Building an indoor/outdoor bar (1 Viewer)

[Jeremy9A]

So after thinking about this idea for the past few summers, I finally decided on building a bar. There was an extra room at the front corner of our garage that was just collecting junk. Our living room is kind of small for entertaining, and gets crowded easily, so I figure this bar would be easier to entertain with too.

Here are some pictures of the room how it was when we moved in four years ago. The only modification was the swing up window I had cut out. I am now about 80% done with some trim work, stocking, and final organization left to do. But I will post the progress pics in order.

 

[Jeremy9A]

I went with the fake brick wall covering from menards. I like the look of it, and wanted to use it for a project from the first time I saw it. These are pics of the walls covered in the brick.

 

[Jeremy9A]

I built the bar structure around 6 weeks ago, then got really busy with PYS.

I started the bar top with two layers of 3/4" plywood so it would be sturdy enough to support the tile top I wanted to put on it. There are 1000LB shelf brackets every two feet.

The bar overhang is the standard 12" depth, and the height is the standard 42".
I overlapped the plywood where two pieces had to be used due to the shape.

 

[Jeremy9A]

The tile is 6x6". I used just over four boxes to cover the bar top, and the back worktop area. This was our first tile job, and it turned out pretty good I think. The grouting was a real pain in the ass because of the stone tile we used. It has little indents and crevases and whatnot.

 

[Michael Hanson]

Id put Dura rock over the plywood,it work great and will never fail with water. mike

 

[Jeremy9A]

For the trim around the bar top, I used chair molding, and joined 1/4 round up to the back of it so it would have a nice lip over the bar top. I sealed the trim around the bar top with some clear silicone.

Eric came over and helped with the brick work for the outside, we did a lot if digging and moving all the stuff around in the 100 degree heat.

We picked up 37 12x12 bricks, 17 bags of gravel, and 7 bags of sand (had to go back and get 6 more later). The 4runner was loaded up with 1,550 pounds!

An old man from craigslist delivered the three barstools you see outside to where I work on friday, July 1

The other three barstools inside the bar came from menards at $30 each. They are pretty decent, comfortable, and swivel!

 

[Jeremy9A]

The bar really came together at the last minute. I wanted it to be functional for a party on July 2. The bar ended up being filled over it's capacity, but there was still plenty of room to move around. There is room to seat seven people comfortably at the bar, and plenty of standing room.

At the last minute, me and Eric were on our way back from menards with the bricks, and spotted a free air hockey table! WTF? Who does that, right?

We disassembled the air hockey table, laded it up, and brought it home. This thing is built very well and SOLID. It has a working score keeper, and must weigh about 225 LBS. It works awesome and really ties the bar together. I checked online, and this thing is around $1,000 new, and built in Chicago.

So the bars grand opening went pretty damn well, and the huge fireworks show is only about 1/4 mile down the river.

 

[Jeremy9A]

Id put Dura rock over the plywood,it work great and will never fail with water. mike

I really should have, Mike. As long as there aren't too many spills, I think the sealed grout and the silicone should help it hold up. The outside section is underneath the overhang of the roof, and the plywood is sealed on that side too. I am going to build a cover of some sort that fits nicely when the flip up window is closed. For the time being, I just close a tarp inside the window.

 

[Gumby]

I gotta foosball table for ya if you want it.

 

[4rnr]

Very nice!

 

[Jeremy9A]

I gotta foosball table for ya if you want it.

Hmm. If it's pretty decent, you can come pick up the lawnmower and drop off the foosball. Plenty of other stuff I can load your truck with while your here too.

 

[Jeremy9A]

Very nice!

Thanks. I am also accepting Toyota parts to decorate the bar with.

 

[Capt. Jim]

Nice job! Made me go grab another beer...

 

[toyman317]

very nice work Jeremy. Enjoy!

 

[pepsilvr]

I have to say, seeing the bar first hand - this thing is awesome! I couldn't believe what that room in the front of the garage turned into. Great job Jeremy!

EDIT: I had no idea there was a home improvement section here on mud either. I guess you learn something new every day.

 

[Spook50]

Dude, that is AWESOME! Great work, and the whole thing looks to have a seamless indoor/outdoor transition. I'm now trying to talk my wife into letting me bump out the back of our garage so I can do the same thing

 

[Jeremy9A]

Thanks for the compliments everyone. I'm really happy with how it turned out.


The first actual drawing I made for this bar was on a coaster at a bar a few months back. Then it turned into scale blueprints from there. I had a few different Ideas that eventually gor thrown out, like different counter designs or having another flip up window on the other side.

Luckily, I didn't have to do much convincing to build this project.

Spook50- This has got to be the best home improvement project I have done yet! It was so worth while. I highly recommend it. If not for regular use, then at least for resale.