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Stainless steel appliances like these from Viking’s outdoor series are corrosion resistant and easy to clean, so they’re a good choice for an outdoor kitchen. Photo courtesy of Viking.

Stainless steel appliances. Granite countertops. Natural stone floors. They’re not just for your kitchen anymore.

They’re also for your other kitchen—the one outdoors on or near the patio that your family uses almost year-round.

Americans spend $150 billion a year on home remodeling—and one-third of that goes toward outdoor living areas, estimates the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association. In fact, outdoor kitchens are the second-most popular home remodeling project—after indoor kitchens.

Installing an outdoor kitchen isn’t cheap. Depending on how elaborate—and how permanent—you want your alfresco cooking and eating space to be, you can spend anywhere from $3,000 to $60,000 on appliances, countertops, flooring, lighting, storage and heat.

Manufacturers have taken note and are out with some eye-popping appliances and surfaces designed for safe outdoor use.

So build your outdoor kitchen right—and consider it an investment. Realtors say an outdoor living space adds to the resale value of your home. And if you’re not planning to sell, you’ll want that outdoor kitchen to last for years for the enjoyment of your family and friends.

Here are five steps toward getting the outdoor kitchen you want.

1. Make a plan. Determine how you will use the outdoor space. Do you like to grill outdoors only on warm-weather holidays, or are you planning to be out there every weekend with all of your friends? Do you want to cook outdoors and serve the food indoors? Or do you want everybody to linger around an outdoor fire pit long into autumn evenings? Is this a place where you’ll throw parties? Your answers will help you decide how large your outdoor cooktop and refrigerator should be and how many seats you’ll need for guests.

2. Don’t skimp on comfort. It would be a shame if you couldn’t use your fancy new outdoor kitchen just because it’s a little bit chilly outside. Invest in a fireplace, a portable patio heater or a charming cast-iron chiminea to keep you warm in style. Install more seating than you think you’ll need so guests have room to relax. Put in plenty of lighting—around the appliances so the cook can see, and near the seating area where guests will eat. And consider an overhead awning, roof or pergola to keep the rain and sun out. You’ll be able to use a partially covered kitchen more often than one that’s unprotected from the elements.

3. Build your outdoor kitchen near your indoor kitchen. You’ll be relieved that you won’t have too far to run when you find you need something from the house while you’re entertaining outdoors. Also, the closer you are to your kitchen, the easier it will be to hook up outdoor electricity, water and sewer, and natural gas.

4. Choose high-quality, low-maintenance materials. And choose safety above all else. Refrigerators and icemakers designed for indoor use but placed outdoors can be damaged by temperatures that are too hot or cold. Manufacturers are creating products that can hold up to the elements and withstand what little rain we get in Arizona. You can find refrigerators, freezers, wine chillers, keg tappers and ice makers with a safety stamp from Underwriters Laboratories that ensures the appliance is safe to use outdoors. A tip: Choose stainless steel appliances for your outdoor room. They’re corrosion resistant and easy to clean. For surfaces, look at durable, low-maintenance natural stone, like granite and quartz.

5. Ask a pro for help if you need it. A qualified designer will help you create an outdoor kitchen that’s large enough and allows for a comfortable distance between the food prep area and the seating—but not so much that it isolates the cook. A professional remodeler can recommend suitable materials and help you decide if your grill, for example, should be built-in or moveable. Plumbers and electricians can install your utilities properly. And, of course, apply for the appropriate permits from your town or city before you start the work.

For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. Rosie Romero is an Arizona contractor who has been in the Arizona home building and remodeling industry for 35 years. He has a radio program from 8-11 a.m. Saturdays on KAZM (780 AM) and KQNA (1130 AM).

Choose durable, low-maintenance products like natural stone counter tops and stainless steel 
cabinets for outdoor living areas. Photo courtesy of Viking.