Cabinetry of 5/16 in (8 mm) marine-grade aluminum, made to order in Germany and designed for salt air, sun and rain.
01 Aluminum
An aluminum outdoor kitchen starts with the alloy. PureAlu cabinets are made from marine-grade aluminum AlMg 3.5, an alloy class proven in shipbuilding. The material combines low weight, high strength and high corrosion resistance and is also used in aerospace and medical technology.
The cabinet walls are 5/16 in (8 mm) marine-grade aluminum, made to order in the FREILUFT Manufaktur in Nordwalde, Germany. Discover the Manufactory.
02 Plates
Each cabinet is enclosed on three sides and built from precision-milled aluminum plates, stress-relieved so they stay straight and dimensionally stable. Straight plates keep a long run calm and the gaps even.
Outside, floors are rarely level: patios and pool decks are usually sloped so that rain drains away. The standard plinth levels a slope of up to 1 9/16 in over 39 3/8 in (4 cm over 100 cm).
03 Coating
The surface is where salt air, sun and rain meet the kitchen. It is finished with Off-Shore powder coating with a chromate-free, nano-ceramic pre-treatment.
After intensive cleaning, the components receive an ultra-thin layer of ceramic nanoparticles that improves the adhesion of the topcoat. The result is a fine-texture finish, slightly matte with a subtle grain, in the color you choose.
Look closely and you see concealed connections, with openings only where the engineering requires them, chamfered edges on every component and 0.12 in (3 mm) gaps between the fronts.
Fewer openings leave fewer places where water and salt can settle. The chamfers soften every edge you touch, and the even gaps keep the fronts calm from end to end.
04 Outside
The kitchen does not need to be covered. It comes with drawers that shed water: water-repellent, not waterproof.
For stormy days, the kitchen has storm hooks in the plinth that secure the doors. Close the fronts and set the hooks before the weather turns.
Close-ups of the parts you touch and use every day.
05 Comparison
Stainless steel, masonry and HDPE are common materials for outdoor kitchens in the US, and each has its strengths. This table compares them with the PureAlu Cabinetry System by criteria, not by rank.
It describes material classes in general terms. Individual products differ, so ask every supplier the same questions. Our guide stainless steel vs. aluminum outdoor kitchen goes into more detail.
| PureAlu Cabinetry System | Stainless steel | Masonry | HDPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material | 5/16 in (8 mm) marine-grade aluminum | Stainless steel sheet; grade and thickness vary by manufacturer | Concrete block or framing, clad in stucco, stone or tile | High-density polyethylene (HDPE), a solid plastic sheet |
| How it is built | Cabinetry made to order in the FREILUFT Manufaktur in Nordwalde, Germany | Factory-built modules or custom fabrication | Built on site by a contractor | Factory-built cabinets |
| Surface | Off-Shore powder coating with a chromate-free, nano-ceramic pre-treatment | Brushed or polished metal | Set by the cladding and its sealer | The polymer itself |
| Color | Choice of standard colors in fine texture, with nearly all RAL colors available on request | Metal look; colored finishes depend on the manufacturer | As the cladding allows | Range set by the manufacturer |
| Salt air and sun | Alloy: marine-grade aluminum AlMg 3.5, an alloy class proven in shipbuilding. Build: concealed connections, with openings only where the engineering requires them. | Ask which steel grade is used and how it should be cleaned near salt water | Ask how cladding, joints and built-in doors are sealed against water | Ask how the panels are protected against UV and how they handle heat in direct sun |
| Real wood fire | Yes: a grill-and-fire element built from stainless steel, cast iron and firebrick | Depends on the model and the local fire code | Possible as a built-in fireplace or oven, planned to the local fire code | Depends on the manufacturer's clearances to heat sources |
| Care | Clean aluminum and the coating with mild soapy water, clean natural stone without acids, and lubricate the hinges twice a year. | Regular cleaning with products suited to stainless steel | Periodic checks of cladding, joints and sealers | Cleaning as the manufacturer specifies |
| Typical strengths | Cabinets, stone and wood fire planned as one system | Familiar look, widely available | Shaped freely on site; the cladding can match the house | Colored through, so scratches show no other color beneath |
The images show FREILUFT kitchens in Europe, each built on the PureAlu Cabinetry System and planned for its place.
The cabinets are made from marine-grade aluminum AlMg 3.5, an alloy class proven in shipbuilding, and the surface is finished with Off-Shore powder coating with a chromate-free, nano-ceramic pre-treatment. The kitchen is designed for salt air and is low-care, not care-free. Clean aluminum and the coating with mild soapy water, clean natural stone without acids, and lubricate the hinges twice a year.
The kitchen does not need to be covered. It is built to stay outside year-round. Keep in mind that it has drawers that shed water: water-repellent, not waterproof, so store nothing inside that must stay completely dry.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. The kitchen has storm hooks in the plinth that secure the doors. When a storm is forecast, close all fronts, set the hooks and bring in loose items such as cushions and boards.
The cabinetry is made to order in the FREILUFT Manufaktur in Nordwalde, Germany, and there is a unique manufactory number on every kitchen. Cabinets, fronts, worktops, storage and the grill-and-fire element come from Germany; built-in gas and electric appliances are US-certified appliances sourced in the United States. More about the manufactory.
You choose from standard colors in fine texture, with nearly all RAL colors available on request. The standard range has 17 colors: six black and gray tones, six neutral tones, two whites and three effect colors. There is also a matt finish on request; see every color in the color library.
Pricing depends on the size of the kitchen, the modules and fire elements, the stone, the appliances and your site. We give you a fixed quote after the design.
Yes. When you request a design consultation, you can also ask for material samples. Colors on screen are approximate; the physical sample shows the real finish.
BUILT TO STAY OUTSIDE YEAR-ROUND
Marine-grade aluminum, made to order in Germany and planned for sun and salt air in South Florida.
Tell us about your home and your project, or ask for material samples. We currently build in Florida and reply personally within one business day.
