How to Make a Bar Table

If you have a small kitchen, instead of adding a big dining table, you can build a bar table which can double as an eating table. A bar table can also be placed in a corner of a family room for entertaining guests. With a little bit of elbow grease, a few household tools and a few lumber pieces you can complete this project in less than a week for those with basic carpentry skills, or a minimum of a couple of days for those with advanced carpentry skills. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Find the location in your home where you will place your bar table. Take into consideration the shape of the room and the bar placement, whether it will be placed in a corner or placed up against the wall. Also, take into consideration the number of bar stools you want to add and the space for people sitting and standing around it.

2

Measure the area of the location you picked. From this you will base how big of a bar you will build. You want it to be as proportionate to the size of the room. For an average size room, you can build a 6-foot-long bar table; for a smaller room build a bar that is 4 feet long; for a larger room you can build an 8-foot-long bar table.

3




Draw a design of the bar you plan to build, or download available bar plans from the Internet. One site that specializes in bar designs is www.precision-images.com where you pay a small fee for a complete diagram with instructions on how to put a bar table together. If you want a simple design with a bar top and four legs, you can sketch a drawing similar to the photo or image on this step. This simple design shows an overall height of 4.25 feet, with bar counter length of 5 feet and counter depth of 2 feet. The four legs are each 4 feet high.

4

Gather all materials needed.

5

Use a circular saw to cut the 4" x 4" lumber. Cut 4 pieces with each measuring at 4 feet in length.

6

Cut the plywood to measure 5 feet in length and 2 feet in width.

7

Lay the plywood flat on the floor, with the underside facing up. Attach the lumber connectors or 4" x 4" post anchor to the underside of the plywood. Place them approximately 3 inches away from each corner of the plywood. Make sure that the screws are tight.

8

Connect the legs by screwing them onto the post or lumber connectors. Drill holes for the screws to penetrate the wood better, then use a screw driver to screw a 2-inch screw to hold each side.

9

Flip the table up, then check to see if it is level by placing a level on top of the table on both directions. Make adjustments if it is wobbly or uneven.

10

Place foot protectors or pads on each foot of the 4" x 4" post. This will protect your floor from any scratches or damage.

11

Apply your tiles on top of the counter. You can choose 2" x 2" glass or ceramic tiles, or you may opt for an easier application of using mosaic tiles made from broken or remnant pieces of tiles. Apply the mortar evenly with a trowel and float, then lay down each tile carefully. For square tiles, lay them down starting from center then spreading on each side and adding spacers for even distribution. Make the necessary cut at the edge. Use tile caps to cap the edges. For mosaic, you can apply this as you wish randomly, and you can also use tile caps to cap the edge or molding to frame it.

12

Let the tiles dry overnight, then apply grout using a float. Use a wet sponge to immediately wipe off the excess grout for easy clean-up. Then allow to dry again overnight.

13

Apply a wood stain or paint on the legs or wood molding if any was used to cap the edges of the tiles. Let dry.

14

Do a final tile clean-up, making sure no residue from grout or mortar are left on the tiles. Ensure that the top is smooth and shiny. Once it is clean you can now enjoy your bar. Serve refreshments, drinks, beers, snacks or eat your favorite meal on your new bar table.