Our Outdoor Kitchen Renovation: Lowering Bar Top

We had been wanting to give our l-shaped outdoor kitchen an update for awhile, and it is finally done! Since the house has a new white exterior paint color, and the front yard has new landscaping, it was time to fix the uneven granite issues with the outdoor kitchen also. We knew that lowering the bar top would create better site lines around the pool, give us a larger work space on the island, and create an open patio floorplan (better flow for entertaining). Let’s get to it! Our Outdoor Kitchen Renovation: Lowering Bar Top.

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Our Outdoor Kitchen Renovation: Lowering Bar Top

Why we lowered our bar top?

So, you are probably wondering why we decided to do an outdoor kitchen renovation and lower the (breakfast) bar top?

We had our outdoor kitchen built about 10+ years ago, at the same time we had our swimming pool built.

But over the last couple of years, we began to notice some wear and tear.

And since we had our brick house painted white last year (2021), my husband thought it was a good time to go ahead and start this outdoor renovation project this year.

#1) Granite – uneven at seam (grill side).

As you can tell from the picture below, the granite was no longer level or even- at the seam.

I’ll go over the reason for this uneven granite in the next section (where I can show you with some additional pictures).

Before Picture.

Yep – terrible. I know.

#2) Improve Site lines

Of course if we were going to have to replace the granite anyway, we knew lowering the bar top to counter height would also increase site lines.

Basically it would give us a wider, more panoramic view of the pool (even from inside our house).

#3) Create Open Floorplan (Outdoor Patio)

Instead of the outdoor kitchen dividing our patio layout with the taller bar top, it would create an open floorplan.

It would become ONE, large flowing space – between the living area and the dining area now.
This unified area would also be better for entertaining.

Ok, Let’s get moving! Our Outdoor Kitchen Renovation: Lowering Bar Top.

Our Outdoor Kitchen Renovation: Lowering Bar Top

Tips:

I do not want to talk badly about contractors because without them – we would have NO remodeling projects.

And I will say that this work crew was exceptionally nice, respected our property, and were very professional for the duration of our project.

But I do want to share some problems we had with our contractor – just so you don’t make these same mistakes.

Tip #1: Make sure you go over EXACT dimensions of your counter top.

When our contractor came out to look at our existing outdoor kitchen, he told us we would need 2 granite slabs to add “additional” overhang for bar stools.

I meant “additional” to the overhang we already had on our existing counter top (bar top), and he meant additional to the brick base.

If he would have given us the exact dimensions – I would have immediately known that we needed 2 slabs (even for the dimensions we already had). UGH!

Tip #2: Do your own research on where to purchase your counter top slabs.

Our contractor gave us a price range per slab – at his recommended place – and he was WAY off.

So if he told us that it would cost $850/slab – his place quoted us more like $1250 – $1700 (for even the cheaper granite slabs).

Now, you can tell how this would make a BIG difference if you were needing 2 slabs.

It would have been more like $2400+ just to do 2 slabs at his place.

(That would basically be like buying 3 slabs – from his $850/slab quote)!!

Tip #3: Get the completion date in writing.

Our contractor came out before Memorial Day (May), and told us he would get to work on our project the next week.

So we rushed out to buy the granite slab – the next day.
And we also ordered the sink/faucet the day after.
(We already had purchased the new grill – earlier.)

Then he said it our entire project would be done in that next week/maybe 2 weeks depending on the appliance (sink/faucet) order.

They completed our project AFTER LABOR DAY (September) – 3 MONTHS!!

Basically, we went the entire summer without being able to use our outdoor kitchen.

Moving On!!

Let’s get to the wants list and steps.

Our Outdoor Kitchen Renovation: Lowering Bar Top

Here is a before picture of our outdoor kitchen.

Project Wants List:

Lower Bar Top (to counter height)
Remove Side Buner
Replace Large Grill with Smaller Grill
Replace Sink
Get New Faucet

Project Steps:

Removed Granite Countertop
Cut Brick
Added Metal Bracing/Reinforcements
Installed New Granite
Installed New Sink, Faucet, & Grill

Ok, let’s get to the 5 steps in our outdoor kitchen project!

Our Outdoor Kitchen Renovation: Lowering Bar Top

5 Steps:

#1) Removed Granite Countertop

The first thing they did was remove our existing granite counter top and bar top.

They also removed all of the appliances.

And so you can see that underneath the granite was plywood.

It is used as additional bracing for the granite.

Fun Fact from our contractor:

If you use 2 cm granite, you will need plywood bracing.
If you use 3 cm granite, you will not need plywood bracing.

But you will also notice that the plywood was burned and rotting – Yikes!

And we didn’t even know.

(Now we could at least see why our granite was sinking at the seam).

Here is what it looked like after they removed all of the plywood.

#2) Cut Brick

Now that the plywood was removed, it was time for them to cut the brick down to counter level.

This was really amazing to watch because of the precision and accuracy.

And of course – it was extremely messy.

The orange/red brick dust was everywhere.

But this work crew really went over and beyond to take care of our patio – with the tarps for the brick.

And they were constantly sweeping and picking up all of their trash.

We really appreciated their thoughtfulness. 🙂

Here is what it looked like at this stage when all of the bar top brick was cut down.

#3) Added Metal Bracing/Reinforcements

Next, they added some metal bracing to the inside portion of the brick – for extra support.

And this is an oops on me (sorry):

I didn’t ask if they always do this for outdoor kitchens…..
Or if it’s because of how our previous kitchen was built (and shifted).

If I had to take a guess, it would give the counter top extra reinforcements in case the patio foundation or (brick) base shifts over time.

Let’s go with this for now 😉

They put 2 support pieces on the longer (grill side) and 1 support piece on the sink side.

Here is what it looked like at this stage.

#4) Installed New Granite

This ended up becoming an unwanted headache:

after the 1 vs 2 slabs debate
the incorrect price/slab quote
the additional overhang issue – ugh!!

So they installed the new granite, and it looked beautiful.

But then I noticed that the grill area wasn’t centered – NO!
Since we were getting a new, smaller grill – the cutout needed to fit between the stainless drawers below it.

Thank goodness one of the workers noticed it too so that I didn’t have to bring it up.

They bought a new slab, and re-cut it to the correct size (at no extra charge to us).

Here it is pictured below – after the granite has been corrected.

Since the new grill was smaller than the original one, they had to add extra bricks and make some changes to that area.

#5) Installed New Sink, Faucet, & Grill

They finally put in the sink, faucet, and grill (in July)!

But then it sat unfinished for 2 months!!

There was a gap under the new grill that they just wanted us to “live with” for “better air circulation.” Really?

I finally told them to just get a metal bracket/flashing piece so that it would look like it matched the stainless drawers.
And guess what – that’s what they did and it worked!
Like in September!!

Here is what the gap looked like.

(On the second picture – the 2 black strips on the bottom picture are velcro for the grill cover).

Electrical Outlets:

I wanted to add this part here also – because it became a bigger issue at the end stage.

We had 2 electrical outlets hooked up to our old bar top – in the backsplash area.
And they were supposed to move both of those outlets to the outer walls of the brick base.
But they forgot (after repeatedly being reminded).

Anyhoo….. I just wanted to mention these outlets because you will need these in your outdoor kitchen to function. Trust me 😉