How to Build an Outdoor Bar at Home

Choose a level, solid surface for your outdoor bar. A patio or deck can serve as the foundation for your bar.

Determine the height, width and depth of your bar. The width and depth of your bar will depend on how many beverages you plan to store in the bar and on whether you plan to provide seating at the bar.

Measure, mark and cut two 2-inch by 4-inch sections of lumber to the width of your bar and two sections to the depth of your bar. Cut each end at a 45-degree angle with a miter saw. Assemble the four lumber sections to form the bar's base, and check the corners with a carpenter's square to make sure the base is square.

Drill two pilot holes, which are small holes that make inserting wood screws easier, through each corner with a drill -- the holes should be slightly smaller than the diameter of your wood screws. Insert 3-inch wood screws into each hole and tighten with a screwdriver.

Cut four sections of 2-inch by 4-inch lumber to about 1/2 inch shorter than the height of your bar. Stand one piece of lumber inside each corner of the frame with the 4-inch faces against the bar's longest dimension. Drill pilot holes and insert 3-inch wood screws to fasten the lumber to the base.

Cut and assemble a second rectangle identical to the bar's base to form the top frame. Fit the rectangle over the four posts so that the top of the rectangle is flush with the top of the posts. Drill pilot holes through the top frame into the posts and fasten the top frame with 3-inch wood screws.

Measure a 1/2-inch-thick sheet of plywood to the height of the posts and to 1-inch wider than the width of the longest sections of the top and bottom frames. Mark the measurements and cut the plywood along the measurements with a table saw. Measure, mark and cut two sections to the height of the posts and the width of the shorter sections of the top and bottom frames.

Position the longer plywood section on the front of the bar frame so that 1/2 inch of the plywood extends beyond each side of the frame. Drill pilot holes through the plywood into the frame at the top and bottom, and secure the plywood to the frame with 3-inch wood screws.

Place one plywood section against each of the frame sides. Drill pilot holes through the plywood and into the frame sides at the top and bottom, and secure the plywood with 3-inch wood screws.

Measure, mark and cut a section of 1/2-inch-thick plywood about 6 inches wider and about 3 inches longer than the width and depth of your top bar frame. Place the plywood on top of the bar so that it extends 3 inches beyond the top frame on the front and sides. Drill pilot holes through the plywood and into the top frame, and secure the top to the frame with 3-inch wood screws.

Measure, mark and cut a 1/2-inch by 1-inch section of lumber to 1 inch longer than the front of your bar top. Cut two additional sections to the with of the bar top sides. Place the sections on the front and sides of the bar top so that the 1 inch faces extend 1/4 inch above and below the edge of the bar top, and secure the strips to the edges of the bar top with finishing nails and a hammer.

Coat all surfaces of the bar with a waterproof stain using a paintbrush.