Not All Steel Studs Are Designed For Outdoor Kitchens - Don't Be Fooled                                   

     You want to build your own outdoor kitchen with steel studs and cement board.  For most DIY projects we head down to Home Depot or Lowes, buy our materials and go home and just do it!  But this is a big mistake when it comes to shopping for steel studs.  Home Depot and Lowes usually only stocks 25 gauge interior steel studs. This gauge of steel is only meant to hold up non-bearing sheet rock walls.  It is why you usually find these thin studs close to where they sell the sheet rock in the store.   THE MINIMUM GAUGE STEEL FOR EXTERIOR USE IS 20 Gauge 33 mil.  BBQ COACH exceeds this minimum requirement and uses 18 GAUGE 43 mil structural exterior steel designed to support heavy weights.  BBQ Coach steel studs have a G60 Galvanization coating which is much higher than the G40 usually found on the interior studs.

Hiring Contractors to Build Your Steel Frame

If you are hiring contractors to build your steel frame it my be a good idea to protect yourself and order BBQ COACH steel pro panels for them to use. This way you know they are using the correct steel and engineering to build an outdoor kitchen that will really last and support your investment of heavy appliances costing thousands of dollars.  I have seen many islands built with interior 25 gauge studs by contractors because they know the clients do not know the difference and they can make more profit by using cheap materials.    Many contractors are not steel framers and  are not intentionally trying to use the wrong product, they just are not educated about various types of steel.  Even using 20 gauge can be the wrong material if it is not 33 mil structural.  There is no training or certification program for building bbq islands with steel studs.  I see a lot of misinformation on the internet about how to steel frame a bbq island using dog ears which is an incorrect and not a strong way to join framing together. The forums have a lot of incorrect information as well.  I see some of my diy clients post correct information to the forums but you also get guys that think they are experts because they built one and post incorrect information with 100% confidence it is correct.  It is better to stay away from these forums and seek out professional training. If your building concrete counter tops find a 3 day training with pros like Buddy Rhodes.  If your building an outdoor kitchen frame then seek out a real outdoor kitchen steel framer for training like BBQ Coach.   With BBQ Coach we are giving you the training for free with online videos and pdf instructions when you buy $300 or more of our kits, where for learning to make concrete counters you may pay $1000 + for training and still need to buy the materials.  BBQ COACH is a great value when you consider you are getting the best materials plus professional training.

Constructing Your Island With Steel Studs

18 GA. Steel Studs and PERMA Base Cement Board
Is it Your Best Choice?

If you live on the ocean side and salt
air is a problem you may want to rethink
building your outdoor kitchen with steel
studs. Salt Air will rust it away over time.
But for everyone else, steel studs and
cement board is the materials of
choice for your new outdoor kitchen.
Here's Why:
- Steel Studs can be shaped into many
designs not possible with block or wood.
- Steel Studs are lightweight and never
warped.
- With Bbq Coach Frame kits assembly
is as easy as putting together
Ikea furniture.
- Studs are lightweight and do not require
a thick concrete foundation to support their
weight. They are easy to carry to the site.
- Perma Base Cement board is impervious to termites
and water. Cost is only $10. for a 3 x 5 sheet.
- An average size outdoor kitchen cost under
$2000. for a frame kit and cement board is very cheap.
- Both materials are non-combustible and
approved for the construction of bbq islands.

THE STEEL FRAME CHALLENGE
Your average homeowner has experience
with most projects such as tile, basic
power tools, etc. But many have no
experience with steel framing.
Most DIYers find steel framing to be
wobbly and difficult to make 90 degree
angles because they have not been taught
the professional techniques to avoid
these common problems.
There is little information about framing
bbq islands at your local book store.
The truth is that no one in the industry
wanted to teach people how to build
their own bbq islands. They much rather
sell it to you for 20 or 30 times the price
of materials as a luxury item.

Thank God for Willie The Bbq Coach.
He is the first professional outdoor
kitchen builder to help people build
their own professional grade outdoor
kitchen.
Willie first started helping people by
inventing the ready 2 finish bbq island.

He then went on to produce America's
#1 Best Selling Bbq Island Construction
video titled, "Bbq Construction 101."
Willie's help was received across America
with open arms and his company
BbqCoach.com really started to take off.

