Whether it's to increase your BBQ level, to enhance the festive experience or simply to find a project to keep you busy for a few weekends with friends, creating your BBQ space is an exciting project.
Not only for the final product, but also for the whole thought process that will teach you a lot about your BBQ profile.
This is not a project that can be improvised since beyond the aesthetic aspect, there is an equally important functional aspect and each decision can have a direct impact on the result of the products that you are going to cook.
Having personally modified my own BBQ space 3 times in 4 years, here are the different lessons I learned from it to help you get the most out of your project without making any mistakes. These concepts are the imponderables that are found in every project, no matter what look you want.
Static or mobile?
The first question that will impact your project is very simple: how many BBQs do you want to integrate into your space?
While many will only have one or two, it is possible to consider several layout options. Creating a static space and adding several accessories can be interesting, as can the idea of creating a mobile island to combine your 2 BBQs and be able to adapt according to the seasons and weather.
In summer, it's easy to move away from the house, while in winter, it's usually more pleasant to move your island closer to the door to make it easier to access your BBQ and maximize its use all year round.
If you have multiple BBQs to group together, creating a static space will be a more strategic choice or will allow you to think carefully about how you anticipate using your BBQs in conjunction with each other.
The mobile island therefore has the advantage of being more flexible, while the static space becomes an element of interest in your property and can potentially increase its value.
Full or partial coverage?
Whether your space is mobile or static, you will definitely want to have an environment that can protect you from the elements. To make the most of your BBQ space, your island should be covered.
Covering your BBQ area allows you to enjoy your BBQ more often while improving the longevity of your grills.
It is important to ensure that your roof has an elevation, angle and orientation that is conducive to naturally evacuating the smoke that may be released from your BBQ.
For the more intense among you who will opt for a gazebo or a permanent static construction, I recommend the use of a sheet metal roof for durability of course, but also the sound ambiance that it adds when cooking in the rain.
If your BBQ area has a smoker, it is important to keep good air circulation at height so as not to harm the “draft” of your smoker. A covered BBQ area closed on the sides can reduce the ability of your fire to heat to a high temperature. It is therefore important to make the ventilation of your BBQ area a priority, using air outlets at height.
Location:
To get a thumbs up on air management, the location of your BBQ space is the element that can have the biggest impact on your cooking experience.
If your space only contains a gas BBQ, there is no problem. However, if you integrate charcoal BBQs, creating a BBQ area at the edge of the house can regularly be problematic. Yes, it makes for beautiful Pinterest photos, but the air circulation is often not optimal.
I regularly hear people complain about having difficulty getting their charcoal BBQ to heat up, when the only problem is the proximity of a wall cutting off the air.
The same problem can occur if you create your space in the back of your yard in a corner surrounded by trees. It is recommended to have a good clearance around your BBQ area in order to have the best possible air circulation.
How do you plan to use your BBQ space? Is it just a cooking area, or do you want to make it an outdoor living space? Are you using specialty BBQs that are more responsive to the environment?
The answers to these questions will dictate what equipment and facilities you will need to have.
Foundation and materials:
The base of your BBQ space can be made of different materials. Every project has its budget. Whether you decide to build your BBQ space directly on your patio or on a paved terrace area, it is important to build a solid foundation, because generally speaking, creating a space leads to an immediate need to add more BBQs later.
Personally, I made the decision to build on paving stones early in the process for product stability and also durability. If you cook a lot with charcoal, let's be honest, it can make more of a mess than a propane BBQ. The paving stones are therefore easy to clean and will not stain with grease if an accident occurs.
Creating a quality BBQ space becomes a major asset to your property, so investing in a sustainable installation is a strategic investment.Storage and services:
Storage is often an underestimated element in creating a BBQ space. We overestimate the importance of having running water but we underestimate the many BBQ accessories that add up over the years.
Adding services is not, in my opinion, a prerequisite to enjoying your BBQ space. Electricity is always a plus to quickly start your charcoal BBQs using an Allumax .
Having running water is a nice addition, of course, but a BBQ area shouldn't be an attempt to replace your current kitchen.
Storage and workspace should be maximized, as you will be using everything. If you do long cooking, you know how much you have to improvise and act quickly in certain situations. Available space is therefore key in order to waste as little time, time and moisture as possible during transitions and packaging of your meat pieces.Storage, on the other hand, is important since some accessories will take up a lot of space, while being too “dirty” for the interior. We are talking here about deflectors, cooking plates , chip trays, pellets, coal, etc.
All these little things seem trivial but add up very quickly.
Using a wire mesh wall can be a trick to easily optimize your vertical storage for your tongs and spatulas while the cabinets should have a good depth for your larger accessories.
I recommend using cabinets with large doors , with a non-combustible surface bottom, in order to easily store your equipment even if it is still hot, for ease of maintenance during spring cleaning and quick access to your accessories in the middle of cooking.
The final piece of advice I can give you is to make plans. Lots of plans.
Creating a BBQ space must be thought out according to your BBQ style. This is a project that can be done very simply, or very complex. Do not limit your project to your budget, but simply to your creativity. Your space must be functional before being aesthetic in order to enjoy it to the fullest.
If you need help organizing your ideas, BBQ offers an outdoor kitchen design service to help you with the ideation and creation of this type of project.