A backyard tiki bar creates a tropical paradise at home.
Building a tiki bar in your backyard or near your pool adds that tropical feel of an island paradise without the travel. Create this bar as a place to relax, invite friends over and escape for a few hours from the bustle of the real world. A tiki bar consists primarily of the style and decor, typically using grasses or bamboo. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Bar
1. Cut the boards for the frame of the bar using the 2-by-4 lumber. Design the bar to fit your particular space and adjust the dimensions to your needs. For a 60-inch by 48-inch bar, measure and cut 2 of the 8 foot 2-by-4 boards in half, making 4 48-inch pieces. With the remaining 2-by-4's cut 4 56-inch lengths, then cut 4 20-inch lengths from the remaining pieces of those boards.
2. Lay out 2 of the 56-inch pieces on a flat area a distance of 48 inches apart. Set 2 of the 48-inch pieces at the ends of the two boards, standing on edge. Lay the 56-inch pieces flat. Square the pieces so that the 48-inch boards butt up against the ends of the 56-inch top and bottom supports, squaring them at the corners. Hammer 2 galvanized nails into the end of the 56-inch boards through the 48-inch end pieces. Repeat the process to make two rectangular frames.
3. Stand the frames up one by one and nail a 20-inch piece of 2-by-4 to the top 56-inch support just inside the 48-inch end piece. Nail through the 56-inch board from the outside into the end of the 20-inch board with two galvanized nails to create an end support. Place the second frame at the opposite end of that board and do the same; connecting the two rectangular frames with one top end side support. Add the other top end side support in the same fashion, followed by the two bottom supports. The end result is a box frame, 60 inches long, 48 inches high, and 24 inches wide.
4. Cut a 60-inch piece of plywood for the front bar wall. The plywood is already in a 48-inch width that fits the height of the bar. Cut a 24-inch piece from the remaining section of that plywood sheet, and another 24-inch piece from the second sheet of plywood. These cover the ends. Cut the remaining piece of plywood into a 24-by-60 piece for the bar top. Nail all of your plywood pieces in place with the galvanized nails. Hammer a nail approximately every 6 inches, at least 1/2 inch inside from the edge of the plywood to avoid splintering, all the way up each support post.
Roof
5. Screw two of the bamboo poles to the back corner at each side of the bar with the 3-inch screws. Cut the other pole in half so you have 2 48-inch lengths. Screw these to the bar top at the front corners with the 3-inch screws.
6. Measure the exact length between the two bamboo poles at the top. Because bamboo is a natural product the widths may vary slightly. Measure both the back width, the front and the two sides and write these measurements down. Mark and cut four pieces of the 1-by-2 to fit these widths. Screw the four pieces in place at the very top edges of the bamboo poles with the 1 1/2-inch screws to create a roof surface.
7. Cut a piece of the thin plywood that fits the exact width and length of the roof. Cut several lengths of the grass skirting to attach to the roof as thatch; about 12 inches longer than the length of the roof. Assuming the bar is close to the 24-by-60 inch dimension, you need about four long pieces of grass skirting approximately 6 feet long. Attach the rows of grass skirting with the stapler, letting the edges hang down over the sides of the bar roof. Screw the roof piece in place to the frame with the 1 1/2-inch galvanized screws.
Decor
8. Attach the bamboo roller shades inside the roof to roll them down or up to block the sun if needed.
9. Screw the bamboo paneling section to the bar walls if you desire. Staple a bamboo shade that you have removed the strings and hardware from and cut to fit as a cover for the bar walls. Another option is to cover the plywood with more grass skirting like you did the roof for a thatched look.
10. String a line of decorative outdoor lights in an island theme across the front of the bar. Add candle holders, tiki-style glasses, masks or coconut-themed items to the bar. Anything tropical such as a small palm plant, wooden tropical carvings or birds, or surf-related fits the decor theme.
Tags: grass skirting, 48-inch pieces, bamboo poles, galvanized nails, 24-inch piece