Tips for Planning Your 2022 Outdoor Kitchen with a Pergola

Are you ready to take the first steps toward adding an outdoor kitchen to your home? Considering essential details ahead of construction paves the way for project success. The spacing and placement of countertops, flooring, appliances, furnishings, utility access and shelter are integral to a well-performing kitchen, impacting layout and function. StruXure pergola design pros offer these tips for planning your 2022 outdoor kitchen with a pergola to help you ensure you don’t overlook key details.

Choosing Where to Locate Your Outdoor Kitchen

You have two options for your outdoor kitchen location. Each has its own advantages:

●       Satellite kitchen

Locating your kitchen away from your home is a great way to differentiate this space, turning it into an outdoor oasis. However, this remote location can make accessing gas, electricity, and water more difficult and expensive.

●       Perimeter kitchen

Adding your kitchen along the perimeter of your home offers easy access to gas, electricity, and water, reducing construction costs. In this location, you’ll also enjoy fast access to in-home cooking supplies.

 

Plan for Inclement Weather with an Aluminum Pergola

There’s nothing more frustrating than planning to cook a nice dinner on the grill or host a family event at your home, only to be thwarted by bad weather. StruXure louvered roof pergolas keep your food and your family protected from the elements year-round. Open louvers on your Pivot 6 to enjoy beautiful clear skies, angle up to 170-degrees for shade protection and ventilation on sunny days, or fully close louvers to seal out rain and snow, enjoying leak-free rain protection. Enhance your pergola design with motorized insect screens and Somfy-powered, sensor-driven operation, enjoying ease of use.

Outdoor Kitchen Layout Considerations

When planning where to locate kitchen features, professional designers recommend following the ‘kitchen triangle’ rule. The points of your triangle, including the grill, fridge, and sink, should be placed within comfortable walking distance of one another. Give our grill top priority, located in a safe spot where you can cook undisturbed, away from children and frequently used pathways, to guard against injury.

Choosing Countertops and Flooring for Your Outdoor Kitchen

Outdoor countertops must be wider than the kitchen counters in your home to accommodate the added girth of a grill, at 30-36 inches in depth. Counter height remains the same, at 36 inches for countertops and 42 for bar tops. Popular countertop surfaces include concrete and natural stone, of which there is a large variety. Research carefully, as each has distinct benefits and drawbacks.

Shopping for Outdoor Kitchen Appliances and Accessories

Due to the growing popularity of outdoor living, there is an endless variety of options in appliances and furnishings to place beneath your louvered pergola. Don’t forget these outdoor kitchen essentials:

●       Grill

As the heart of your outdoor kitchen design, a high-quality grill is a wise investment. The cook and cleanup crew often drive the choice between gas and charcoal models. Choosing built-in/drop-in models offers a cleaner, more finished appearance. Carefully considering what you’ll cook outside and comparing features will ensure lasting use.

●       Sink

We recommend including a low-maintenance, all-season friendly stainless-steel sink in your outdoor kitchens to make prep and cooking easier and reduce trips indoors. Cold-water-only plumbing offers additional savings.

●       Fridge

A small stainless-steel fridge offers a place to store food nearby safely. Choosing an outdoor-rated model ensures longevity and safety.

●       Storage

Ample built-in storage prevents the need to tote cooking gear back and forth. This feature is essential for satellite kitchen designs. 

●       Furnishings

Quality, comfortable seating and tables built to withstand the elements set the stage for outdoor enjoyment.

 

Plan Early to Avoid Delays Due to Supply Chain Issues

Would you like to have your outdoor kitchen installed by the spring? Planning ahead is essential. As with many other items this year, supply issues surrounding aluminum and product scarcity are increasing lead times, which can be extensive (14-20 weeks). Advanced planning ensures your outdoor kitchen will be installed on time and on budget.

Cook up your dream outdoor kitchen design with help from Denver Pergola Systems’ outdoor living design experts. Contact us at 303-505-6669 to learn more or to schedule a free design consultation today.

This article was previously published at:https://denverpergolas.com/adjustable-residential-pergolas/tips-for-planning-your-2022-outdoor-kitchen-with-a-pergola/

 

Year-Round Use of Restaurant Patio Seating

*This article was published on 10/23/2018    and updated on  12/23/2021

 

Is it time to update your restaurant patio? Turn your worn, deserted patio into a warm, inviting, lively outdoor dining space with a Pivot 6 XL commercial pergola. The National Restaurant Association recommends updating your decor every 5-7 years to ensure a fresh, modern feel. And with the emergence of the delta variant driving more consumers than ever to dine outside for safety, there’s never been a better time to refresh your outdoor seating area.

Outfit Your Restaurant Patio for Year-Round Use & Boost Sales with a Versatile Louvered Pergola

Overcome the challenges of the changing season and the Denver area’s unpredictable weather with a louvered roof pergola. Pivot commercial aluminum pergolas let you dial-in the ideal amount of sun, shade, or shelter for patio patrons on-demand. Louvers rotate up to 170 degrees, allowing you to find the perfect angle for maximum ventilation, customer comfort, and weather protection.

Maintain Consistent Comfort Levels & Reduce Staff Maintenance

StruXure’s commercial-grade pergolas ensure guest comfort even in rapidly changing weather, featuring a built-in gutter system and leak-free rain protection. No more running for cover. No more staff cleanup to get your sodden patio back into use after rain or snow. Enjoy complete precipitation protection at the touch of a remote-control button, pre-program settings using Somfy’s MyLink app, or integrate the weather-sensing technology for automatic response to changing weather, including rain, wind, snow, and ice.

