Granite in Outdoor Kitchens

The common mistake with outdoor granite is choosing a slab by its indoor look and only later finding out how hot a dark stone gets in full sun, which the breakdown sitting on riverside granite countertops petridishnews lists among the outdoor choices to settle first. A granite countertop on a Riverside, CA barbecue island faces summer heat, dust, hard water from sprinklers and the odd winter frost.

Color and surface heat

Dark granite absorbs sunlight and can become too hot to touch on a summer afternoon in the Inland Empire. Lighter granites stay cooler. A leathered or honed finish hides dust and water spots outdoors better than a high polish.

Sun and fading

Granite itself holds color in sun. Some resin treated slabs, and the epoxy in seams, can yellow or fade under ultraviolet light. Asking whether a slab is resin treated matters more outside than inside.

Support and frames

Outdoor islands are often built from block or steel studs with a cement board deck. The frame must be level and solid, since a granite slab will crack over a soft or uneven base.

Dust and wind

Santa Ana winds carry fine dust into every pore and joint. A sealed slab cleans up with water. Joints and the backsplash line are caulked with an outdoor rated sealant.

Water and frost

Sprinklers leave hard water spots. Rare frost on cold mornings near the Box Springs Mountains can affect water trapped in a fissure. A sealed slab, sloped slightly to shed water, avoids both.

Overhangs and edges outdoors

An overhang on a bar top is supported more than indoors, since people lean on it and the stone may be wetter and heavier. A bar with a long overhang gets a steel bracket or a corbel beneath. A rounded edge profile sheds water and resists chipping better than a sharp square edge.

Cutouts for grills and sinks

A grill insert and a sink are cut into the slab with clear margins from the edge, and the corners of each cutout are rounded, because a sharp inside corner is where stress cracks begin. The grill manufacturer's clearance to combustibles is checked against the plans before the stone is cut, and the slab is dry fitted on the frame.

Cleaning and upkeep

Ash, grease and spilled marinade are cleaned the same day, and the surface is rinsed with water. A sealer made for outdoor use is reapplied at least once a year in the sun, and the counter is covered or shaded when the kitchen is not in use.