Best Outdoor Kitchen Worktops

An outdoor kitchen area

If you enjoy garden parties and cooking outdoors, then an outdoor kitchen could be a great addition to your garden. There are lots of options for outdoor countertops, however some are more suitable for outdoor conditions than others. When trying to find the best material, there are lots of variables to consider, including:

  • Water resistance
  • Heat resistance
  • Hygiene 
  • Aesthetic
  • Durability

Glass

Glass is a popular choice for outdoor kitchen worktops. It is affordable, easy to replace and many people are already familiar with glass as a surface. There are also plenty of colour and style options to choose from.

The problem is, glass is not very suitable for the challenges of the outdoors. It’s easily scratched and prone to breaking, which is not advantageous for a countertop that is going to be exposed to the elements. Taking into account that many people play sports in their garden and that free-roaming animals could be hanging around, glass really isn’t the best option if you want a material that is going to last. 

Concrete

Concrete is one of the cheaper options for outdoor kitchen worktops. It is highly durable and can last for a long time, which can make it a decent choice for anyone who just wants a simple low-cost countertop for their garden.

However, there are some major disadvantages to using concrete. Although it is a strong material, it scratches easily. This can be a big problem if the weather is bad or the worktop is used often. It is also very porous, which unfortunately means that it will stain very easily. To make things worse, the high porousness also means that concrete is difficult to clean and can easily harbour harmful bacteria and viruses. This is not ideal in an outdoor setting where food is being prepared. To avoid this, it would need to be sealed regularly. 

Quartz

The popularity of quartz worktops has really grown over the years. It is now one of the most popular options for countertops and it’s not hard to see why. Quartz countertops come in a variety of different styles and colours and it is a very durable material that needs very little maintenance, as it does not need to be sealed or polished. It’s also non-porous, which makes it very difficult for it to stain. This material is also very easy to clean and many quartz countertops have antibacterial agents baked into them. 

It really is a brilliant countertop for indoor use, however there is a big issue with quartz countertops being kept outside that may not make it worth the risk. The problem is that quartz does not do well under direct sunlight. It gets discoloured very easily after repeated exposure to the sun, so if you do opt to use quartz outdoors, you will need to keep it covered when it is not in use and be very careful during sunny days. Despite all of the benefits of choosing this material for indoor kitchens, it isn’t the best option for outdoor use.

Although there are many benefits of using Quartz for your new worktop, there is a flaw. Quartz doesn’t react well to high temperatures of heat. High heat temperatures can cause the resin within the stone to denature and potentially crack, which will create irreversible damage. However the best way to prevent any heat damage to your Quartz worktop, is to use Trivets to preserve your worktop to help last a long time.    

Granite

Granite has been one of the most popular choices for both indoor and outdoor kitchen worktops for a very long time. It is one of the most durable materials out there and is in the same price range as quartz. It’s extremely difficult to break or scratch, which makes it perfect for outdoor use as it can really withstand the elements. Granite is incredibly visually appealing, providing an entirely unique design in each individual slab due to the variety of veins, mottling and colours that naturally appear. It is also highly water-resistant and is much less vulnerable to discolouration from direct sunlight compared to quartz. 

The only big downside is that granite needs to be sealed and polished, but this is a minor disadvantage compared to all of the benefits of choosing granite. In short, if you are thinking about purchasing an outdoor kitchen worktop, granite is your best and safest bet

Outdoor Kitchen Worktops from Granite House

The Granite House team can provide you with a high-quality outdoor kitchen worktop in a range of styles, colours and sizes. If you would like to read more about outdoor kitchen worktops or worktops in general, check out our Granite Blog for expert advice, tips and discussions on all things worktops.

Granite House supplies and fabricates high-quality Quartz and Granite worktops for both interior and exterior use. We can fabricate any material listed on our brands’ page to fit your space, no matter the requirements. The Granite House team has years of experience and have worked with clients ranging from homeowners to national business headquarters. If you would like to see some of our previous work, visit our case studies page.

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