One project that your backyard can improve is remodeling and updating your patio area. It might include an outdoor kitchen or BBQ grill that has fallen into hard times and just isn’t modern by any means. This helpful and inspiring backyard DIY will walk you through several helpful tips and steps. You don’t need to be an expert when getting your hands dirty either. Here’s how to get your backyard looking sharp and more enjoyable for entertaining. Before getting started, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with some best practice layouts.
Replace old and outdated materials
To get started, you’ll need to strip everything in your backyard patio area. You don’t need to break everything down unless there’s wood rot or elements of a structure that need replacing. Some materials just don’t stand the test of time if they just don’t fit into the mood you want to create. Remove sections that include shelving or outdoor storage but are not limited to old roof coverings.
Additionally, you can remove old outdoor floor tiles that are cracked and broken. This should extend to countertops and food prep areas that aren’t looking good anymore. After this, it will be easier to start rebuilding and adding new outdoor equipment and an updated outdoor kitchen.
Enlarge and update your patio area
If you decide that you want to completely replace a patio cooking area, these backyard structures can be torn down. This is the first step to enlarge your cooking area or to install a new BBQ grill. If you have a lot of structure garbage that is being torn down, it’s best to rent a small garbage container that is delivered to your home. This way, all of the old structure is thrown in and taken away for an all-in-one fee.
Unpaved sections can be expanded so you can maximize the square footage for a new outdoor structure. The next step is deciding on a design that will best fit your newly expanded patio area. It’s more labor-intensive to build outdoor kitchen cabinets, but there are more cost-effective options too.
Here are some great examples:
1. Finished outdoor kitchen islands
You’ll find there are plenty of kitchen islands that are prebuilt and can be added to your patio area easily enough. The good side is that these are very convenient, but you can’t do much customizing. Since these finished kits all come in different sizes and configurations, you’ll need to pre-measure your patio area to see what fits best. Some pieces are designed to fit together and are part of ready to assemble kits.
These are good if you want to have an outdoor kitchen setup immediately. Because they are premade, they are the most expensive in this category since they are ready-to-go with very little installation needed.
2. Modular outdoor kitchen kits
This is going to give you more flexibility since you can have more choice on customizing the look you want. These prefab sections will screw or bolt together forming stations. After this, the appropriate finishing touches like sinks, taps, and electricity connections are added. These come with these types of kits so there’s not much mixing and matching for a specific look. For the price you’ll pay, these modular units can be a cost-effective solution.
These modular units can come in a variety of colors and be constructed from aluminum or wood. The hardest part will be choosing the right sections that complete the functionality of your outdoor grill or kitchen area.
3. Pre-framed (ready-to-finish) kits
These kits are more work but give you the freedom to create the space and look that you want. These kits are pre-framed structures that you’ll need to add cabinet doors and countertops onto. Many of these are made from lightweight aluminum so they’ll last longer being outside but you can essentially attach whatever you want to the exterior frames. Some manufacturers also offer cheaper wooden frames made from long-lasting wood composites.
These are better suited for people who like working with their hands and want a very specific look to their outdoor kitchen patio area.
Renew and restore outdoor kitchen or BBQ
The simplest way is to replace just the essentials of your outdoor setup. This can be new BBQ grills, smoker, or cooking accessories. Countertops can be replaced with newer ones that have an updated look. Some of us may prefer to repaint or restore old cabinet doors. If they aren’t damaged too much, they can simply get a new coat of paint. These paints will help protect the wood so they’ll last for many more years.
You can also get a very different look by changing the cabinet handles or knobs. Replacing the hinges may also give these cabinet doors fewer squeaks or look more attractive aesthetically.
Make use of space (you don’t have)
Some backyards aren’t as spacious as you would like them to be so you can only use a limited area. That doesn’t mean you can’t make a patio area appear larger using some very clever tricks. This involves the use of mirrors that can be added to selected areas of your patio. The angle of the mirror will give the illusion that your patio is twice as large. Depending on where you place these hanging mirrors, they can be framed like a window.
Using many framed mirrors also helps to bounce light so your patio area is much brighter as a result. If you have storage cabinets, these doors can also have mirrors placed onto them to further enlarge the feeling of your patio.
Embrace a DIY with creativity
To save yourself some money, you can learn simple carpentry skills by watching instructional DIY videos. Of course, having the right power tools can make a big difference. Cordless tools such as a good drill and screw head attachments make installing anything much faster. There are also outdoor kitchen patio kits and BBQ grill setups that you can buy in sections. They’re simple to connect together and can be added over time.
This way you don’t have to spend a lot of money right from the start. Even if you’re not very creative, you can get inspired by looking at the internet for ideas. You can also look at online magazines and websites that feature outdoor patio kitchens.
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