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BBQ cabins and BBQ huts are popular additions to many households. They offer the chance to enjoy al fresco dining and to spend time with friends and family.
These buildings also allow you to enjoy outdoor eating no matter the time of year or weather conditions. They can also offer a safe place to allow for food preparation and cooking without being bothered by insects.
It is vital, therefore, that an appropriate place is chosen to locate your open BBQ hut, to maximise your enjoyment and to ensure there are no disruptions to neighbours.
The right placement for your hut
Placing your hut in your garden is one of your better options. This allows you quick access to your barbeque shed, and ensures it is convenient and easy to access at all times. Having the structure this close to your home also means that you can move between your kitchen and hut with ease, and retrieving any equipment needed for cooking and dining is also a breeze. If you do choose to have your barbeque shed in your garden, please remember this may result in the need for planning permission.
To help avoid going through the planning permission process, several steps can be taken if you do choose to locate your hut on your property. One of the easiest ways to sidestep planning permission is to make sure your hut is placed at the back of your house, and not located within sight of neighbouring properties. This location is usually the more private option, which means you can enjoy your BBQ huts without any disruptions or interruptions. It also means that the structure is less likely to be intrusive for your neighbours, so they are more likely to agree with your development and not lodge any issues with your local planning office.
It is worth remembering if you choose to place your BBQ shed at the front of your property, or in the middle of your garden, you may have to go through the planning process. This is because your structure will be visible and could have an impact on neighbouring properties or the surrounding environment or community. There are advantages, however, of placing your hut at the front of your house, including ease of access to the building, and it is often quicker to transfer supplies to the eating area from vehicles parked at the front of the house.
Normally, BBQ huts must also be located at least two meters away from your property boundaries so they are not too close to your neighbours or other properties. The size is also regulated if you have it on your land, and your hut should be less than half the size of your garden area. The advantages of these rules is that your new BBQ hut will be of a size that leaves plenty of room in the rest of the garden to add extra features, like a pergola or outdoor dining area.
Caring for your BBQ hut
A dry, solid base must be the starting point to help avoid damp and mould inside your barbeque lodge, which in the long-run could lead to wood rot and irreversible damage. These kinds of bases also stop your hut from sinking into the ground or leaning over dangerously. Patio areas which are usually paved and even can be an ideal location, but your barbeque hut should be a minimum of ten feet away from your house for safety reasons. You also do not want smoke blowing into your home or neighbouring buildings, so remember to have enough space around your barbeque lodge to allow smoke and cooking smells to be as unobtrusive as possible. Keeping your hut away from your house windows and doors is also advantageous.
Extra space around your hut will allow you to place tables and chairs outside. This will be the perfect dining space in warmer weather, and creates a real connection with your outside space. A shaded area will provide much needed respite during the summer, so locating your BBQ hut shed near a wall or fence may also be beneficial. Your barbeque accessories can be stored externally, and having a small amount of room outside the lodge will give you the chance to build or purchase a storage unit, close enough to your hut to be conveniently accessed.
If you do not have a patio area but still want your BBQ shed close to your home, you can create a concrete base or decked area in your garden to start your build. These will provide the stable bases needed for a safe hut, as well as creating a bespoke area for dining and socialising. A slightly elevated spot in your garden could be a good location. These areas are generally more sheltered from bad weather, and smoke is more likely to be less of an issue. Views of the rest of your garden can also be enjoyed at a higher level, and guests can appreciate your outdoor space while eating.
If you intend to have an electricity or water supply in your hut, then locating it as close to your house as possible could be a good way of making the installation easier. Running the supply from your home into the BBQ hut will be cheaper and easier if the underground trenches and cables that are needed to create this supply are shorter in length. The closer to your home, the more affordable and easier to maintain and repair your services will be. If you do not want a dedicated supply of electricity in your hut, you can locate it in a part of the garden where there is enough space to create a light feature, or an area where a structure can be built to hang a range of fairy lights.
Having enough room to add potted plants or planters will enhance the appearance of your BBQ shed. These will create a focal point that can become part of the natural environment. This is especially important if your outdoor space does not have a lot of greenery. Your barbeque hut can become a place where wildlife can flourish, and it will enhance the ability of flora and fauna to thrive.
It is important to avoid areas in your garden that may be prone to flooding or high winds, to make sure the structure is not too exposed to adverse weather conditions. A sheltered location is usually best, and one that is in a sunny spot will help you enjoy outside dining even more. Soil erosion could be another problem, so choosing a compacted area will help prevent having to deal with subsidence at a later date. If soil erosion is an issue, then mulch can be added to negate this and create a secure base. You can also plant an array of shrubs and bushes close to your shed to address this.
A dedicated area in your garden for your BBQ hut will allow you to enjoy the space without any additional clutter or distractions. Using your paving area, for example, could create specific but subtle spaces, separated for different tasks such as food preparation, eating or socialising. Using other parts of your garden such as natural slopes can also provide areas which can be utilised for other, specific chores or activities.
Maintaining your BBQ shed is easier if is located away from obstructions. Keeping the roof moss-free and reapplying stains and weatherproof coating is much simpler if easy access is possible. Having enough room around the full perimeter of the lodge is imperative so that small repairs can be carried out. Placing the structure away from overhanging branches and water-features and into areas with plenty of natural light will increase the longevity of your hut. You must have enough room to access the full circumference of your hut to be able to reach every part to maintain or repair.
Wherever you decide to locate your barbeque hut, it must be far enough away from any flammable materials to help avoid unwanted fires. There must also be enough room around the building to have sufficient ventilation at all times. If you have low-hanging trees or shrubs, it is usually best to keep your barbeque away from these. A cleared area of your garden can be the ideal location away from children's play areas or sections of the garden where animals are kept. If you have a pool in your garden, it is usually best to avoid places close to this. Some of the chemicals used in pool maintenance may not be conducive to a positive eating experience.
Remember that some parts of the UK are affected by specific regulations regarding smoke. These smoke control rules do mean that there may be some restrictions on the amount of smoke that is generated, so check with your local government office to see if you may be in one of these areas. If you do not have sufficient space to keep your lodge too far away from your neighbours, it is advisable to use smokeless fuels.
Barbeque huts at Logspan
A well-designed BBQ shed will become a unique feature in your garden, and can add value to your home, Ensure that wherever you place it in your backyard, it is the right size and fits into the overall appearance of your garden and home. A sympathetic design and placement will add a pleasing aspect to your home and living space.
Take the time to give us a call here at Logspan today. Our dedicated team of experts will give you all of the advice and guidance you need to purchase your own outdoor huts and gazebos.
