How to Build a Countertop Bar
- 1). Choose the location for your bar and measure the space.
- 2). Design a bar to fit the space. You can either design it yourself, or purchase plans online.
- 3). Install a sill plate on the floor in the location where you are building the bar. This is a pressure-treated 2-by-4 board that connects the wooden frame of the bar to the floor. Use masonry screws if you're drilling into a stone or cement floor, and stainless steel screws if you're drilling into a wooden floor.
- 4). Nail a stud to each end of the bottom plate. The bottom plate is a 2-by-4 board that is the bottom of the frame and will be screwed to the sill plate.
- 5). Measure the space between the two end studs and divide it by 24 to calculate how many studs you need to cut.
- 6). Nail the studs into the bottom plate, keeping them no more than 24 inches apart.
- 7). Nail the top plate to the studs.
- 8). Screw the assembled frame to the sill plate.
- 9). Measure the distance between the floor and the top of the top plate.
- 10
Cut sheets of 1/2-inch plywood to fit the front of the bar frame and nail the plywood to the frame. - 11
Install cabinets behind the bar, if desired. - 12
Place the countertop on the bar. If using wood, cut the wood to meet your specifications and nail it to the top of the frame. If using marble or granite, give the measurements to a manufacturer. - 13
Paint or stain the bar.
