Any outdoor kitchen needs cover to protect them from mother nature. Winter is coming, and you will need to protect your investment from water, wind, and snow damage! In the summer months, you want to protect your friends and family from the sun’s UV rays. You will require some form of cover all year round for the kitchen.
An outdoor kitchen needs to be covered to protect it from nature’s elements. Constructed covers like pergolas, roofs, gazebos, and canopies provide yearlong protection against the elements. Covering your grill and patio with individual covers is also recommended.
Some cover is always required when it comes to outdoor kitchens. Thousands of dollars have gone into its construction and appliances. It would be irresponsible not to protect this investment and asset. This article will discuss why your outdoor kitchen needs to be covered, what coverage options are available to you, what to cover if you don’t have construction that covers your kitchen, and finally, if your outdoor kitchen needs to be covered by insurance.
Does An Outdoor Kitchen Need To Be Covered?
An outdoor kitchen costs a lot of money to install. Typically, this “extra room” is used to entertain guests, feed the family outdoors when the weather permits, and cook food under the stars. Just as the cost of an outdoor kitchen is high, the repair can be very costly as well.
Even if most of the materials and appliances installed are somewhat weatherproof, leaving your outdoor kitchen (especially open-plan kitchens) to the mercy of the elements is considered irresponsible. Outdoor kitchens enhance the value of your dwelling and should be protected.
Covering your kitchen will stop it from degrading when left to face the following adverse weather conditions:
- Snow
- Rain
- Cold
- Wind
- Moisture
- Sun
Protecting your outdoor kitchen’s appliances, cooking utensils, and outdoor furniture ensures that your outdoor kitchen will remain a place that adds value to your home and not a space that detracts from it. Summer only lasts for so long. Winter is always coming, and covering your outdoor kitchen will need to happen more often than not, depending on where you stay.
What Can I Use To Cover My Outdoor Kitchen?
There are many ways to cover up your kitchen and protect them from the elements, and also provide shelter for your family and guests when mother nature does a 180 on your best-laid plans. The type of cover will depend largely on your budget. Your budget will dictate if it will be constructed cover or manual cover. What is the difference?
Constructed Cover
Most outdoor kitchens are open plan by design. To maximize your outdoor cooking and hosting experience, building an enclosed kitchen kind of defeats the object of an outdoor kitchen, as you already have one of those inside your house. Some smart and budget-backed people do the smart thing and include constructed cover from the get-go. Others install the cover at a later stage when their finances allow for it. What is constructed cover? and if outdoor kitchens and covers require permits you can read about here?
1) Pergola
A pergola is an expensive structure that consists of columns that support a roofing grid of beams and rafters. The roofing grid can be left open or covered to create an area sheltered from the elements. Pergolas can be free-standing structures or attached to a dwelling.
They are usually made out of wood. Other options include fiberglass, vinyl, aluminum, brick, or stone pillars. If wood is your choice when constructing a pergola, ensure that it is made from wood that can resist the sun and rain.
Using something like an acrylic roof will make it more universal when it comes to overall protection.
2) Roof
Extending your existing roof to cover your outdoor kitchen is a great way to protect it. Using the same roof construction as the current roof will provide cover and may add to the aesthetic look of your dwelling. The extended roof option works well when you have built your kitchen against an existing wall.
Another roofing option is to go for a copper roof. Copper roofs are lighter than steel and put less pressure on the frame structure. Copper roofs are known for their ability to sustain harsh weather, and it is also fire resistant and inflammable!
3) Gazebo
Building a well-constructed gazebo will protect your outdoor kitchen from the elements and lend some style to the garden. They are usually large structures made out of wood primarily but can also be made from metal. Gazebos are roofed structures that allow for an open view of the surrounding area and are sometimes octagonally shaped.
Again, make sure that the wood used is weather resistant, and also make sure that there is enough ventilation or height between grill and roof.
4) Canopy
A canopy is a great idea for an outdoor kitchen. It is cheap are easy to install, and the size will depend on the actual size of your kitchen. Some designs have wind vented peaks. Using a sail shade will give your canopy a more stylish look.
Canopies are not as durable as the other options listed above, and you should consider that when deciding on what cover will last the longest. They also stain more easily due to the material they are constructed with.
How Do I Cover My Outdoor Kitchen?
If constructing a cover for your outdoor kitchen is out of the question, you will need to invest in covers for the elements you want to protect. There are many options on the market when it comes to protecting your prized kitchen.
Grill
Look for heavy-duty material, and ensure that the material is waterproof and weather resistant (hydroponic material). Velcro straps will help to secure it tightly to your grill. Fabrics such as vinyl, polyester, and canvas are your more popular options when it comes to grill covers.
Patio
Invest in a patio cover that is big enough to cover your whole patio set. Look for products that have a PVC layer (weather-resistant, waterproof, and dust-proof). Make sure that there is some form of UV-resistant material incorporated in the design.
Does An Outdoor Kitchen Have To Be Covered By Insurance?
Does insurance cover your indoor kitchen? The answer to this question is a definite yes for most homeowners. Why would you not extend the same courtesy to your outdoor kitchen? Outdoor kitchens are often expensive add-ons to homes and need to be adequately covered in case of damage.
Most homeowners’ insurance policies often cover other structures on the property, limited to a certain amount (usually 10 % of the insurance you have on your dwelling).
Other Structures:
- Gazebo
- Detached Garage
- Fence
- Outdoor Kitchen
- Shed
- Dog Kennel
The best course of action to confirm if your outdoor kitchen is fully insured and protected:
- Call your home insurance agent.
- Confirm the amount that covers your outdoor kitchen-If the amount is less than what you spent on installing the outdoor kitchen, amend the policy immediately to the adequate cover.
- Discuss liability cover with the agent and inform them of any special features you may have added to the outdoor kitchen (gas lines-enclosed fire pits-etc.), as this could raise the risk of an accident.
- Assuming that you built your outdoor kitchen according to local codes, and you have the proof in the form of permits, disclose the information to the agent and get them to update their records.
- Ask the agent for a copy of the amended insurance policy.
An outdoor kitchen will increase your home’s value, an investment if you like, and ensuring that it’s insured is important.
States With The Most Rain During Summer
In these states, you will need to provide cover to your outdoor kitchen. A solid roof is recommended, as a cover is needed even in the summer months:
- Florida
- Louisiana
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Alabama
- Georgia
- West Virginia
- Iowa
- Mississippi
- New Jersey
States With The Least Amount Of Rain/Snow During The Year
In these states, your worst enemy will be the sun, and solid constructions would make more sense when it comes to protecting your kitchen from the sun’s UV rays:
- New Mexico
- Idaho
- Arizona
- Nevada
- Utah
- Montana
- Colorado
- Wyoming
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
Conclusion
Your outdoor kitchen needs all the help it can get when it comes to protecting it from the elements that form part of Mother Nature’s arsenal. There is no reason that makes any sense for you not to cover your outdoor kitchen somehow.