In many cases, the kitchen is your most-used room and likely the heart of your home. Many types of events involve food, and as people’s leisure living migrates outdoors, it’s only logical that the kitchen would move outdoors as well.

Having not only a nice barbecue, but a nice barbecue area is becoming more appealing and in demand as an important element of the outdoor living environment. While the barbecue is still the key appliance needed for cooking your food, it doesn’t address all the aspects of meal preparation, serving, and outdoor enjoyment, especially when you’re entertaining, so outdoor kitchens are becoming more popular, and even necessary.

Too often, the little wings on a grill fail to provide sufficient space for all the ingredients and utensils necessary to conveniently cook and serve a meal. The outdoor kitchen provides space for food prep, serving, side dishes, and condiments, which are often either left indoors or crowded onto the main table, preventing your friends and family from dining comfortably. Imagine if your kitchen had no counter space! It simply wouldn’t work.

In reality, your kitchen has tons of convenient features that you don’t even realize are there, that is, until you’re barbecuing outside and don’t have them. For example, having an out-of-the-way space to tuck your trash can is frequently taken for granted. After all, when you’re out on your deck with a badass barbecue, who wants to trip over a plastic garbage bin? We can build what’s called a “Goes-In-The-Hole,” like you’ve probably seen in celebrity kitchens on the Food Network. This is a lidded hole in the counter with a trash can below that keeps your garbage and trash can out of sight, so you can enjoy the party without having to worry about the mess. Shelving also lets you entertain without having to pause for cleanup. Place a busboy tub on a shelf to easily gather dirty dishes and utensils to make it easier than ever to eat al fresco. This makes cleanup quick so you have even more time to eat and relax with guests.

We understand that not everyone has the space or budget for an upscale outdoor kitchen. After all, we’re talking about expensive cabinets, counters, and appliances. If you’ve ever remodeled a kitchen, you probably have some understanding of how costly this can sometimes be. Where space and budget are limited, at DeckTec we understand the functionality of outdoor barbecuing and the need to create an effective barbecue venue as part of your deck. DeckTec creates functional built-in bars and buffet tables that provide counter space for food preparation, serving, and overflow eating space. Both are built into the rails, making the most of every inch. The buffet table also features a recessed shelf, designed to accommodate a full-sized cooler or mini-fridge. This is a very economical way to improve the ease and enjoyment of your barbecuing and entertaining activities. For more info on this, go to our website and browse the “Built-In’s” tab!