5 Must-Have Features For Your Dream Houston Outdoor Kitchen

You’re finally ready to design the outdoor kitchen you’ve always wanted. Or perhaps you want to elevate your existing grill and patio to be the envy of the neighborhood. Either way, it’s time to make your dream Houston outdoor kitchen space a reality.

We’ve installed outdoor kitchens in Houston since 2009 — we know homeowners here need a specific guide that really gets what Houstonians need. National design guides can’t account for our humidity, moisture damage on patio covers and heightened need for outdoor ventilation.

We asked our Houston-based team of outdoor living designers and contractors for the must-have features that set a premium Houston outdoor kitchen apart. This article outlines the 5 design elements local homeowners need (that national guides miss).

• Build an outdoor kitchen that’s designed to fight humidity. A metal patio cover resists moisture damage and protects your appliances. Work with an outdoor living designer to create passive and active ventilation strategies.
• Great Houston outdoor kitchens start at the grill. Look for premium hardware, stainless steel and integrated WiFi features. Side burners and smoker boxes are a must.
• Built-in refrigeration systems increase functionality. Stop running in and out of your house — build in a food fridge, wine fridge and outdoor ice maker.
• Weatherproof all your outdoor entertainment features. Go beyond weatherproof furniture — look for outdoor-rated TVs and speaker systems as well.

Transforming Houston Outdoor Living Since 2009

Allied Outdoor Solutions has transformed over 25,000 Texas backyards into premium outdoor living spaces since 2009. Our outdoor contracting work began in Houston, and we’re proud to maintain our primary headquarters on Sam Houston Parkway.

Our Houston outdoor kitchen expertise is built from hands-on experience. We’ve built and renovated outdoor spaces for your friends, neighbors and community members. Decades of our work exists in backyards throughout Katy, The Woodlands and Pearland.

We’re proud to hold a 4.6-star rating across 2,500+ reviews — and no matter how successful we become, our core values never change. Eligible Houston homeowners still get free consultations, no interests and no payments for 12 months.

Trust us with your outdoor kitchen design or renovation. We know Houston, we know quality, and we know how to listen.

See our outdoor kitchen solutions for yourself! Browse our past project gallery and see why over 25,000 Texans trust Allied Outdoor Solutions for elevated outdoor living.

It’s Not an Outdoor Kitchen in Houston Without These 5 Things

Anyone can tell you about the classic features of an authentic Houston outdoor kitchen space. From limestone and brick bases to rustic wood and stucco accents, any out-of-towner can replicate “Houston style” with a simple Google search.

But you need an outdoor kitchen that actually functions here. We use nearly 2 decades of Houston outdoor contracting experience to create functional, long-lasting solutions.

If you want a modern, elevated outdoor grill and dining space for your Houston backyard, you need 5 key design features:

1. A durable shade structure with built-in ceiling fans
2. A premium outdoor grill with smoker and smart tech
3. Ample refrigeration and built-in cooling
4. A smart combination of passive and active ventilation
5. Weatherproof outdoor furniture and entertainment features

Kitchen Shade Structures Are Non-Negotiable in Houston

Most outdoor kitchen design articles start with appliances. That’s great in most parts of America — but in Houston, protection against humidity and moisture comes first. A patio cover is a non-negotiable asset for any Houston outdoor kitchen.

Houston is the 3rd most humid city in America. That sticky moisture isn’t just uncomfortable to sit and work in — it creates moisture and heat damage to your outdoor furniture and appliances.

Direct exposure to high humidity wreaks havoc on your patio and pergola materials. It warps and rots wood, stains countertops, and seeps moisture into your built-in grill and range.

A full shade structure is crucial to the longevity and durability of your outdoor kitchen. Choose a solid roof instead of lattice or slatted roofs — you’ll keep maximum moisture and heat away from your foundation and appliances.

Add built-in ceiling fans to your shade structure to improve airflow throughout the space and keep your guests cool during hot summer days. 

Metal Roofing = Maximum Outdoor Kitchen Protection

Whether it’s a solid patio cover or pergola with roof structure, metal roofing is the best option for maximum outdoor kitchen protection against humidity.

