Our Quality
When looking for an outdoor kitchen, or a full cabinet configuration for your outdoor space, you always want the best quality possible, but it is hard as a consumer to knoe exactly what that is. When you walk in to any fancy outdoor kitchen showroom, you will be wowed and amazed at all the beautiful options and possibilities for your outdoor entertaining space. It is easy to fall in love with display units as it allows you to dream about what your space could be. We want to educate you so you can make the most informed decision possible. Unlike other companies, we dont want to push and rush you into making a decision. We want you to do your homework, figure out what the best possible solution is at the absolute best cost. We use HDPE which is the absolute best and most durable material on the market for outdoor applications. It is so durable, it is the only material used for fancy yachts and all boat solutions. It is also the most expensive, which is why companies try to stay away from it to maximize their profits, especially if they are resellers. Lets go over the different options and materials that are on the market right now.
In addition to using the absolute best materials in the industry and offering the best warranty, we also construct our cabinets using the absolute best methods possible. Our lockjoint technology means that every panel that comes together to cosntruct each cabinet is interlocked together meaning there is no possibility that it will come apart over time due to fasteners wearing down or coming loose. Each panel interlocks with each other to make sure everything remains square and straight. Our cosntruction process is so efficient that it makes our workers lives easy because they never have to worry about assembling a cabinet that isnt perfectly square because each piece connects to each other like a puzzle, making it impossible to assemble the wrong way.
Lets take a look at the other kinds of materials being used by competitors so you can understand what makes them inferior.
Hardieboard.
Hardieboard is an outdoor composite material that is made up out of sand, cement and cellulose fibers. It is pretty durable and holds up well outdoors for most applications. It is nowhere near as durable as HDPE is, but it is pretty resistent to most weather environments. When used for outdoor cabinets, they will show their wear pretty quickly as guests sit next to it and it gets used in a kitchen entertaining environment. When you purchase an outdoor kitchen from a company, they will give you a repair kit to patch up dents, holes and cracks, because they know it will inevitably get damaged and require a repair. It also will stain from shoes rubbing against it from your seated guests.
These solutions offer very basic functionality and style. The bases look like a stuccod slab of wood, There is no elegant design or style to the exterior of these units.
The biggest drawback about these units is they are single framed pieces that are simply not built like cabinets and that is why they are not typically referred to as cabinets. They are usually called “Outdoor Kitchens” or another marketing name. They typically consist of a built in grill, a fridge and sometimes a sink. Despite these units being bulky and large, they offer almost zero storage space. The stainless steel doors you see, when opened will allow you access inside the hollow, empty frame that has no floor, no shelves, no storage! Most customers jump on these beautiful, large, bulky units and then do not realize until later all of the storage and space they are being deprived of! Try looking at any of their marketing videos and you will never see them showing off any of their doors or drawers because of how terrible it looks inside.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is another option companies are pushing for outdoor kitchens. Stainless Steel is known for its weather resistent properties and is a great material for grills and outdoor appliances. Stainless steel is the only hardware you want to use for your outdoor cabinets and appliances. Stainless steel kitchens and grill bases do come in a wide variety of styles and colors which gives it an advantage over hardieboard. Stainless Steel however does require maintenance. Stainless steel, while being rust resistent, certainly isnt rust proof and if you have ever owned an outdoor grill or other appliance, you will know how true this is. Stainless steel requires regular maintenance to slow the inevitible rust that will eventually occur. This is why no manufacturer will ever warranty any stainless steel product against rust or corrosion.
Stainless steel is also clanky, making it loud and weird every time you open and close a door or drawer. It scratches very easily and will likely arrive scratched when you receive your delivery.
Like hardieboard, storage is typically limited and you usually have a lot of wasted space inside the carcass that will not be properly utilized. At EXT, we make sure that every square inch of usable space can be accessed. From blind corner cabinets to side and back access panels, we want you to get the most out of your outdoor kitchen cabinets. We utilize all of the same creative advances made in the indoor kitchen industry and make it happen outdoors.
Aluminum
Much like stainless steel, Aluminum is resistent to rust due to the fact it doesnt contain any iron. It will, however corrode over time and is very easily scratched and dented. Aluminum is the least durable option when it comes to outdoor cabinets and kitchen solutions and should be avoided when possible. Like stainless steel, maintaining an aluminum kitchen will is a must to delay the corrosive effects.
PVC
Elaborate on the downsides of PVC
The bottom line is companies will always look for creative solutions to bring in the most profit possible and that means using inferior materials to maximize their profits per sale. Most companies will not offer any custom solutions because all of their units are assembled in a factory where its more cost effective to manufacturer a limited number of pieces to reduce labor costs.
Unlike our competition, all of our cabinets are cut, handled and built with all raw materials right in our facility so that we can sell directly to you, the end consumer. Offering you the absolute best product at the best price is our mission. No middleman or broker to upcharge the end product and no fancy showroom means huge savings for you.