I want to build a wet bar in my basement and I was wondering if anyone could tell me what a standard finished height should be. Also is there a standard width of the bar top (front to back)? Anyone with any cool ideas or pix? Thanks so much.
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42" high for top/bar stool-standing and leaning friendly.
Overhang, 10'' min/12'' preferable for stool sitting.
Depth? whatever you find comfortable that doesn't overhang your sink too much to make it operable.
This in a commercial establishment.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Nice pix Calvin. No this isn't a commrcial establishment, this is in my basement or should I say will be. What did you use fir the bar top. Looks good in pictures. anywhere I could get that type of rail?
Don, red oak for the bar top. Oak rail. If you look close at the cross section of the rail you might see how the shape resembles something semi familiar. The cut on the top and one side is a fairly ornate (sort of, but big) hand rail. We cut the bottom opposite corner of the profile off and spun it around, glueing it up to the bottom of the other side. Confused yet? You can't buy it but now you know the secret. The way we cut and glued left a dado that the edge of the oak top nestled into. Those pics were in a pool hall we built. They do sell from catalog or some supply houses, a traditional bar rail. Depending on the length of your bar, you might go that route. We even impressed ourselves coming up with that look with the mill guy. Hey, accidents can happen. Best of luck.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Calvin, How did you layout the top to achieve the "glass/bottle ledge" around the inside? Really nice touch.
Well, we just ran that drink rail after we ran the top. Screwed from the bottom and glued up to the top. We maybe overlapped the one to the other by an inch and a half. Glued, clamped and then went back and screwed. So, the plywood undercarriage is held short of the top to the backside an inch and a half, the drink rail slides right up to that and is glued /screwed to the bottom of the oak top.
A commercial bar has to have that feature, how else is the bartender that's good - but not looking at you, going to know you're dry. Lay that bottle in there and another comes quick. Another tradition that is going down the tubes is a can of zippo fluid in the top drawer under the register.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Edited 3/28/2005 4:59 pm ET by calvin
Nice job Cal,Thanks for giving up the secret there, great idea. Did you biscuit join them or pocket screw it or?
Thanks,
The oak top we bisquited and glued up. The arm rail we glued up forming the dado, then glued it up to the top. I'm thinking we ran some screws up from the bottom into the bartop. The rear drink rail, just glued, clamped and later screwed up to the top.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Will this bar be serving circus midgets?
Don, here's my favorite.
Wow, Tom that is cool. Did you do that?
No Don, if you look at the right edge of the picture you'll see it's from a book.
The curved top is cool but I think the curved aquarium is cooler. The bulkhead could be smaller though IMHO; I think the bar was made before the age of the halogen so the bulkhead had to be deep enough to accommodate those giantic cans.
I have an old ugly bar in my basement that I will eventually replace; the kind with patterned red laminate top, black vinyl rail, diamond patterned black vinyl at the front and gold veined smoke mirror as a backdrop.
Post some pics of your wetbar when finished.
Will do Tom.