Outdoor Kitchen Cabinet Materials: What Buyers Should Specify Beyond the Steel Grade

There are 2 cabinets that are available for an outdoor kitchen. The second quotation is the same photo, but the second is more expensive and reads “316 stainless.” Should the difference be paid by the buyer?

It is not until the specification clarifies the scope of this label that there is a useful answer. It may refer to the doors only. Carcass, shelf supports and hardware may be made of various materials. Before discussing an upgrade, put the two component schedules beside each other.

The site updates the comparison

Imagine two possible scenarios: a protected display kitchen and a restaurant kitchen next to the ocean. The display can be cleaned regularly, and rarely used. Salt deposits, food residues, cleaning chemicals and extended periods of closure can be issues at the restaurant. Describing both orders as “outdoor use” hides information the supplier needs.

A helpful enquiry is a paragraph that tells about those conditions. Consider local pools or irrigation, rain exposure and cleaning. Describe who will be responsible for keeping the kitchen clean. A more useful response than commercial quality required is staff clean it after every service. If no one is willing to agree to the proposed care plan, that should be discussed here.

What the grade can tell you

Grade 316 is supplemented with molybdenum and is generally used when chloride corrosion is an issue. It's not a guarantee of a stain-free cabinet. Finish, fabrication, contamination and maintenance are also listed as factors affecting corrosion in Outokumpu's corrosion guidance. The grade information refers to 316 as a molybdenum alloyed austenitic steel.

This leaves the buyer with two separate tasks: choosing a suitable construction for the exposure and checking that the supplied construction matches the declared specification. The material label on the showroom sample is not sufficient to complete either task.

The purchase record should contain grades by component and a description of the verification records that are available. A written approval system must be followed for substitutions. Thickness should be assigned to a named part, too. The door skin and frame and shelf can't be described by one figure.

The non-showy parts are worthy of attention

The back of a door can be as revealing as the front. Ask for cabinet views of seams, welds, shelf supports and back of the cabinet. Look at the sample for areas where residue may build up and where a cleaner would be able to access them.

There is a special discussion about hinges and runners. Are they adjustable once they are installed? Is it possible for the operator to purchase the correct replacement for the failed runner without removing the worktop? A small element can make a costly service call if access is difficult.

Coated aluminium is another option for construction, especially if weight or a specific finish is important. Analyze substrate, coating and edge treatment as a system. Discuss the possibility of repair of the damage caused by transport and who will repair it and what will the repair area look like? “Outdoor coating” does not provide the answers to those questions.

Determine the operation that the operator wants to perform.

Have the future operator read the care instructions before paying for an upgrade. It could be a cleaning product that they are already using, or perhaps a protected surface that their contractor never reaches.

A short comparison might have six rows – exposure suitability, component materials, cleaning access, repair method, replacement parts, and delivered cost. If an answer is not provided, leave it marked as unknown. Avoid giving an optimistic score to a blank since the product seems promising.

Keep the approved sample reference, component schedule and any accepted limitations for the selected cabinet. The next buyer should be able to read the rationale behind this construction without having to re-construct the original email chain.

The outdoor kitchen range is a good starting point for a sourcing discussion for Luvia Outdoor. Be succinct with the component questions, particularly with the difference between the two quotations. The locally reviewed requirement provides Luvia and its specialist production partners with something more concrete than just a grade preference.