Outdoor Kitchen Countertop Care

As the outdoor kitchen shifts from being a luxury feature to a homeowner's necessity, we have found more customers than ever asking our team about the differences between indoor and outdoor care for their stone countertops. With outdoor kitchen season upon us, we complied this list of quick tips and tricks to keep your outdoor kitchen countertops beautiful for summers to come. 

1. Keep your outdoor kitchen countertops covered whenever possible. While covering your outdoor countertops all winter is a given, most people forget about the necessity of covering your countertops when not in use. While we don't necessarily mean to cover your countertops after every single use, covering them while you're out of town and installing them near an awning or umbrella are simple ways to ensure maximum coverage while they are being used frequently. 

2. In the same respect, allowing your countertops as much shade as possible, even when uncovered, will help ensure longevity of your countertops and help reduce the likelihood of damage and fade from the harsh sun, common during a St. Louis summer. We recommend awnings and umbrellas for this use as well. 

3. Make sure you remember to seal your countertops annually. Typically, the best time to seal your countertops is when they will not be used for about a week. Though the process itself can be done in under an hour, allowing the sealant to set for several days will ensure maximum protection from the elements and stains like wine, barbecue sauce, fruit and other common cookout foods. 

4. Regular cleaning with warm water will prevent minor spills or stains from causing long term damage. Cleaning your countertops after each use will help ensure not only fresh food meal after meal, but will prevent staining from even the most minor of spills that may go unnoticed. If your countertop does end up with unwanted stains, marble & granite stain remover can become a handy solution. 

5. Always use a cutting board when using your outdoor kitchen. While this is true for indoor stone as well, outdoor countertops are more susceptible to increased damage from the elements. 

Interested in installing a stone countertop for your outdoor kitchen or have more questions on maintenance & care? Contact us today! Our team of experts is ready to help you execute your next project with ease.