Finish an outdoor countertop by your grill

Q: I want to build a nice outdoor countertop over a sturdy old wooden bench near the barbecue grill. What is the best type of easy-toclean decorative countertop material to use in the outdoors? — Toni D.

A: If you plan to do much cooking and entertaining outdoors, some additional countertop space near the grill can certainly be a great convenience. With an easy-to-clean one, you can also use it for some of your gardening and landscaping projects.

Since being easy-to-clean is one of your requirements, do not consider a wood countertop. Wood countertops can be very attractive and functional indoors, but in the ever-changing outdoor weather conditions, wood will not hold up very well. Pressure-treated lumber would be more durable, but you would not want foods to come in contact with it.

Any of the standard solid-surface indoor countertop materials could be used outdoors. These include slate, granite, marble and ceramic tile. These are all-natural materials which withstand harsh weather conditions in their natural state.

Your specific selection among these materials will depend on the appearance you prefer and your budget. If you are looking for one solid continuous piece, the cost will be very high. Using smaller pieces will reduce the cost and will still be easy to keep clean. Installing ceramic tile will be one of the least expensive materials, but it will take you more time to install it.

Another popular option is a concrete countertop. You can pour your own top or order a custom one. Do-it-yourself kits are also available to allow you to pour a professional-looking concrete countertop. When the concrete is mixed, pigments can be added to give it any color tint you prefer.

If you select ceramic tile or smaller pieces of natural material to lower the cost and create a very decorative appearance, you must create a solid base for it. This is particularly true in coldwinter climates where there are repeated freeze/thaw cycles. Water expands when it freezes and it can quick destroy a poorly planned outdoor countertop.

Use pressure-treated lumber for the base of the countertop. When finished, it will be covered by several layers of materials so the preservative chemicals are not an issue. If you already have standard plywood you would like to use to reduce the cost, saturate it with a borate solution. This will make it almost as durable as pressure-treated lumber.

As a precaution to minimize the amount of water coming in contact with the plywood, cover it with standard roofing felt. It is inexpensive and you can fold it under the edges and staple it in place to the plywood. When the top is completed, the edge will be covered with a trim strip.

Next, place a sheet of cement backerboard over the plywood and felt. It is just used as a flat, stable base for the tile, so the thickness is not important for strength. Use thinset cement to bond the tile to the cement board.

Don't mix too much thinset at one time. Mix only enough which can be used in 25 minutes or less. Never mix extra water with thinset, or any cement material, to use it after it begins to set up. This greatly reduces the strength and the adhesive properties of the thinset. Fill in the gaps with grout.

For more information, visit www.dulley.com.