ADDITIONS
A Room Addition can bring a new element to your families daily living. Rather it be a game room, a cinema room or your just looking to add square footage to the layout a room addition is a great way to both improve your living area and also add value to your home. Our team has a wealth of experience in creating many wonderful additions to homes all over the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex.
OUTDOOR KITCHENS AND CABANAS
Americans are spending more time outdoors, cooking and relaxing — making outdoor kitchens and cabanas a fast-growing trend. Spending on backyard enhancements has nearly quadrupled in the last decade.
Morrell Construction has been busy helping its clients design inviting outdoor kitchens and cabanas that add style and comfort to their backyards while adding extra space for family and friends to relax and unwind. We offer custom designs built to your specifications, with high-quality workmanship. If you have limited indoor space, entertaining outdoors is the perfect solution — especially when all of the comforts of home have been brought outdoors!
Designed correctly, your outdoor space can be used year-round. We work with you on every detail to design an outside entertainment area that fits the way you live and play. From built in BBQ grill, sinks and countertops to a cabana with a fireplace, bar, seating and media – your lifestyle and budget become our top considerations. Importantly, our outdoor experts will create a plan that considers your electric, gas and plumbing requirements; materials that will survive the summer heat and humidity; and the proper positioning of structures to ensure maximum shade and rain protection. Building outside requires specialized experience to create a lasting addition with minimal maintenance in the years to come. In addition, our designers can work with you to seamlessly integrate your outdoor kitchen or cabana with an existing hot tub, swimming pool or wood deck.
Outdoor kitchens and cabanas can be simple or elaborate. The price tag can vary widely as well. Morrell Construction starts with your “wish list” and budget to propose design options that maximize the value of every dollar spent. Once we have an approved plan, we strive to complete your project as quickly as possible – so that you can begin enjoying your new outdoor kitchen or cabana as soon as possible!
Outdoor Kitchen Planning Tips
An outdoor kitchen helps you maximize the value of your backyard and adds another entertainment room to your home.
An outdoor kitchen can have a sink, a refrigerator, a wet bar, and even a fireplace or wood-fired pizza oven. The grill is still the central focus of an outdoor cooking space, but today it is likely to have special features, including side burners, a warming shelf, a roasting spit or a smoker. Here are a few tips for designing an outdoor kitchen.
1. Access from your outdoor kitchen to your indoor kitchen should be easy, since you are likely to be carrying food and supplies between the two areas.
2. Consider the placement of the outdoor kitchen so that you can tap into the house’s gas, electrical, and plumbing lines. The cost of running new lines may be high.
3. Lighting should be designed to brighten key activity areas. Low to the ground lighting on pathways increases safety. All lighting should be approved for the outdoors.
4. Countertops are essential! Plan for the different needs you have, such as chopping vegetables, rolling out pizza dough (if you have a pizza oven), and serving cooked food.
5. You may want to add some storage space for grill supplies.
6. Don’t skimp on the grill, your outdoor kitchen’s centerpiece. While staying within your budget, make certain that you select a quality grill that will last.
7. What other appliances do you wish to have? Options include an under counter refrigerator, a wine cooler, an ice maker, and warming drawers. Make sure all appliances are UL-approved and plug into GFCI outlets.
8. Wood-fired pizza ovens are an exciting trend in outdoor kitchens. These can be built on-site using fire-resistant brick and mortar, or they can be built from a kit that consists of a multi-piece manufactured masonry shell and other materials such as insulation.
9. Talk to your contractor about building your outdoor kitchen with all-weather materials that can be easily cleaned and will hold up in our extreme climate. Stained concrete floors and counters, for instance, are durable, attractive and cost effective by comparison to stone. In dry climates, weather resistant woods like teak and cedar can be used for cabinetry.
10. The layout should let the cook move effortlessly between the grill, counter space and other appliances. Orientation is also important. A house absorbs heat during the day and radiates it back out in the evening, toward your backyard. If you’re positioning the kitchen against or near the house, you may want to place it along a north-facing wall, which will be a cooler spot. Place the seating so that you and your guests are not blinded by the setting sun.
11. Be sure to check local building and fire safety codes. Zoning laws may restrict size and location, and fire codes often dictate clearance requirements between an open flame and a combustible surface. You may need to obtain a permit to build.
12. Propane-fired heaters can be added to keep an outdoor dining area comfortable in cooler weather, and outdoor-rated ceiling fans can help keep things cool during the summer months.