It’s safety first for Carl Peterson when it comes to outdoor kitchens. The owner of Outdoor Kitchen Concepts will be sharing his expertise at the workshop, Outdoor Kitchen Design and Installation.
Before he was the owner of his company in Hackettstown, N.J., Peterson worked in the landscaping business as the owner of Mountaintop Landscaping. Now, his company acts as a logistics distribution company, supplying grills, fireplaces, outdoor cabinets, fire pits and more.
The company started out working with the design and implementation of prefabricated cabinets that had to be finished onsite. “We became known for it,” Peterson says. “We were asked to build kitchens and couldn’t source all of our stuff from one location, so I started this company.”
Working with manufacturers and distributors, he often gets to see new products before they’re widely available. “I get my hands on outdoor air conditions and things people don’t even know about yet,” he says.
Safety first.
Because of the complexity of outdoor kitchen installation, knowledge is key. Peterson himself has been certified with the Interlocking Concrete Paving Institute and the National Concrete Masonry Association for more than 10 years and became an instructor about a year ago.
In his workshop, he’ll be educating attendees on hazards and dangers, adjusting grills, the differences between natural gas and propane, electrical requirements, proper ventilation and the differences between manufacturers. “We’ll talk about why each manufacturer is different and what they have to offer. We don’t talk about the bads for anyone, just what one brings and what another brings,” Peterson says.
“I teach them how to think about a project,” he says. “What are we really servicing? Implementing for big parties of 20 is a lot different from implementing for a wife and husband and kids.”
New trends.
Peterson says the demand for outdoor kitchens isn’t as high it was pre-recession, but business is starting to come back. And following the recession, customers have gone from wanting bigger and more to smaller but better quality.
“People used to want big islands for cheap but we’re getting away from that, going to smaller but better designed and better quality,” Peterson says. Where clients once wanted porcelain, Peterson is now seeing demand for granite or concrete finishes. “They’re going on a higher end scale,” he adds.
But lighting and fire accessories have always been hot items. “Fire has always been a big trend in the kitchen and the backyard, fire pits, fire places. Fire places are going to be around for a long time,” he says. And now people are really starting to get creative with installations like light-up islands and fire tables.
Know the rules.
Outdoor electronics, drainage, propane, natural gas and ventilation can all cause problems for landscape contractors without the proper education. There are clearance and ventilations requirements for grills, drainage requirements for sinks and general workspace to think about. “With outdoor refrigerators and outdoor sinks, is the water graywater or sewage water? Can you put it on the lawn, or does it have to go to the sewer?” Peterson says.
In the workshop, he’ll cover water, fuel sources, ventilation, finish options, adjusting grills, electricity and general planning outlines. He’ll also be looking at space requirements to avoid cramped areas. From working space needed around a counter or island to the minimum space required per seat at the bar, there’s a lot to cover.
The workshop will have information for salespeople, business owners and installers. “A lot of my stuff is geared toward sales guys and owners. I’d say about 60 to 65 percent is geared toward sales guys and owners and 35 to percent is geared toward installers,” he says. “The sales guys are the people that have to go out there and educate the client and make the sale. My goal is to make them understand the product and what’s going to happen, which should help them be more successful. You don’t go in there just trying to sell the job, you go in there caring about their safety and well-being and that will help you make sales.”
Outdoor Kitchen Design and Installation (breakfast sandwich and coffee included) is 8-9:30 Oct. 23. To register, click here.