Broken Arrow homeowners researching outdoor kitchen construction will encounter two fundamentally different approaches to kitchen base construction: the traditional masonry approach using concrete masonry units (CMU block) and mortar, and the steel-frame approach using metal studs or steel tubes welded into a frame and clad with cement board and veneer material. Both approaches produce a finished outdoor kitchen that looks similar from the outside, but the structural performance, durability, and long-term maintenance profile of the two construction methods differ significantly in Oklahoma’s outdoor environment. VistaScapes & Design builds CMU block masonry outdoor kitchen bases exclusively and designs our outdoor kitchens to the masonry construction standard that produces the most durable structure in Broken Arrow’s climate.
CMU Block Construction: Durability and Thermal Mass
Concrete masonry unit (CMU block) construction for outdoor kitchen bases in Broken Arrow: the CMU block — a hollow or solid concrete block in a standard 8-inch by 8-inch by 16-inch configuration — provides the structural backbone of the masonry outdoor kitchen base; each block is laid in a running bond pattern with type S mortar (a high-strength Portland cement and masonry sand mortar appropriate for outdoor and below-grade applications); the assembled CMU structure is solid, dimensionally stable, and does not flex, rack, or shift under load. Thermal performance: the CMU block base’s thermal mass stores heat during Oklahoma’s hot summer afternoons and releases it slowly — in a covered patio environment, this means the outdoor kitchen base stays cooler to the touch during daylight hours and does not heat the adjacent seating area with radiated heat from a sun-warmed surface. Moisture performance: CMU block is inherently moisture-tolerant; it does not rust, rot, or delaminate when exposed to Oklahoma’s seasonal rainfall; the mortar joints between blocks are designed for exterior moisture exposure; proper waterproofing of the slab-to-block base joint prevents water from entering the base through the floor. Fire resistance: the CMU block base is non-combustible and maintains structural integrity in proximity to the grill’s open flame and heat output; there is no steel component adjacent to the cooking zone that can overheat, weaken, or transfer heat to adjacent materials. Weight: a completed CMU block outdoor kitchen base (8 feet by 2.5 feet by 3.5 feet tall) weighs approximately 1,200 to 2,000 pounds — this weight provides inherent stability that prevents the kitchen from shifting in high winds or from settling unevenly under countertop and appliance load.
Steel Frame Construction: Limitations in Oklahoma
Steel-frame outdoor kitchen construction — a welded steel tube or metal-stud frame clad with cement board backer and finished with stone veneer, tile, or stucco — is a construction method used by some outdoor kitchen manufacturers and framers as a faster and lighter alternative to CMU construction. Steel frame advantages: faster installation (2 to 3 days versus 4 to 7 days for CMU base construction); lighter weight (a steel-framed kitchen base weighs 300 to 600 pounds versus 1,200 to 2,000 pounds for CMU); the lighter weight allows a steel-framed kitchen to be placed on an existing patio slab without reinforcement in some cases. Steel frame limitations for Oklahoma outdoor kitchens: rust — exposed steel in Oklahoma’s outdoor humidity environment rusts over time; the interior steel frame of an outdoor kitchen base is enclosed by cement board and veneer, but moisture that penetrates the veneer or cement board joints can reach the steel frame and accelerate corrosion; once rust begins on the interior steel studs, it weakens the frame’s structural capacity and can stain the exterior veneer through leaching; premium stainless steel frames eliminate rust risk but add significant cost. Heat proximity — steel tube frames adjacent to the grill’s firebox opening can transfer heat to the veneer material and cause thermal expansion stress in the veneer application; CMU block is an excellent thermal insulator and does not transfer heat to adjacent surfaces. Countertop support — a CMU block base provides a continuous, rigid support surface for countertop installation; a steel frame provides point support at the steel tube locations; for large countertop overhangs without corbel supports, the CMU base’s continuous support distributes the countertop’s weight more uniformly. For the Broken Arrow outdoor kitchen market and Oklahoma’s outdoor environment, VistaScapes & Design’s CMU block masonry construction provides the most durable, thermally resistant, and moisture-tolerant base structure available.
Call VistaScapes & Design at (918) 779-1317 for a free outdoor kitchen consultation in Tulsa. We’ll explain our masonry construction approach and how it compares to steel-frame alternatives for long-term durability in Oklahoma’s climate.
