building tiki bar

parrotheadstueby · Post by **parrotheadstueby** » August 1, 2008 8:33 pm

Sorry for being lazy on the search-but I was looking for help to build a tiki bar for my backyard-would have to be small-appox-8'h (w roof),4'w,2' deep---any ideas? Thought about using treated wood for frame-and trying to find bamboo for outside--any ideas greatly appreciated-thanks

parrothead_nj · Post by **parrothead_nj** » August 2, 2008 10:11 pm

Do a google search for tiki bar and tiki kev it will bring up a site that has plans/book for sale. PM me if nothing comes up. I am on my crackberry and do not know the url off th top of my head. I am looking to build a tiki hut

Cheers,
Kevin

D PHarmBoy · Post by **D PHarmBoy** » August 2, 2008 11:22 pm

Check your pm.

parrotheadstueby · Post by **parrotheadstueby** » August 3, 2008 10:09 am

Thanks guys-have some ideas in mind now-just have to find some time

ConchRepublican · Post by **ConchRepublican** » August 4, 2008 9:33 am

I built one and it's not too difficult. Mine's approx. 10' x 4' and about 7 1/2' high.

I buy the thatch for the roof online. I just found this place, Bikini Tiki Bar which looks to have good quality at a decent price(but I haven't ordererd anything yet).

The bamboo for the bottom I was able to get as leftover's through my wife's business (a display company), but I'm sure it's something you can get online.

I based it off an old wood gazebo which had blown down and used pressure treated wood for the rest of frame. It is secured to a platform I built which is about 3 1/2" high. The bar top is heavily varnished, pressure treated plywood. For the roof, since it doens't support much weight, I have lattice which the thatch is secured to. Between the thatch and the lattice, I have run christmas lights.

I think the thing which ties everything together and is the best feature is the rope. I needed to tie (no pun intended) everything together and hide some of my corners and splices. The rope worked well for that and to edge the plywood. I nailed everything in and then varnished to treat it.

It's on its 4th summer and going strong!

parrothead_nj · Post by **parrothead_nj** » August 4, 2008 9:49 am

I'm back at a pc now....

Here is the site I was referring to:

http://www.tikikev.com/

Cheers,
Kevin

weirdo0521 · Post by **weirdo0521** » August 4, 2008 10:30 am

ConchRepublican wrote:I built one and it's not too difficult. Mine's approx. 10' x 4' and about 7 1/2' high.

I buy the thatch for the roof online. I just found this place, Bikini Tiki Bar which looks to have good quality at a decent price(but I haven't ordererd anything yet).

The bamboo for the bottom I was able to get as leftover's through my wife's business (a display company), but I'm sure it's something you can get online.

I based it off an old wood gazebo which had blown down and used pressure treated wood for the rest of frame. It is secured to a platform I built which is about 3 1/2" high. The bar top is heavily varnished, pressure treated plywood. For the roof, since it doens't support much weight, I have lattice which the thatch is secured to. Between the thatch and the lattice, I have run christmas lights.

I think the thing which ties everything together and is the best feature is the rope. I needed to tie (no pun intended) everything together and hide some of my corners and splices. The rope worked well for that and to edge the plywood. I nailed everything in and then varnished to treat it.

It's on its 4th summer and going strong!

That looks great. How long did it take to plan it, and how long was the build? What do you think it cost you all together? Does water get through the roof when it rains?

ConchRepublican · Post by **ConchRepublican** » August 4, 2008 11:07 am

weirdo0521 wrote:That looks great. How long did it take to plan it, and how long was the build? What do you think it cost you all together? Does water get through the roof when it rains?

Thank you!

It really didn't take too long to plan, I did it almost on the fly. Building it took 2 - 3 weekends not working too hard.

The cost was about $1,000.00 but a big chunk of that were the chairs which my wife found online. The bar alone was about $500.00 - $600.00.

As for the rain, if I attached the thatch correctly, it would be practically waterproof. It varies from year to year, but it's usually very water resistant. I'm still trying to find the best way to secure the palms. I use 2' x 4' thatch panels, which are easier to handle, but have more overlapping, which leads to more potential holes and leaks.

JustDucky · Post by **JustDucky** » August 4, 2008 11:26 am

I have yet to finish it but my tiki bar is an old chicken coop. I put Livistona chinesis fronds for the thatch roof and one Syagrus romanzoffiana frond for a 'lightning rod'. But it's too hot out and too many mosquitoes. It will be a fall through early spring Tiki Bar (November to March).

tikitodd · Post by **tikitodd** » August 4, 2008 3:52 pm

Here are a few pics of mine I built at my pool for some different ideas.

weirdo0521 · Post by **weirdo0521** » August 4, 2008 3:56 pm

tikitodd wrote:Here are a few pics of mine I built at my pool for some different ideas.

Where did you get the roof?

tikitodd · Post by **tikitodd** » August 4, 2008 4:01 pm

weirdo0521 wrote: Where did you get the roof?

I got the metal for the roof at Lowe's. Everything else is treated lumber. Got the bamboo from someone local who has a forest of it. I cut the bamboo to length then split it down the middle.

All of the signs except the Landshark surfboard I painted myself.

weirdo0521 · Post by **weirdo0521** » August 4, 2008 4:02 pm

tikitodd wrote:
weirdo0521 wrote: Where did you get the roof?
I got the metal for the roof at Lowe's. Everything else is treated lumber. Got the bamboo from someone local who has a forest of it. I cut the bamboo to length then split it down the middle.

All of the signs except the Landshark surfboard I painted myself.

What is that roof called in the store?

pair8head · Post by **pair8head** » August 4, 2008 4:03 pm

Looks like corrugated tin to me.

weirdo0521 · Post by **weirdo0521** » August 4, 2008 4:06 pm

pair8head wrote:Looks like corrugated tin to me.

Didnt know if it was tin or aluminum, or some other product. Exactly what I am looking for.

TropicalTroubador · Post by **TropicalTroubador** » August 4, 2008 4:28 pm

tikitodd wrote:Here are a few pics of mine I built at my pool for some different ideas.

I love the use of road signs for bar tops. And I see you're using the same solar tiki torches that I have - they're way cool, and I recommend 'em to anyone else, as they flicker just like the real thing.

I've probably got another year or two with the bamboo Target tiki bar I got a couple of years back. I need to start planning its replacement. Defintely some good ideas in this thread!

tikitodd · Post by **tikitodd** » August 5, 2008 7:27 am

pair8head wrote:Looks like corrugated tin to me.

Yep, that's what it is. It took 3 sheets to cover the roof. I overlapped them by about a foot to prevent leaking as much as possible. I did not have any plans when building the bar. Just made it up as I went. I put shelves on the inside also. Glad the pics could give you some ideas. Good luck.

Here is another angle:

momsrule27 · Post by **momsrule27** » August 14, 2008 3:47 pm

Where did you get the solar tiki torches? I have never seen them before.

tikitodd · Post by **tikitodd** » August 14, 2008 3:50 pm

momsrule27 wrote:Where did you get the solar tiki torches? I have never seen them before.

I got some at Sears and some at Wal-mart.

momsrule27 · Post by **momsrule27** » August 14, 2008 4:10 pm

tikitodd wrote:
momsrule27 wrote:Where did you get the solar tiki torches? I have never seen them before.
I got some at Sears and some at Wal-mart.

Ok - thanks - I am sure they are all gone by now but I will keep a look out for them. BTW great job on the bar!