A recent survey from the National Kitchen & Bath Association found that 84% of homeowners use professional installers for all or part of their outdoor kitchen projects.
With the growth of the outdoor living trend, 64% of homeowners also consulted a design professional for their project. The survey found that spending on outdoor kitchens is also significant—the average spend is about $13,000. Twenty-two percent of homeowners surveyed built outdoor kitchens over $30,000, while 14% spent between $20,000 and $30,000. Sixty-one percent of homeowners paid for their projects in cash.
“Homeowners increasingly regard their outdoor spaces as extensions of their homes, and therefore are building them more elaborately, taking design elements and creature comforts into greater consideration,” says Bill Darcy, CEO of NKBA.
“Although more than one-third of outdoor kitchens are in warm-weather states like Florida, Texas, and California, homeowners in states like New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts are also making more use of their outdoor spaces for two or even three seasons, with amenities like fireplaces, fire pits, and patio heaters where needed,” Darcy continues. “Outdoor kitchen design and construction business opportunities are growing, revealing a healthy market into which our members can expand and diversify their offerings.”
Despite the increasing use of professionals for outdoor kitchen projects, some homeowners still face regrets after completion. Twelve percent of homeowners wish they had built better structures for shade and weather protection, 10% wanted more space, 9% wished for more counter area, 7% wanted atmosphere, lighting, or temperature control, and 5% wanted additional cabinets and storage.
The 303 respondents surveyed by the NKBA had either completed an outdoor kitchen project in the past three years or plan to complete one in the coming year.