Outdoor great room

Beautiful Grills
Grilling outdoors is why you got into this in the first place, right? So, choose your grill carefully. Grill prices can soar to $12,000, so keep your budget and these dos and don’ts in mind:

Do investigate the availability of parts for the grill you select. For example, $99 may buy you a cart grill at a big-box retailer, but once it’s gone from the store’s floor, will you be able to find parts if something breaks? “If you can pay a little more for your grill, you’re more likely to be able to get service and parts down the road,” Barnhart says.

Don’t cut corners by plopping a low-cost grill into your new barbecue island. “Built-in grills are vented differently than cart grills. The grill doesn’t breathe the way it would inside a built-in structure,” Barnhart says. The exterior of your grill can discolor from the heat, and you could create a fire hazard.

Do consider what you need. Infrared cooking technology can help you avoid hot spots. Side burners – if they crank out enough BTUs – can boil huge pots of water for spaghetti or crab legs. Interior lights help you grill after sundown. Then again, none of those features may be as important to you as a high-grade stainless steel grill, so stick to what’s important to you.

Don’t buy the top of the line if you might move soon. “Think about how long you plan to stay in your house. You can buy a stainless steel product that will last 20 years, or a less expensive grill that will get six years of decent life,” Williams says.

Do consider ‘green’ grills if that’s your priority. Barbecues Galore, for example, has entered into a manufacturing agreement with Porsche – yes, the automaker – to produce grills using an infrared gas burner system. “It uses about 50 percent less fuel without the flare-ups you’d have in a charcoal grill. It’s efficient, clean and green,” McShay says.

“Stainless steel does fine in the heat and sun. Why should you go out and buy a stainless grill and throw a black cover on it? If it’s real 304-grade stainless, it won’t rust, and a cover will just allow creatures to get up there and make things.” — Mike Barnhart, owner of Gilbert Fireplaces and BBQ

Alfresco Accessories
Now for the fun stuff. From drop-in ice chests and cutting board pullouts to paper towel holders and pop-up TVs, outdoor kitchen accessories range from functional to over the top.

For example, for $135 and up, a company called YMI Custom Grates will create a heavy-duty stainless steel grate to fit your grill that features your initials or favorite sports logo. There’s nothing like serving up a juicy steak with your monogram in the middle.

Barnhart says he’s also seeing – and selling – a new trend: salt blocks. Just like a wood plank for salmon, salt blocks go right onto your grill, and you cook your food on it. Barnhart says it’s an affordable and efficient way to add flavor; prices range from $20 to $89, and the block is good for about 15 to 20 uses before it breaks apart.

Stainless steel shrimp baskets, roast holders and rear rotisserie options may expand your horizons on what to grill. Refrigerators and kegerators can keep condiments and beverages cool.

And as for that grill cover you think you need to protect your purchase?

“Stainless steel does fine in the heat and sun. Why should you go out and buy a stainless grill and throw a black cover on it? If it’s real 304-grade stainless, it won’t rust, and a cover will just allow creatures to get up there and make things,” Barnhart says.

Climate Control
Finally, it’s time to examine how you can control the temperature on more than just your grill.

Shade is essential in summer, and options are abundant. You can build umbrella sleeves into your grill’s countertop or buy portable stands for mobility. Or you can go all-out luxurious with lattice shades or tropical palapas.

Choose countertops that can handle the heat, too. Williams recommends porcelain because it doesn’t stain and it’s not as hot to the touch. Other attractive options are slates, travertines and granite, although these will have hotter surfaces in summertime. Avoid flagstone and saltillo tile because they are high maintenance and they stain, Williams says.

Now that you’ve tempered the effects of the sun, you may want to warm your winter air with outdoor fireplaces or fire pits. A reasonable entry-level option is a fire pit with a self-contained propane tank that you can put by the pool in the summer or on the patio for winter.

A pricey upgrade is the fire pit that showcases glass beads instead of lava rock. “That’s the trendy thing right now. It’s designed to look as if fire is coming right through glass,” Williams says.

Meanwhile, Barnhart says custom fire rings with buried underground gas lines also are a safe, economical option.

“We can put together a custom fire pit and round concrete bowl for $300,” he says, adding that running a 12-foot underground gas line has a safety edge on units with self-contained propane tanks attached.

Finally, if your budget nudges closer to the $1,700 to $2,500 range, an outdoor zero-clearance fireplace may be the perfect accent for your patio area. With these, Barnhart suggests going all the way or not at all.

“Some people try to put indoor fireplaces outdoors to shave cost. Don’t do it. It’ll rust on you,” he says.

In the end, your outdoor oasis should reflect your family’s needs, your entertainment style and, of course, your budget.

The good news is that whether you’re a do-it-yourselfer or you hire a barbecue designer, experts say your ability to find good selection and prices is better now than ever before.

Resources

Barbecues Galore
800 N. 54th St., Ste. C-5, Chandler
480-940-2470 • bbqgalore.com

BBQ Hut
13023 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix
602-992-2760 • bbqhutinc.com

Gilbert Fireplaces and BBQ
1150 S. Gilbert Road, Ste. 101, Gilbert
866-603-9518 • http://gilbertfireplacesbbqs.com/gilbertfireplacesbbqs.com