Best Material for Outdoor Kitchen Island Frame

There are several factors to consider when adding an outdoor kitchen to your backyard entertaining space. You need to work with available space and decide on the ideal placement for function and aesthetic appeal. 

You must also make sure you choose a kitchen island that accommodates needed appliances (grill, fridge, sink, and extras like a smoker or pizza oven) so you can entertain with ease and style. Naturally, you’ll want to plan and stick to a budget as well. 

Before you make your purchase, take a moment to think about which materials are best suited to your purposes and your climate. The frame can impact the function, longevity, and use value of a product, not to mention the price. Here are a few of the most common framing materials you’re likely to come across. 

Aluminum Outdoor Kitchen Frame

Aluminum is among the more popular options for outdoor framing and cabinets — for several reasons. Because you’re creating a cooking area, it’s wise to choose materials like metal that aren’t combustible and are unlikely to warp or melt in proximity to heat from a grill or other cooking surfaces. 

Aluminum is strong, durable, and more budget-friendly than other metals like steel. It’s also non-ferrous, which means you don’t have to worry about rust in humid or wet weather conditions. Corrosion is a concern with exposed metal, but powder coat finishing eliminates this worry and makes for a sleek, modern finish. 

Aluminum structures are modular and easy to customize. They’re also lightweight, making them a cinch to install. Homeowners looking for eco-friendly options are sure to love the fact that aluminum is infinitely recyclable. 

Steel Outdoor Kitchen Frame

Metal frames tend to be the most popular option for outdoor kitchen islands because they are strong, durable, and, in some cases, portable, allowing for pre-assembled pieces that can be shipped to your location ready to install.  

Steel is slightly more costly than aluminum. While it is a harder material, it isn’t necessarily stronger in terms of strength-to-weight ratio, and it is significantly heavier. This can make the installation process a bit more complex. 

Even so, steel is incredibly sturdy and a fine choice for a structurally sound frame. While it is susceptible to rust, it can be finished with paint, powder coat, or weather-resistant sealants to withstand humid or wet environments. Steel is also recyclable. 

Wood Outdoor Kitchen Frame

Let’s just start with the obvious — wood is highly combustible. However, it’s still a common choice for framing because it is so economical. You simply have to make sure structures include fire-resistant treatments and contain sufficient insulation for safe use near grills and other cooking surfaces. 

Wood will almost certainly require more upkeep than metal because it is vulnerable to moisture, heat, and pests. Although the low cost of this material makes it an attractive choice, you need to consider your tolerance for maintenance activities before going with wood framing. 

Concrete Blocks Outdoor Kitchen Frame

From a practical usage standpoint, concrete blocks have a lot to offer. This material is strong, durable, and resistant to heat, moisture, and other elements that can impact metal and wood. It also has an attractive price point for those on a budget. 

However, concrete blocks won’t offer the same easy installation. You’ll likely need to hire a professional mason to build your island structure, and this will certainly impact the price. You’ll also want to add cladding material, as exposed concrete blocks aren’t known for a luxury aesthetic. 

Concrete is heavy, possibly requiring structural support like footings, so once installed, this structure will be permanent. Concrete blocks also take up a lot of space, potentially reducing available storage in cabinets (as opposed to a metal frame of similar size). 

Marine Grade HDPE Outdoor Kitchen Frame

A relative newcomer to the outdoor kitchen cabinet space, marine-grade high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is a robust thermoplastic being used to create modular, pre-fab cabinets with finishes incorporated into the plastic itself.  

These structures have several potential benefits, including resistance to moisture and anti-microbial properties (thanks to non-porous materials), along with a low price point. 

Unfortunately, these ready-made kitchen islands don’t offer a lot of options for customization, and they’re not highly resistant to heat and flame, so you’ll need to make sure they’re properly insulated.  

Locking systems make for a sturdy base, but they simply don’t offer the same strength and durability you’d enjoy with traditional framing materials. 

Choosing the Right Frame for Your Grill Station 

Framing materials are an important aspect of your outdoor kitchen island setup. When you consider intended usage, climate, budget, and extras like ease of installation, you can choose the options that best meet your needs and preferences. 

Let the experts at Stono Outdoor Living help create your dream outdoor kitchen. Start building your kitchen with our 3D configurator; it's simple and easy to use. Or schedule a no-obligation design consultation to tailor a custom outdoor kitchen design that combines comfort, functionality, and style. We guarantee a perfect fit, free shipping, and easy assembly. Shop Islands or Schedule a Consultation today.