Aluminum and galvanized stainless steel are your 2 best material options for an outdoor kitchen shade structure. Here are the pros and cons of each:

Aluminum is lightweight, durable and easy to install. It’s naturally rust and corrosion resistant, making it a strong defense against humidity damage. Choose insulated aluminum materials to lower the potential of heat conduction.

Galvanized stainless steel is exceptionally strong and durable — but it must be properly treated and galvanized to avoid rust. It’s incredibly heavy to install, but properly installed steel will last decades. 

Premium Grilling: The Heart of Your Outdoor Kitchen

“If you’re building a Houston patio without a grill,” one local told us, “you’re not really building a Houston patio.”

The grill is the heart of every outdoor kitchen space in Harris County. BBQ Revolt recently named Houston the barbecue capital of America, far surpassing the national average of 62% of homeowners that own a grill.

The grill is that one essential feature of your outdoor dining space that you’re going to splurge on — so let’s make the one you choose worthy of that investment.

12 Features That Define a Houston-Worthy Outdoor Grill

A premium outdoor grill does more than simply cook great brisket and steaks. It’s an extension of the way you cook, entertain, and enjoy food with the ones you love.

The best grill for your outdoor living area is one you never have to think about. It combines high-grade materials, versatile cooking options and thoughtful tech features to make your grilling experience simple and predictable.

Here are 12 features to look for in your outdoor grill or barbecue purchase. They ensure you’ll enjoy an even temperature, beautiful smoke and simplified clean-up.

Grill hardware and materials:

1. Premium grade stainless steel (look for 304) 
2. Heavy duty construction and robust welding
3. Ergonomic, soft-close drawers

Cooking options:

1. Infrared burners
2. Smoker boxes
3. Rotisserie kits
4. Side burners
5. Fire box

Tech features:

1. Integrated WiFi connectivity
2. Independent zone cooking
3. Digital touch screen
4. Onboard temperature probes

Grill Brands Worthy of the Best Houston Outdoor Kitchens

Allied Outdoor Solutions brings decades of experience to the outdoor kitchen industry. That means we’ve developed close relationships with some of America’s very best outdoor barbecue and grill brands.

We confidently install these premium grill brands in outdoor living spaces throughout Texas.

1. Bull Outdoor Products offers exceptional grill head solutions
2. Coyote, a Dallas-based maker of versatile, high-tech grilling products
3. Viking provides veteran stability in luxury outdoor grilling
4. Wolf Range Company specializes in precision free-standing and built-in grills

Complement your outdoor grill with a ceramic oven from Big Green Egg. Their kamado style design offers superior moisture and temperature control with lump charcoal fuel.

Gas or charcoal? It’s hard to choose between the smoky Texas flavor of charcoal BBQ or the clean convenience of gas grills. Pair a Coyote grill with a Big Green Egg and get both!

Built-In Refrigeration: Keep Your Food as Cool as You

Run inside, grab the brisket, bring it outside, toss it on the grill. Run back inside, get the vegetables for your skewers, bring them outside. What a pain!

Build outdoor refrigeration into your grill island for seamless cooking. You’ll avoid the frantic mess of constant trips inside, and be able to enjoy an uninterrupted grilling experience while hanging out with your guests.

Outdoor Refrigerator Units: What to Look For

Houston’s moist air and direct sunlight provide specific challenges for refrigeration — and for refrigerator materials. If you live closer to Galveston Bay, salt air corrosion is also a concern.

Here are 5 things to look for in a quality outdoor refrigerator that stands up to local Houston climate and weather concerns:

1. Proper outdoor rating. Make sure your fridge is UL rated for outdoor use.
2. Corrosion-resistant materials. Premium 304 grade stainless steel is good for most Houston suburbs. If you’re closer to the coast, ask your contractor about 316 marine-grade stainless steel to combat salt damage.
3. Increased temperature regulation. Look for models with stronger compressors to aid cooling efficiency. Better insulation is ideal, especially around the door.
4. Elevated moisture resistance. Tight seals around doors and drawers are essential to keep humid moisture out of your fridge. An IP rating of IPX4 or above is ideal for water resistance in our area.
5. Efficient drainage solutions. Quality outdoor fridge models offer drainage features to handle condensation or potential water ingress.