Willie went on to create a 16 dvd video
library for $149. teaching every step
of outdoor kitchen construction.  Now in 2012
Free Online to clients in the members area who
purchase $300 or more of frame kits.

For 2009, it's Willie's 10 year anniversary
in the outdoor kitchen industry.
To celebrate he has converted all of his
instructional dvd's to Video On Demand.
His video's are now available to all Members
of his website for pennies in comparison
to what the dvd's use to sell for.

In addition to the step by step VOD's
BbqCoach offers Mail Order Steel
frame kits that have all the cuts
already made. These kits make it
very easy for any homeowner or
contractor to assemble a professional
grade outdoor kitchen frame.

Once the average homeowner has their
frame completed it is a snap for them
to screw on the cement board
and finish their island. If they have
any sticking points during their
project they can get help fast
at http://www.BbqCoach.com

Now everyone can build their
outdoor kitchen for a reasonable
price. Make 2009 the year your
family adds this wonderful
ammenity to your home.
Stay home, invite the family
and friends over and enjoy
a great time with your new
outdoor kitchen.

And makes sure you tell
your appraiser you paid the
contractors $30,000 for your
outdoor kitchen, just like your
neighbors paid before bbqcoach
was around to help them. (smile)

Design Your Own Outdoor Kitchen

Design Your Own Outdoor Kitchen

Willie the Bbq Coach has performed hundreds
of on-site consultations in Orange County,
California to assist homeowners in designing and
building their own outdoor kitchens.

1. Location of Your New Outdoor Kitchen
Q. How will you run a natural gas line to this location?
Is there a gas stub on the exterior of your home?
Is the path from the gas stub to your intended location
dirt or covered by concrete? If it is concrete you may
need to have a contractor cut a trench though the
concrete with a concrete saw. ($$$) Or you can rent a
concrete saw from your local tool rental supply if this
is something you think you can handle? If cutting up
your concrete is not an option thin you may want to
consider an LP Grill. LP stands for Liquid Propane.
If going with a LP Grill the Coach highly recommends
you add a propane storage drawer. Always position
the LP tank to the right or left side of the grill.
Never position a LP tank under the grill or within direct
heat.. Heat makes gas expand which can turn that LP
tank into a bomb. Gas is dangerous and should always be
treated as such. Your outdoorkitchen will require air vents
and only a licensed contractor, usually a plumber,
to install your natural gas lines.

Q. Standing at your rear sliding door, how is the visual
appeal of your island?
If you were buying this home would you say wow?
Is the island close enough to your home that your family
will use it often? Is it convenient to go back and
fourth to the inside kitchen to bring out the groceries?

Make sure the location is one that you and your family
will feel comfortable using often.
A well designed kitchen will bring many memorable family
gatherings. My outdoor kitchen has brought many wonderful
gatherings of my family and friends. It is the
#1 best addition to my home that I actually enjoy!

Q. I know my loction but I am not sure how to design the size?
A. The fastest and easiest way to design your island is to
design with Bbq Coach modulars.
Each modular is the correct size for various applainces.
A 4ft module fits a 4 or 5 burner grill.
A 2 ft module fits a sideburner, a fridge, or a drawer unit.
Draw out these modules on a piece of paper and then
add up the total length of the island you need.
Proper planning is key here as you do not want to end up
with more appliances that will fit into your island.
Once you have your design go ahead and mark it off on
the intended location.
Use spray paint for a dirt area or blue tape or chaulk on
a concrete pation. Now stand back and take a look.
Q. Is there enough space between your island and the
swimming pool?
Q. Is your yard still open leaving plenty of room for your
kids and pets to play?
I like to have 6 ft between a swimming pool and and
4 -5 ft between my island and a walkway.

#1 Mistake With Outdoor Kitchens is OverBuilding
With a DIY outdoor kitchen project my clients always
become very excited as too how much money they are
going to save offf the retail/contractor price.
Many times this excitement encourages them to start
thinking bigger is better. Just remember that it is best
to keep your outdoor itchen proportionally with the
size of your landscape. For small yards a 6 or 8 ft
straight island and a nice table is very nice.

For on demand videos about constructing your
outdoor kitchen please visit my
website http://www.bbqcoach.com/