Outdoor Sink

[pbkelley]

I have wanted to add an outdoor sink for a while now and I'm finally ready to get started. My plan is to install it on the back deck which is covered and steal water from the kitchen sink on the other side of the wall. I would like to have some sort of cabinet (like a bathroom vanity) to hide all of the plumbing and help insulate it for the couple of nights a year we have cold weather. I'm looking for ideas of something weatherproof (it will not be in direct rain, but moisture will get to it.) Ideally it would be about 4 ft long and standard depth. Open to something creative, but ideally would like for it to look nice.

Help me Garage Journal!

 

[jimreed2160]

A stainless steel table/sink from a restaurant supply 2nd hand store would withstand the weather well and look nice.

 

[6768rogues]

You could build the cabinet with Azek PVC flat panels and boards. That would make it weather proof, but not insulate it. Put an old fashioned light bulb in there and turn it on when it gets chilly at night.

 

[yeldogt]

What are you going to do for the drain?

If it's not going to get rained on you can make it out of wood ... Made one out of old barn boards (vertical) with a "V" notch on the edge -- The frame looked like a long workbench. Made doors out of same barn board so it all blended together. Wooden knobs. Painted. You want to make sure it tight -- mine was bug and rodent free. Used it to store stuff for the grill. I made the top out of strip flooring that was stained and polly. The top just sat on top with some internal cleats. Installed a black fiberglass sink and regular kitchen faucet.

If you plumb it with plastic pipe -- place a valve on the low side of the hot and cold. It's easy to drain

 

[pbkelley]

I love this site....

The stainless sinks/ tables I have found werent't enclosed. I had considered using one and enclosing it myself.

I'll look into the azek panels. I had planned on doing the light as you suggested. Here in Atlanta we might only have a handful of nights each year that are cold enough to freeze.

The drain will go back under the sink and tie into the kitchen sink drain. I'm just afraid of how the wood will look in a year, 5 yrs, etc and it will require maintenance. Looking for the easy button here.

 

[gnpenning]

Use a tool box.

I would use frost free valves. Shut off when temperature is dropping, drain supply lines. A little w/s washer fluid in the drain and you should be good. You could also have a above ground drain so no P trap would be needed for gray water. If possible.

 

[larry_g]

I had for over 20 years a garden sink on the side of the garage. I was and old steel sink unit from times past, got it from a neighbor doing a remodel. It was cold water only and I used a cloths washer hose to connect it. Using flex hose to a spigot allows it to be disconnected during the winter. For a rustic look you could put a sink in a 50 gallon barrel.

I would think the answers to your question would be better if you gave a picture of the location and the 'style' you are going for. A modern finished granite topped fixture, farm house look, rustic, ultra modern, or what ever. Is it to look like an extension of your kitchen?

When we moved into this house there was a spot on the back porch I wanted to put a cabinet. I looked at pre-made cabinets at the box stores and could have done it for ~$500. I also stopped in at a cabinet shop and for the same price they made a custom one that fit the spot and matched the kitchen cabinets very closely. Point being, don't discount something custom made if that works for you.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[fourjeepin]

I have something very similar - an outside 'kitchen' by the pool. I have had this place seven years and have never cut the water or done anything to prevent freezing, but the sink is enclosed in a standard wood cabinet. Not ideal since it is outdoors as the cabinets are starting to come apart. I think they are about 16 years old.

Check the Lowes on Dallas Hwy. a couple of weeks ago they were selling a stainless sink, grill, bar setup for really cheap. About $400 is I remember right and it was dropping 100 a week.

 

[yeldogt]

Painted pine boards in a covered area will not require repainting -- unless you want to change the color. It had to be almost 20 years old when I sold the house. Did a wood top because it fit the look of the house -- with polly finish it was to clean -- we did not cut directly on it.

It has to drop bellow freezing and stay there for pipes to freeze -- having the temp dip under freezing over night for a few hours is not going to be a problem.

 

[pbkelley]

The area in red is where I want to put the cabinet. This picture is before I put up the railing.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Weather...-2-Doors-in-Rustic-Gray-WSISB24-MRG/300140222

I found these at Homedepot.com, but wasn't sure if there was something else out there to use. My hot water heater is right beside the deck and I could steal water from there, but I still have to run the drain somewhere.

 

[johnnyradiant]

Didn't you say the kitchen sink is on the other side of the wall and you were planning on getting your supplies from there? Why wouldn't you just cut into your sink stack and throw in another trap arm?

 

[pbkelley]

That's what I am planning to do....