you all the information you need about designing your outdoor grill area – from layout ideas to materials, tools and construction techniques. Let’s take a look!
Table of Contents
How much space do you need around a grill?
There’s no right answer when it comes to how much space you need around your grill. The size and shape of the grill will dictate how much space you need,
but here are some general guidelines: –
- If your grill is a freestanding model or sits on a table, you’ll need enough room for both feet to take a step without hitting anything
- If your grill is a stand-alone model connected to an outdoor kitchen, you’ll likely need more space
- If your grill is part of a built-in outdoor kitchen like an island, you’ll need the same amount of space that surrounds the other appliances
- If your grill is one of many appliances in an outdoor kitchen that has extra space near the walls, you can use that as extra room around the grill
Where should I put my grill outside?
One of the most important decisions you’ll make when designing your outdoor grill area is where to put it. You’ll need to decide how close it will be to the house and whether or not you want to build some kind of enclosure around it.
Keep in mind that if you’re building a space with more than one grill, you’ll also need to decide where they go. Possible locations for your grill include: under the front porch on a side patio alongside the hot tub or pool next to an existing fence or driveway, carefully consider if you’re planning to do also some over the fire cooking.
How far should grill be from fence?
Ideally, your grill should be 5 feet away from any fence. This will give you plenty of room to cook without running into trouble.
Some people like to put the grill closer to the fence but this can create a challenge when it comes to cleaning because food and grease can easily drip down if you don’t have a proper drip tray.
You also want to make sure that your grill is at least 3 feet away from any wall or other objects that could get in the way of cooking. If your grill is too close to the wall, it makes it difficult for anyone who wants to use it.
Do outdoor grills need ventilation?
It’s absolutely necessary that you design your outdoor grill area with adequate ventilation. If you don’t, the weather will take a toll on whatever meat and vegetables you cook. Outdoor grills need to have a proper ventilation system in place so they don’t overheat and cook food too quickly.
You might also need to check for safety concerns, such as carbon monoxide poisoning from an incompletely vented grill. So what exactly does “adequate ventilation” mean? It means having enough openings in the grill area to let fresh air into it and heat out of it.
This can be accomplished by installing a fan or vent near the back of the grill so that air circulates through and helps cool down the space.