Customize Your Commercial Pergola Design to Align with Your Brand or Location 

StruXure louvered pergolas are easily customizable, offering nearly endless options to suit your needs and draw customer attention with your newly revamped outdoor addition:

●       Choose your color

The Pivot line is available in standard colors white, black, beige, bronze, adobe, and gray, as well as thousands of custom colors and faux wood wrap to complement your restaurant's theme. 

●       Deck out your design

Accent your design with architectural columns, corbel ends, columns and trim, a sliding roof with a panoramic view, and other unique features.

●       Accessorize

Enhance 24/7 pergola functionality with:

o   Recessed lighting

o   Ceiling fans and patio heaters

o   Motorized patio insect screens

o   Other accessories to create a streamlined transition between your indoor and outdoor dining areas

  Put Wasted Space to Work with Added Restaurant Patio or Deck Seating

Expand into unused real estate or add an upper level. StruXure’s strong yet lightweight aluminum pergolas are ideally suited for new or existing upper-level deck seating. Comfortable, relaxed guests stay longer and order more drinks and food. Adding outdoor dining space delivers a fast return on investment, increasing seating capacity and raising ticket prices.

Create an Exclusive Feel With a ‘Patio Only’ Menu & Dedicated Staff

Change drinks and dining fare by the season, offering chilled, refreshing options in warmer weather and hot steaming entrees and drinks on cool winter nights. Ensure patio diners don’t feel neglected with a dedicated staff and added help, ensuring repeat business and word-of-mouth advertisement. If you have the square footage, put your staff center stage with an outdoor kitchen or bar decked out with outdoor TVs perfect for hosting sporting events.

Prevent restaurant sales from slowing regardless of the status of the pandemic. Turn your unusable winter patio seating into a preferred dining destination. Draw new clientele, advertising your business with a happily active patio. Contact Denver Pergola Systems at 303-505-6669 to learn more or schedule a complimentary design consultation today.

This article was originally published at: https://denverpergolas.com/adjustable-commercial-pergolas/a-commercial-pergola-can-boost-your-revenue-with-year-round-outdoor-dining/

 

 

Adding a Pergola On a Small Budget

*This article was published on   11/26/2015  and updated on 12/16/2021

Are you shopping for an affordable pergola? There are many outdoor shelter options to consider. Adding a pergola can expand your usable space, increase outdoor comfort, or complement your yard - but it can also serve as an expensive reminder that what looks good on paper doesn’t always translate to reality. Choosing a pergola that meets your functional and aesthetic needs is essential to ensuring lasting happiness with your investment.

Which Outdoor Shelter Solution is Right for Your Home or Business?

●       Gazebo

Gazebos provide shade and shelter. However, investment cost, available space, upkeep, and lifespan often deter people from making a gazebo investment. Wood costs remain high, and gazebos last only 5-10 years, depending on maintenance. Those unable to pay the exponential price increase for vinyl will face a large staining/painting project every couple of years.

●       Wood pergola

The lifespan and maintenance of a wood pergola are similar to a gazebo. The main difference is that wood pergolas rely on vining greenery to block sunlight and do not provide full shade or precipitation protection.

●       Awning

Permanent and retractable awnings use removable fabric to create shade directly off building structures, providing coverage over a limited space. Fabric breaks down quickly, requiring replacement every few years at about two-thirds of the initial investment cost. Frame and fabric damage from high winds in severe weather can lead to expensive repairs.

●       Shade sail

These fabric shade structures anchor to a nearby building like awnings, requiring three to four points for support. They filter out sunlight but offer little protection against rain or snow. Shade sails last 5-10 years in fair weather but are thin and easily damaged by winds, which can quickly curtail their lifespan. 

●       Louvered pergola

Louvered roof pergolas like StruXure’s Pivot 6 system offer cutting-edge, versatile shelter. Adjust louvers to enjoy the shade on a hot day, open louvers to take advantage of warm sunlight on a cold morning, or close completely for protection against rain and snow. Lightweight, durable extruded aluminum pergolas are an ideal solution for any outdoor space, standing up to hail, hurricane-force winds, and heavy snow loads with ease. Pivot 6 pergolas require only occasionally soap and water cleaning and are built to last a lifetime with little maintenance. Customize your pergola to suit your unique needs with:

o   Motorized screens for additional sunlight, privacy, and pest protection.

o   Recessed lighting and built-in fans for 24/7 use and added comfort.

o   Decorative additions like architectural columns, corbel ends, and faux wood finish.

o   Remote control or smart, sensor-driven operation for on-demand response to rain, wind, snow, and ice.

 

Budgetary Constraints? Cabana X May Be Right for You

Cabana X 10’x10’ free-standing pergolas are our most budget-friendly louvered roof systems. They are moveable/non-permanent, allowing you to add a pergola without permitting. The Cabana X is designed to compensate for uneven ground, with adjustable footers for fast and easy installation. Choose from:

●       Cabana X Core Model

This free-standing metal pergola offers outdoor versatility at our best price, featuring remote control operation and an easy power plug. Its modular design allows you to expand your covered outdoor space effortlessly.

●       Cabana X Tech Model

Upgrade to the Tech Model, and you’ll enjoy environmental/weather detection and app-controlled operation of louvers and built-in LED RGB strip lighting through Somfy’s MyLink app.

 Get maximum return on your outdoor living investment. Contact Denver Pergola Systems at 303-505-6669 to get more information on pricing for Pivot 6 louvered pergolas or schedule a design consultation today.

This article was originally published at: https://denverpergolas.com/pergolas/discovering-your-perfect-pergola-design-plan/