How to Build a Home Bar With a Roof
- 1). Choose an appropriate location for your outdoor bar. This particular design is a lean-to, requiring it be built adjacent to the home. The outside wall of the home will serve as the rear wall of the bar. The location should be level and free of obstructions in a 48-square-foot area.
- 2). Add 2 inches of gravel to the ground to serve as a foundation. Level it with a rake.
- 3). Place one of the 8-foot long fence posts parallel to the wall of the house. This post will form the rear of the bar. Place another fence post 6 feet in front of the rear post, also parallel to the wall. Place the two remaining posts, with one on the left and the other on the right, to form the bar's frame.
- 4). Set one of the 2-by-4 boards in the center of the frame, exactly 4 feet from each side. Measure 16 inches on either side of the center board and place 2-by-4s. Measure another 16 inches from each of those boards and place the final 2-by-4s.
- 5). Set the pressure-treated boards across the frame lengthwise. Secure the boards to the frame at each point where a pressure-treated board meets a fence post. Use two 3-inch self-tapping carpenter’s screws at each edge to help prevent warping.
- 6). Place one of the shorter 3 1/2-inch-by-3 1/2-inch posts in the front left corner of the bar. Line up the edges of the post with the corner of the bar flooring. Secure this post with a 5-inch corner brace and lag bolts. Lag bolts can be attached with a socket wrench. Repeat this installation for each of the three remaining corners. The two shorter posts belong in the front and the two larger ones in the rear of the bar.
- 7). Connect each corner post to a 2-by-4 board using L-brackets and lag bolts. This will form the top of the bar where the roof will be attached.
- 8). Set one of the 9-foot rafter boards on top of the top rear board at the back of the bar. Lay it narrow side down so it rests on the top front board of the bar. Mark where the rafter board meets the top front board. Use a jigsaw to notch the rafter board so it will fit over the top front board snugly. Repeat this step with each of the remaining six rafter boards.
- 9). Connect the rafter boards to the top rear board with “L” brackets or 1 3/4-inch screws. Lay tin roofing over the rafters. Secure the metal sheets with 6-penny nails.
- 10
Measure 42 inches up from the floor boards and make a mark at that point on the left front and left rear corner posts. Measure 24 inches from the front of the bar and make a mark on the floor boards. Create a frame to serve as the bar and countertop. Cut 2-by-4 boards to form a 42-inch high and 24-inch deep frame running the length of the front of the bar. - 11
Place the plywood counter on top of the frame you have just built. Stain it to your color preference. After the stain has dried overnight, apply a water sealant to the counter. Let it dry again overnight. - 12
Decorate the exterior of the bar with bamboo or wood trim, or leave it as is for a natural, rustic look.
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