Get matched with top outdoor kitchen pros in Arcola, IL

Whenever you’re on the hunt for furniture, either indoor or outdoor, start your search at local second hand shops. While they might not always have exactly what you need, even just one deeply discounted chair or table will cut down a lot on your overall expenses. From there, check newsgroups to find free or inexpensive used items. For deals on new items, try discount home and garden retailers.

You can call a second kitchen many different names—butler’s pantry, scullery, prep kitchen, working kitchen, dirty kitchen, or even just second kitchen. In modern times, however, second kitchens are almost always called prep kitchens or small kitchens. However, the purpose of a second kitchen remains the same—prepare food and clean items “behind closed doors.”

You can build an outdoor kitchen on a deck, but you should choose composite decking since it's more heat-resistant. Metal deck materials like steel and aluminum are also good choices because they're less flammable than wood. You should also consider the weight of the kitchen—make sure your deck can support it and any appliances you plan to use. You should consult a structural engineer to confirm exactly how much weight your deck can safely support when building an outdoor kitchen. 

Pallet wood can withstand all kinds of outdoor weather conditions, which is part of why pallet fences are so appealing to DIY-ers. You can weatherproof the wood further before you paint or stain it, as well. Pallet fences are low-cost, easy to install, and can withstand sun and rain exposure without rotting.