Garden / Outdoor Kitchen worktop ideas

[sidekickdmr]

Good morning,

I’m starting my garden kitchen build this weekend, all very exciting.

Ill do a proper build thread next week, should be a fun project .

I’m doing a grey patio floor and the kitchen its self will have a slate stone finish, a bit like this:



So that’s most of the materials sorted, however the one thing I am struggling with is the worktop.

I don’t want stone/concrete as I think it needs something different to contrast the sea of grey. The budget wont stretch to granite and for obvious reasons laminate and wood kitchen worktops are out.

So the idea I’ve come up with is Reclaimed scaffold boards, rustic and dented, with a few MM gap between each one for drainage and expansion, with a good coat of varnish. The finished article should look something like this:





I know they won’t last forever, but if I had to replace it every 5-10 years that would be fine.

There will be a canvas roof, so it won’t be rained on all year, but might get the odd shower when the roof is off and drips.

Good idea?

Any other ideas?

Thanks

[sidekickdmr]

Nobody?

I thought garden wood was a popular subject here, Ho hum.

[Pheo]

To be fair, pretty unusual

Don't really see any reason why it wouldn't work - you are essentially building a table.

[brianb]

I'm planning something similar in our new place with the intention of using slabs, Broadstone do some really nice engineered type in lots of colours

[21TonyK]

I'd go with wood as well. Unless stone is properly sealed it will get marked very quickly with oil splatters and start to look messy. Plus stone isn't very forgiving to glass and china (or knives).

Rather than varnished wood what about oiling it? Wouldn't want flaky varnish floating around near food.

[kiethton]

Given the slate etc. I think copper would look brilliant

It would contrast well/have some of the rusty tones depending on the colour of the slate whilst being very practical and fairly easy to maintain as a worktop

[wolfracesonic]

I'll suggest some hardwood decking boards, Ipe, with some of these set into it to place any hot pots or pans on

[Wozy68]

Iroko slats with say a 3-5mm gap between each one. Oil every year in April/May then again around September/October (after initially giving 5 or 6 thins coats when new). Should last at 10-15 years if not longer.

[sidekickdmr]

Well I went for the scaffold boards in the end. I couldn’t find any used old ones, so purchased brand new and will be attacking them with a sander, hammer, chains, screws, high heels and fire, then a splash of old paint and a good dark stain. sounds like a fun day

I do like the Irroco and I know its a fantastic wood for outside but I wanted something a lot more "rustic".

Pics to follow