How to Plan and Build a Home Bar
Hanging out at a bar with friends, or to watch a game, is something that many people enjoy. Some people have installed bars in their homes. Home bars provide a place to store liquor and mix drinks, while acting as a gathering place for guests. Building a bar is a fairly basic project for a do-it-yourself homeowner, and you can enjoy the benefits for years afterward. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Pressure-treated 2-by-4 board
- Tape measure
- Circular saw
- Safety goggles
- Drill
- Stainless-steel or masonry screws
- 2-by-4 boards
- Hammer
- Nails
- 1/2-inch plywood
- Cabinets or shelving
- Countertop
- Paint or stain
- Paintbrushes
Instructions
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1
Choose the location for the bar, and design a bar to fit the available space. For instance, if you're installing a bar against a long, flat wall, you can build a straight bar, but if you're building in a corner, you probably have to build an angled bar. The height of the completed bar should be between 39 and 43 inches, as this is most comfortable for people of average height to stand at the bar or sit on bar stools. If you're just planning on a basic, no-frills bar, you won't need to worry about any plumbing connections, or electrical connections besides the nearby outlets. Installing a refrigerator or outlets behind the bar may require an electrician to run a dedicated line, and creating a fully functional wet bar means you'll need to hire a plumber to run water and sewage lines to the bar.
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2
Measure and cut a pressure-treated 2-by-4 board to use as a sill plate. This plate connects the wooden frame of the bar to the floor.
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3
Install the sill plate onto the floor by driving screws through the sill plate and into the floor every 12 inches. Use stainless-steel screws if it's a wooden floor, or masonry screws if it's a concrete floor.
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4
Measure and cut a standard 2-by-4 to fit the sill plate. This is the bottom plate.
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5
Cut 2-by-4 boards to fit the height of the bar. Nail one of these to each end of the bottom plate.
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6
Nail more studs into the bottom plate between the two end studs, keeping them no farther than 24 inches apart.
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Cut a 2-by-4 that matches the sill and bottom plates. This is the top plate. Nail the top plate to the top of the studs.
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Place the frame on top of the sill plate, and screw it to the sill plate.
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9
Cut 1/2-inch plywood boards to fit the distance between the floor and the top of the top plate. Nail the boards to the outside of the frame.
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10
Install cabinets or shelving behind the bar, if you want it.
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11
Install the bar's countertop. If you're using a surface like granite or marble, send the specifications to a manufacturer for cutting. If you're using wood, you can cut the countertop yourself and nail it to the bar.
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12
Paint or stain the bar to the desired color.
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Tips & Warnings
Consider adding a brass rail along the bottom of the bar. If people are going to be standing at the bar for extended periods of time, it's more comfortable if they can put a foot on the rail.
Go one step further and convert the entire room into a home bar that fits your style, whether it's a sports bar, an Irish pub or something else entirely.
Wear safety goggles when sawing the wood.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