Don’t Forget the Ice Maker

An outdoor ice maker is a major stress-reducer, especially if you have an outdoor bar. Spare yourself the unpleasantness of grabbing dirty ice from a community Igloo cooler, or constant trips in and out of your indoor freezer.

Make sure your ice maker is made of premium stainless steel and is UL rated for outdoor use.

Adequate Ventilation: The Step Most Houston Homeowners Miss

Getting enough ventilation in your outdoor kitchen space is crucial in the Houston area. There’s no relief from the heat and humidity — we even have the highest early morning humidity in America.

Work with our outdoor living designers to create a strong combination of passive and active ventilation strategies. You’ll create enough cross-ventilation to keep your grill area cool, your guest comfortable and your appliances working efficiently.

Create Passive Ventilation with Smart Outdoor Living Design

Passive ventilation uses natural forces like the wind and rising hot air to move air naturally around your outdoor living space. 

Design your kitchen layout to take advantage of prevailing wind directions. Our designers understand how to orient your range and grill station to open airflow and reduce the temperature around your cooking appliances.

If you have a partially enclosed patio space, be sure to incorporate windows and screens in a direction that promotes cross-ventilation.

What kitchen layout is right for you? Discover 6 outdoor kitchen layout styles our homeowners love. From L-shaped to U-shaped, tell us what’s best for your home!

Active Ventilation Strategies for Outdoor Grills and Kitchens

Active ventilation uses mechanical solutions to promote airflow through your outdoor space.

Look for outdoor vent hoods with smart sensors and controls. We install smart models with Wi-Fi connectivity — easily control speed, timers and maintenance alerts from an app.

Advanced outdoor-rated exhaust fans offer built-in humidity and temperature sensors that are ideal for Houston patio kitchens. Program your fans to run at pre-set times, or for specific lengths of time after you’re done cooking.

Install smart ceiling fans on your patio cover or pergola roof. Control fan speed and direction directly from an app on your smart phone, and integrate them with your outdoor thermostat.

Light colors mean cooler spaces! Light-colored building materials retain less heat. Use light colored natural stone and concrete overlays to lower the temperature of your outdoor kitchen.

Weatherproof Your Outdoor Entertainment and Furniture

We’ve all had that one barbecue ruined by an unexpected storm — okay, maybe a dozen barbecues. And the worst part is getting drenched while you’re dragging all your patio furniture, cushions and electronics inside.

Weather-resistant furniture and weather-rated entertainment tech eliminate that hassle from your life. 

Weather-Resistant Furniture is Essential

All-weather furniture is critical for Houston’s torrential rains. Houston-area rainfall has high salt concentrations, which accelerate corrosion in metal furniture and chalking in plastic furniture.

The chemical composition of Houston rainfall also creates faster staining, fading and streaking on outdoor furniture cushions and covers. 

Choose salt-resistant and moisture-resistant materials like powder-coated aluminum and marine-grade stainless steel for outdoor furniture.

Are You Using an Outdoor-Rated TV and Speakers?

You can’t put any TV or speaker system out on your patio or pergola. Specific outdoor-rated televisions and speakers offer protection against power surges, humidity and pests. 

Outdoor televisions offer brighter screens to combat sun glare, and are built with weatherproof components. Buy a trusted brand like SunBrite or Sylvox, and invest in a weatherproof TV enclosure for maximum protection.

Outdoor speaker systems must be specifically rated for exterior use. Use waterproof speaker wire to seal connections, and mount your speakers under a patio cover for protection.

Outdoor ratings to look for: Look for outdoor televisions with a rating of IP55 or above. Outdoor speakers should have a rating of IPX5 or higher.

Houston: Your Dream Outdoor Kitchen Is Waiting

A well-designed custom outdoor kitchen is a seamless extension of your home. Bring your outdoor dining experience to the next level with a handcrafted Allied Outdoor Solutions design.

We’ve installed thousands of elevated outdoor kitchens, grill islands and dining areas for homeowners from West University Place to Tanglewood. Our outdoor living designers and dedicated Construction Coordinators and Supervisors provide thoughtful solutions and direct points of contact throughout your project.

It’s your turn to own a durable outdoor kitchen you’ll love for decades. You’re one free consultation away from making those dreams come true.