Outdoor Countertops & BBQ Tables: The Perfect Blend of Luxury and Functionality
One of the biggest benefits of living in the Bay Area is being able to enjoy beautiful weather nearly year-round; as many of our clients have discovered, one of the best ways to take advantage of this is with outdoor kitchens. Whether you enjoy entertaining friends and family or simply spending relaxing weekends outside, an outdoor kitchen enhances your home while allowing you to make the most of your outdoor living space.
If you’ve been dreaming of adding stone countertops or a BBQ table, Artistic Stone is here to help make it a reality!
Granite Countertops and BBQ Tables
Granite is a wonderful choice for outdoor kitchen countertops and BBQ tables. It’s a gorgeous natural stone that’s highly durable and holds up well against the elements. It’s available in a wide variety of colors and styles, which makes it easy to find the perfect selection for your home. Since granite is UV resistant, you won’t need to worry about fading. Maintenance is easy, although darker and lighter colors have different requirements. Darker colors of granite only require sealing with a water- or oil-based sealant every 5 years, while lighter colors, which are more porous, should be resealed with Dry Treat Stain Proof Sealer every 2-3 years.
As a rule, all natural stone products should only be cleaned using warm water and a mild cleanser. When properly sealed, granite is resistant to staining, mold, and mildew, making it a hygienic surface that can handle any spill. One thing to keep in mind is that although granite has a high heat tolerance, sudden temperature changes could cause damage to the stone or finish. For this reason, we recommend using hot plates or trivets to protect the surface.
Quartzite Countertops and BBQ Tables
Quartzite is another excellent option for outdoor kitchen countertops and BBQ tables. Not to be confused with quartz (an engineered, semi-natural stone), quartzite is a completely natural stone composed of a mosaic of quartz and other minerals. It has a naturally shiny surface that looks very similar to marble, with a variety of colors that typically feature muted hues with gorgeous darker veining that makes for an eye-catching contrast. It shares many of the same qualities as granite: it’s UV and heat resistant and very durable.
Likewise, quartzite shares the same maintenance requirements as granite. Darker colors should be sealed annually; lighter colors should be sealed more frequently. Care should also be taken to use hot pads and trivets to prevent damaging the finish or surface; you should also use only warm water and gentle cleansers. Another thing to keep in mind is that quartzite can be scratched or stained, so we recommend using a cutting board and cleaning up any spills as soon as possible—especially with acidic beverages and substances.
Contact Artistic Stone for the Outdoor Kitchen of Your Dreams
Are you ready to start planning your outdoor kitchen? We offer custom and semi-custom outdoor kitchen countertops and BBQ tables—we’re even able to accommodate irregular BBQ shapes! See examples of our work and learn more about what’s involved. If you have an overhang or patio, we’ll need to lay down waterproofing plywood to prevent the cement from cracking; if you don’t, we’ll need to put down a cement board. As with all our fabrications and installation services, we offer a 2-year conditional warranty.
For more information, or to get started on your project, contact Artistic Stone today or visit us at one of our showrooms!
