What sort of outdoor kitchen islands are there to choose from?

When you are considering building a new outdoor kitchen there are a number of issues that you need to consider.  One such issue is what sort of outdoor kitchen island do you want if you decide to have one.  Today the grilling island is becoming one of the most popular features of any outdoor kitchen as not only can they provide you with a custom look, but they also offer the most flexibility.

They are similar to an indoor kitchen island as the grill will be installed within the cabinetry or masonry and will also double as a work surface where the meals can be prepared.  It can also be used as a buffet area that you would be able to serve the food from.

There are two types of islands to choose from.  One which is permanently installed either a custom built masonry version or a semi custom prefabricated unit.  The masonry islands will be customized to meet the user's needs and they afford you the most flexibility in terms of design and materials.  If you want you could use the same sort of stone or brick that has been used to build your home or your patio for the base of your outdoor kitchen island.  If you want you can also exactly match the island's countertop tiles to those in your pool (if you have one).  Although they are more expensive than a prefabricated one many people have said that they added value to their homes.

But now the semi custom prefabricated versions have become increasingly popular as the user can select from a variety of configurations and exterior finishes that a custom built one can not provide.  Such units will be manufactured off site according to the customer's specifications and is normally delivered within 2 to 3 weeks ready for the grill to be installed.

So it is not really surprising that more and more people are turning to having a prefabricated outdoor kitchen island installed.  Last year the sales for these items went up by 40% according to two of the largest manufacturers of them.  The reason being that prefabricated outdoor kitchen islands are basically hassle free and require no building permits and cost considerably less than a custom built one.