Stone Solutions for Luxury Outdoor Kitchens and BBQs
As we embrace the trend of ‘outdoor living,’ the traditional charcoal grill is being replaced by sophisticated outdoor kitchens and custom-built BBQ stations. At Surrey Marble and Granite, we are seeing a significant increase in homeowners looking to bring the durability and elegance of indoor stone surfaces into their gardens and patios.
Whether you are planning a sleek outdoor bar for entertaining or a robust stone surround for a built-in BBQ, choosing the right material is essential for longevity in the British climate.
Lessons from the Surrey Hills: The Bel Air Residence
One of our most striking examples of external stonework can be seen in our Bel Air Residence Case Study. In this project, we moved beyond the interior to provide high-performance garden surfaces.
For this Surrey Hills home, we utilised Fusion Wow Quartzite.
Quartzite is an excellent choice for outdoor paving and garden surfaces because it offers the beauty of marble but with the “robust” physical properties required to withstand the elements year-round. It serves as a perfect example of how the right stone can seamlessly bridge the gap between your interior decor and your landscape design.
The Best Materials for Outdoor Seating Areas, BBQs and Bars
When selecting a stone for an outdoor cooking area, you must consider UV resistance, frost-proofing, and thermal shock.
- Sintered Stones (Dekton & Neolith): These are the silica-free gold standard stones for outdoor kitchens. Because they are produced using extreme heat and pressure, they are impervious to UV rays (meaning they won’t fade in the sun) and can withstand hot pans being placed directly on the surface. Explore our range of outdoor-ready stones here.
- Granite: Naturally tough and heat-resistant, granite remains a classic choice for BBQ surrounds. Its low porosity makes it easy to wipe down after a summer cookout.
Limestone Paving: For a more traditional look, limestone provides a soft, organic feel for patio paving that complements garden greenery beautifully.
Bars and Patios
A stone-topped outdoor bar doesn’t just provide a workspace; it becomes the social hub of the garden. By matching your patio paving with your BBQ worktops, you create a cohesive “outdoor room.”
For more visual inspiration of how these materials look once installed, we invite you to browse our Outdoor Installation Gallery. Here, you can see a variety of completed projects ranging from contemporary grey porcelain patios to bespoke granite BBQ islands.
Safety and Precision
Just as with our indoor projects, all our outdoor stonework is fabricated in our local workshop using the latest “wet-cutting” technology to ensure safety and precision. You can read more about our commitment to safety and dust control in our updated Silica Dust Quality Standards article.
Ready to start your outdoor project?
Whether you are a landscape designer or a homeowner, our team is here to help you select the perfect stone for your BBQ or patio. Contact us today or visit our showroom to see our slabs in person.
