How to Build an Outdoor Kitchen Island

People have long known that the kitchen is the heart of the home and because of this they have attempted to extend their kitchen to the outdoors. Once there is a kitchen outside you can enjoy nature, have a barbecue and simply enjoy the company of those around you without having to constantly run in and out of the house. These outdoor kitchens have really become incredibly convenient and popular across the country. Because of this many companies are offering fully assembled units that you can buy, but many times they are very large or just not the right shape for your patio. To avoid this problem and to save a little money, you can simply build your own outdoor kitchen island.

Things You'll Need

• Cultured stone veneer
• Pressure treated 2x4s
• ¾" pressure treated plywood
• Deck screws
• Counter top
• 15-lbs builders felt
• Metal post standoffs
• Staple gun and staples
• Mixing trough
• Silicone caulking and caulk gun
• Wire lath
• Circular saw
• Wire cutters
• Drill
• Hammer
• Masonry hoe
• Water
• Trowel
• Grinder
• Roofing nails
• Type 's' mortar
• Screwdriver

Instructions

1. Build the frame of the island using the 2x4s and screws. The measurements of the frame will be up to you. You will want to also create corner posts where the corners of your frame come together, do this by attaching an additional 2x4 to the inside corner of each corner of the frame. If your island is going to be longer than 8 feet, then you will need to make two separate frames, each of equal length and under 8 feet.

2. Screw in metal post standoff at the corners, on the bottom of the frame. These standoffs will act as feet for your island.

3. Cut plywood sheets to the proper measurements to cover each side of the frame. Screw the plywood to the frame using the screws and a screwdriver.

4. Cover the entire island with the builders felt and attach it using the staple gun. Cover the felt with the wire lath. Trim the lath to fit using the wire cutters and then nail it down to the frame using roofing nails.

5. Mix a bag of mortar with the proper amount of water in the mixing trough. Consult with the manufacture's directions to see the recommended amount for the mortar you have. Cover the lath with the mortar using the trowel being sure to press it into the wire lath. Stop anytime the lath moves and hammer it down again. Allow mortar to cure for one hour.

6. Score the mortar all the way around the island using the side of the trowel and allow it to cure for another 24 hours.

7. Lay scrap boards around the bottom of the island and make them level with the bottom of the island (the same height as the legs.)

8. Take a corner stone and apply mortar to the back of it with the trowel. Then scrape off the excess and notch the remaining mortar to create air pockets. Press this stone into one of the bottom corners, into the mortar. Remove any oozing mortar.

9. Lay stones going out in both directions from this corner stone. Fit them together as best you can. If necessary cut the stones to make them fit tightly together. Start the next row the same way you started the bottom and continue repeating these steps all the way up until you have reached the top of your island.

10. Allow the entire island to cure for 2 to 3 days.

11. Lay caulking around the top of the island and carefully lay down the counter top. Make sure the counter is level and centered. Allow this to cure for 2 to 3 days before using it.

Tips & Warnings

• Work inside if you are able to. The project takes more than just one afternoon and could be ruined by any surprise rain showers.

Resources

• More Information on Building an Outdoor Kitchen