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Sprucing Up the Grill Sprucing Up the Grill From "Grounds for Improvement" episode DGFI-102

The final steps to the outdoor kitchen facelift at the Smarts' house are to add doors to the open storage areas in the existing structure and to clean up the grill area.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	The completed makeover -- ready for entertaining!

To make the doors, Dean Hill has chosen cedar, which is naturally weather resistant. Using 1x2s as supports, he connects 1x4 planks to make the door and then uses galvanized hardware to attach them to the openings (figure A). These doors are custom-built because the size of the openings is not standard. Some home improvement centers do sell ready-made doors with hardware, however. It's important to remember that the hardware and the wood must be treated to resist weathering (except when using woods that naturally resist weathering, such as cedar, redwood and teak, or a pressure-treated product.)

Next, the grill area gets an update: all the old metal pieces are removed, and anything usable is salvaged. As that is being assessed, Tony Smart and his helpers clean out the area and use the pressure washer to remove all the debris.

Some of the grill pieces are refinished with a high-heat black paint and can be reused on the grill. New pieces are added where old pieces can't be redone, and with very little effort and expense, the grill becomes functional again (figure B). Hill also opens up the hearth below the grill so that the Smarts can use it as an outdoor fireplace.

Next: Evaluating the Situation

RESOURCES :

Ames True Temper Tools
Ames-True Temper
Website: www.ames-truetemper.com

Tools
Porter-Cable Corporation
Website: www.deltaportercable.com