Good material for outdoor countertop

Can we expand the discussion to building the cabinets for an outdoor kitchen? This is relevant to my interests :) Tips, tricks, lessons learned the hard way?

Lotusseven7, where did you source the doors for yours?

https://www.bbqguys.com/

Those guys kept popping up when I was looking at DIY fire pits. Thanks!

eastsideTim said:

Bit of an off the wall suggestion, but how about welding (or bolting) up a framework and dropping in 18x18 floor tiles?  Durable, cheap-ish, and if they do get broken or worn, really easy to swap out.

I really like this. Redecorating is now single digit dollars. You can change them for holidays. No issues if they break or fade.

The tile is a great suggestion.  I will need to finish another project first.... getting 220v to the garage.  I have this awesome welder and plasma cutter that I can't use until I do that.

Keith Tanner said:

Can we expand the discussion to building the cabinets for an outdoor kitchen? This is relevant to my interests :) Tips, tricks, lessons learned the hard way?

Lotusseven7, where did you source the doors for yours?

I did one in TX.  I used some reclaimed barn cedar.  I figured it lasted for 100 years in the elements, it would be fine under an awning.  IIRC, I used PT for the framework and skinned it with cedar.  But that was a completely custom build including the doors.

Well, Craigslist made my choice.  I found a granite slab remnant.  22" x 96" x 1.25".  Guy was asking $50 so I said I'd be over as soon as I built a little 2x4 frame to lean it up in my truck bed.

He said he had a steel frame he would give me to go with it, so I headed over.

Ummm... more than I bargained for.  $50 worth of granite and $200 worth of free steel to go with it.

Nice Score!  That looks like really thick granite, 1 inch or even more?   Gotta weigh literally a ton, maybe two tons!  lol

Yeah the steel is worth more than the granite, although that thick of granite is not common (around here anyway)

Sweet! Nice score. 

3cm? Score. 

It was advertised as 1-1/4", but it's actually 1-3/16".

I don't feel cheated.

I will say it took three of us to lift it and it wasn't pleasant for any of us.  Now I'm looking at my impulse buy and thinking it's a darn good thing I have an engine hoist and Dad has a front end loader.

I've decided on a New Orleans theme for the patio.  It won't be blatant and I'm not going to try to recreate the Garden District in my back yard, but that means some cast iron fillagree corbels and details.  I'm hoping to keep a clear span under this bar, so I'm thinking two 4x4s to span between, or maybe a 4x4 on the chair side and a 2x6 on the other side.  If it doesn't seem beefy enough, I'll do some kind of wrought iron or cast aluminum post in the middle.

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

Here's the cheapskates solution.  
Periodically the big box stores change their kitchen cabinet displays. When they do the cabinets and countertops go on sale .  A $900 countertop was on sale for $65.  Granite with back splash and nicely rolled edges.  I bought the one closest to the size I needed for the shop. 
Another source is those countertop  companies. On occasion they miss measure a countertop and when they do you can buy their mistakes real cheap.  Hint, if the sink cut out is what you want, get them to cut it out straight across.  Then when you epoxy  the cut ends back together it becomes very close to invisible  . 
Natural  stone won't freeze and crack. If it did the mountains would quickly turn into pebbles.   You should annually clean and reseal the stone so spilt liquids like  wine etc can't seep into microcracks and stain. It takes about 30 minutes a year to do. 

To prevent cracks in stone countertops make sure they are really built sturdy. and Flat ! No flex anyplace! . 

And here it is.  Cut from 22 x 96, it is now 17 x 70, notched to fit around the 4x4s.  It's resting on a 4x4 on the house side and a 2x6 on the yard side.  Seems rock solid, but I could put a leg in the middle if needed.  The remaining rectangle (about 26 x 20) I will use as a side table for between two chairs.

I spent a fair amount of the day learning how to polish, as some stains from leaves and rust had set in, but I wen't all the way from 50 to 3000 grit with some diamond polishing wheels and it shines like a mirror.  I have some sealant coming in the mail tomorrow.

Sanded off stains with 50 grit.

Gave it a little bevel while I was polishing just to take the sharp corner off.  As bad as I am at polishing a car, I seem to have the knack with Granite.

Thanks for all the pointers folks.

Here is a detail of the granite.  Not sure what the pattern is called, but the dark flecks are actually grape purple.  Kinda neat.  Not like I had too much choice getting granite from Craigslist, but I dig it.  Looks like someone spilled black raspberry jam on it.

Looks GREAT! What a wonderful place to rest an elbow and a beer while grilling. I'm sure it will get lots of use.

Looks great and the price was right.  Wonder if you can make coasters or sonething out of the leftover offcuts. 

If you insist, beer it is.

eastsideTim said:

Bit of an off the wall suggestion, but how about welding (or bolting) up a framework and dropping in 18x18 floor tiles?  Durable, cheap-ish, and if they do get broken or worn, really easy to swap out.

Restaurant near here has outdoor tables like this. They are awesome. Also, if you want to keep the look fresh just go buy a different box of tile. Since the tile isn't fastened in and just sits there, it's easy to swap out.

Excellent result!

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

Santa Cecilia maybe? Or Dallas White?

Thanks for the possible color patterns.

I found another slab on CL of the same pattern, but it's $100 and I don't think I have room for more.

Whole project was under $100; 50 for the stone, the lumber was left over from the patio roof project.  I already had the polishing wheels at the theater from the time I built a bar with some 3/4 granite.  The only thing I had to buy was a bigger diamond wheel.  The one I had was a 4" and wouldn't go the whole way through so I had to get a 7"  That was $34.  Then $12 for sealer.  I glued it down with some silicone I had laying around.

By the way, you're all invited.  I'll be having a Social Undistancing party here when they say it's safe to do so.  I'm basically going to post here, on FB, and Instagram with "if you're reading this, you're invited."

I might have 400 people in my 800-sf house, so let's hope for good weather.

That looks fantastic!

Ooooooo, a party! I think I'm close by? I'm in Dallas, about 20 minutes from Wilkes-Barre. I might have a "reasonably priced" lawnmower for you as well. I'll check today and let you know.