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| Q: |
Why is the equipment more expensive than that which can be purchased from a
local discount/retail store? |
| A: |
At Austin Outdoor Kitchens we use only commercial grade equipment,
constructed from 304 grade stainless steel.......built to last. Many grills, even 'Brand
Name' manufacturer's, purchased from your local discount stores are manufactured in
low-cost manufacturing regions, using lesser quality stainless, containing carbon. After a
relatively short period of time, surface rust will appear and the burners, which are made
from thin-walled tubing, will eventually burn-out and need to be replaced. In many cases,
such items are not warranted by the store or the manufacturer.
Equipment supplied by Austin Outdoor Kitchens carries a lifetime warranty on most
stainless parts, including the cast, stainless steel burners. Remember, if you are
building the equipment into a stone/rock or brick surround, you do not want to have to
replace it after just a couple of years!! |
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| Q: |
What if I want a sink but do not have hot water or even a drain access? |
| A: |
Providing we can access an external (cold water) faucet and an electrical
outlet, Austin Outdoor Kitchens can install a 'Tank-Less Water Heater', which provides
instant hot water to the faucet. In addition, we can build a 'mini' septic drain to
discharge the water. |
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| Q: |
What if I want to locate my grill at a point which is a long way from my
natural gas outlet? |
| A: |
There are two solutions to this:
- We can re-route a gas line, utilizing 'qualified' plumbers but you
must be aware that doing so can be costly, depending on the location and distance.
Plumbing is not cheap!!
- Alternatively, you may want to consider using Liquid Propane (LP
Gas) instead.
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| Q: |
Does my outdoor kitchen and equipment need to be under cover? |
| A: |
Not necessarily, thought it is preferred for several reasons:
- While we do install commercial quality stainless equipment, extreme
elements will eventually have an effect on some parts that are not stainless steel.
- The ability to cook 'under-cover' offers your the opportunity to
grill during inclement weather and provides shade during hot weather.
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| Q: |
What if my home does not have a covered patio? |
| A: |
Austin Outdoor Kitchens offers several options for this situation,
including: patio roof extensions, extending from the existing roof line, or a free
standing arbor or pavilion. These can be custom built or you can find many attractive
structures in kit-form, on-line. |
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| Q: |
Why do you recommend using granite for the counter tops? Isn't it cheaper to
use tile and will the granite stain being outdoors? |
| A: |
Granite is a product of nature and was formed by extremely high
temperatures, millions of years ago. It is strong and durable. While granite is not
totally impervious to moisture, our granite counters are polished and sealed with a 20
year sealant. Natural stone cleaners and sealers are available at your local store. One
thinly applied coat only takes a few seconds and will last for up to a year. Austin
Outdoor Kitchens will be happy to provide you a sample bottle of both a natural stone and
stainless steel cleaner.
Tile is cheaper (per square foot) but we do not recommend it for outdoor use for various
reasons:
- Tile counter tops require grout lines which will soak-up moisture
and need to be cleaned and sealed on a regular basis.
- Tile needs to by applied using plywood as a support and as such,
even exterior grade plywood is susceptible to moisture and may need to be replaced at some
time.
- Plywood is not fire resistant.
- Tiles are not as strong as natural granite, due to the thickness.
Our granite counter tops are 1 1/4" inches thick and provide a much sturdier counter
top than tile.
- We can provide granite to match your existing granite kitchen
counter tops.
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| Q: |
How
long will it take to install my outdoor kitchen? |
| A: |
It depends on
the complexity of the equipment, design and construction. In most cases, Austin Outdoor
Kitchens can install a custom built kitchen in less than 4 or 5 days. |
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