Tips on How to Build a Bar Successfully
Ever found yourself daydreaming about having your very own bar and wondering how to build a bar at home? Building a home bar is a popular and rewarding project, whether revamping your space or upgrading from a temporary bar cart.
Building this at home will be like creating a perfect spot for good times with family and friends. We are here to guide you through the simplest way possible.
Just follow the outlined easy steps on how to build a bar, know the materials you will need for it, and the perfect wood to use in building one for yourself.
Steps on How to Build a Bar at Home
A bar, also known as a saloon or tavern, is a place where you can go to buy and drink alcoholic beverages like beer, wine, and cocktails.
It’s like a store where you can hang out and have a good time with friends.
The word “bar” can also refer to the furniture in the place, like the counter where they serve drinks and the shelves where they keep the alcohol.
Even though going out to bars is still popular, many people also enjoy making their bars at home, either inside their living rooms or outside in their backyard.
Here is the step-by-step guide on how to build a bar;
1. Gather your Materials
Before you start building your bar, figure out what materials you need. Decide if you’re using leftover wood, like from pallets, or need to buy wood for the main structure and molding.
Plywood is cost-effective, but you can also go for medium-density fiberboard. Don’t forget to pick something for the footrail.
2. Get your Tools
Making a home bar involves using power tools. You’ll need a table, miter, or circular saw for cutting, a nail gun to connect pieces, an orbital sander to smooth surfaces, a cordless drill for making holes, and a level to avoid a lopsided piece of furniture.
Basic tools like a hammer, level, tape measure, and clamps are also necessary. Consider getting a caulk gun for adhesives like wood glue or wood filler for finishing touches. And, of course, don’t forget safety glasses.
3. Measurements
Use your tape measure to figure out the size of your bar. Standard measurements are around 42 inches for the front, 16-18 inches for the top, and 5-8 inches for the rails.
Measure the room to determine the best spot for your bar, considering the space needed for the person tending the bar.
4. Building the Frame
Cut and connect frames for the front and two smaller walls. Attach them with wood screws, making sure everything is level.
You can also secure the frame to the wall if needed.
5. Building the Front
Use a drill to attach plywood to the frame. Connect with wood screws or glue and fill any holes for a smooth finish.
Add trims to enhance the appearance.
6. Adding Shelves and Top
Create underbar shelves by cutting pieces with a circular saw and attaching them with wood glue.
Measure and attach the plywood for the bar top, ensuring a slight overhang. Secure it with screws.
7. Finishing Touches
Cut bar molding at 45-degree angles using a miter saw. Attach them to the bar with screws. Install brackets for the rail, slide the rail through, and secure it with screws.
Smooth the bar top using a sander, apply wood stain for color, and add epoxy or polyurethane to protect and finish the surface.
What are the Main Parts of a Bar?
In a regular bar, you’ve got a few main areas:
1. Back Bar
This is where the person making the drinks does their thing.
It’s like their workspace, with shelves for all the bottles of alcohol and tools they need for mixing drinks.
2. Front Bar
This is where you and your friends hang out to enjoy your drinks. It’s got different parts, like the flat surface where you put your drinks (the bar top), and the vertical piece that separates the front bar from the back bar (bar wall).
A curved piece that helps keep things on the bar top (bar rail or molding), and a lower part at the bottom of the bar wall for resting your feet (footrail).
3. Under Bar
This is the hidden area where they store stuff out of sight but still easily reach. Depending on your home bar setup, it might have things like a mini-fridge, microwave, or rack for your wine.
If you’re planning to have a sink in your bar (called a wet bar), it goes here. If there’s no sink, it’s called a dry bar.
What is the Best Wood for an Outdoor Bar?
Choose a tough, treated wood for your bar, like cedar, redwood, cypress, pine, or oak.
Treated wood is strong and lasts longer, especially for an outdoor bar. It’s been specially reinforced to handle tough conditions.
Building a home bar can cost you around $8,000 on average, ranging from $500 to $22,500. It might cost between $5,000 and $20,000 if you want something custom.
If you go for a ready-made bar, it could be anywhere from $800 to $6,000, and that doesn’t even include things like plumbing, outlets, or lights. Labor and design costs can add another $200 to $8,000.
If your bar is inside, you can pick any wood you like. But if it’s going outdoors, you’ll want something that can handle the weather, like cedar or mahogany.
If you don’t want wood, concrete is a durable option that can look like wooden planks in various colors.
But if you’re sticking with real wood, teak and acacia are great choices known for being weatherproof.
The standard height for a bar counter is 42 inches, and the width is usually between 18 and 24 inches. Bar stools usually stand between 28 and 30 inches tall.
With the easy-to-follow steps listed above, you can have your very own home bar, a masterpiece that’s not just a place to mix drinks but a relaxation center for good times and great memories.
Whether you’re a seasoned fun lover or just testing the waters, the satisfaction of creating your personal hangout spot is unbeatable.
So get to it, invite your friends, and let the good times begin.
