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Choosing an Outdoor Bar
Adding an Outdoor Bar is a Great Way to Maximize the Entertainment Area of Your
Deck or Patio
By Mark J. Donovan
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If you do a lot of outside entertainment on your deck or patio then an outdoor
bar may be the perfect accessory to either one of these leisure areas. Outdoor
bar areas are great for preventing you and your guests from having to traipse in
and out of your home to fetch another Cosmo or Daiquiri during a backyard party.
Outdoor bar sets also allow you to enjoy warm summer mornings with simply a cup
of coffee and the morning paper.
When choosing an outdoor bar set there are a couple of key elements to consider
including.
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First if you plan to actually make and serve drinks at your outdoor bar area
you’ll need a serving counter or table at a minimum. As with all bar serving
areas they are elevated and include underneath countertop shelving. However its
shape and style is totally up to you. You can make it rectangular, kidney
shaped, or L-shaped. Outdoor bar serving areas and tables need to be constructed
out of materials that can stand up to the harsh outdoor environment. Commonly
they are constructed out of granite, stainless steel or glass since these
materials are highly durable and will not rust or decay. You can also find them
constructed out of common wood materials such as Teak, Ipe, or Bamboo. As a
matter of fact, you can even find pre-fabricated wooden retail kit themed
outdoor bars, such as Tiki bars.
If you truly desire a full functioning outdoor bar you’ll also need to include
electric outlets and plumbing fixtures in the desired area of the outdoor bar to
support such items as a bar sink, refrigerator, ice maker, and wine cooler. The
electrical outlets and switches associated with the outdoor bar should be on a
separate ground fault circuit interrupter circuit to prevent deadly electrical
shocks. Installing plumbing for an outdoor bar can be complicated as it needs to
tie into the home’s existing plumbing stack and supply. Often this may be
impossible unless the outdoor bar is located directly off of the home.
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Another major element to consider when designing your outdoor bar and choosing
outdoor bar furniture is the type of bar dining set to get. Again, with any bar
furniture a dining set normally sits higher than standard patio or deck table
and dining sets. Also, they commonly take up less square footage, which makes
them ideal for small decks and balcony areas. Outdoor bar dining sets are
commonly found in 2 and 4 seat configurations. One other consideration when
choosing an outdoor bar is getting a small portable bar table or trolley. With
portable bar tables and trolleys you can wheel them around to the specific
backyard area where you want to enjoy that afternoon or evening drink. |
Due to their compactness they can be stored in a
utility closet or in a corner of your deck and only pulled out when you
truly need them. These types of outdoor bar options are ideal for small deck
or patio areas or when a bar is only frequently needed.
Prices can vary all over the map when choosing an outdoor bar dining set and
counter/table serving area, depending upon the size of it and the materials
it is constructed out of. Expect to pay at least a grand or more for a basic
quality outdoor bar dining set. If you’re building a custom outdoor bar you
can spend literally 10s of thousands of dollars on it, when you factor in
the cost of installing plumbing and electrical fixtures, appliances, and
entertainment electronics, along with custom constructed outdoor bar
furniture.
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