In order to have an added feature to your kitchen, you can simply add a breakfast bar to your kitchen area. Having a breakfast bar is very useful because it is multi-purpose where you can keep certain items inside it as extra storage. Apart from that, the breakfast bar can also be use for entertaining your guests and also serving them at the same time. You can use several options in terms of materials. However, we recommended that you use medium density fiberboard (MDF) whenever you want to build a raised breakfast bar due to its smooth surface and making it easier for you to apply a finish.
To build a breakfast bar, you need:
- Utility knife
- 2-by-4 lumber
- Plywood or 1 sheet of ½-inch MDF (48-by-96-by-½-inches)
- Molding
- Contact adhesive
- Roller for adhesive
- Dowels
- DAP Wellwood contact adhesive
- Three base cabinets
- Laminate for countertop
- Matching edge banding
- Tape measure
- Hammer
- Router
- Dowels
- Screws
- Drill
- Reciprocating saw
Build Breakfast Bar
Building a Breakfast Bar
- The first thing that you need to do is to use a utility knife in order to cut along the corners of your kitchen wall and ceiling.
- The reason for doing this technique is for stopping your drywall from tearing apart especially during any demolition work is being done.
- Make sure that you stay away from hitting any line that runs to any electrical outlets located on the same area.
- The reason for doing this technique is for stopping your drywall from tearing apart especially during any demolition work is being done.
- Then, you need to make an inspection hole to enable you to view if there is any wiring behind your wall.
- After you have determined the area for the studs and electrical outlets are, you can proceed with the demolition work on the wall between your dining and kitchen room.
- After you have determined the area for the studs and electrical outlets are, you can proceed with the demolition work on the wall between your dining and kitchen room.
If it is necessary, we recommended that you seek the advice from professional contractors especially when it relates to the re-wiring of the electricity lines and also the re-directing of your existing duct work.
- In order to remove your drywall starting from the top until the floor, you need to use a hammer and make sure that you remove any nails that you find in your studs.
- The next step is for you to install the frame of your breakfast bar using the 2-by-4 lumbers.
- Then, you have to screw the bottom sill of the lumber right into the floor while the stud located at the corner should be secured into the adjoining stud in the wall.
- Once finished, you can proceed to install drywall on both sides of your breakfast bar frame.
- Then, you have to screw the bottom sill of the lumber right into the floor while the stud located at the corner should be secured into the adjoining stud in the wall.
- After that, you can build the base for your cabinets using 2-by-4 lumbers.
- Your base need to be level before you can drive long screws on a 45-degree angle right through the back of the base into the studs located behind it.
- Your base need to be level before you can drive long screws on a 45-degree angle right through the back of the base into the studs located behind it.
- Next, you can place the cabinets on the base.
- Make sure that you clamp the cabinets securely using appropriate screws.
- Make sure that you clamp the cabinets securely using appropriate screws.
- Then, you need to measure and cut your countertop from the plywood that you have purchased earlier.
- Make sure that you rounded each corners of your countertop to be on the safe side.
- Once you have cut the plywood, you need to use a belt sander so that your countertop would be able to fit in nicely against your wall.
- Make sure that you rounded each corners of your countertop to be on the safe side.
- The next step is to measure and cut the laminate in order for it to be extended just one inch over the edge of your plywood right on the sides and open end.
- The laminate should be laid upside down right on top of your countertop.
- Then, you have to wipe it using a damp rag in order to remove any dust on its surface.
- The laminate should be laid upside down right on top of your countertop.
- After that you need to use a roller and brush to apply a thin and even coat of contact adhesive over the plywood until you reach the edges.
- Remember not to apply the adhesive too thick because it will end up not being able to dry properly and hold the plywood and laminate together.
- Remember not to apply the adhesive too thick because it will end up not being able to dry properly and hold the plywood and laminate together.
- Next step is to add a thin and even coat of contact adhesive onto your laminate.
- On top of your countertop you can place dowels over it.
- The laminate should be laid over the dowels.
- You must ensure that the laminate does not get into contact with other things except the dowels.
- The laminate should be laid over the dowels.
- Then, you have to pull out the dowels one by one starting from one end thus allowing the laminate to fall on your plywood.
- Once each of the dowel start to comes out, you need to also roll out any of the air bubbles.
- You must make sure that the laminate and the plywood are evenly contact all the way up to its edges.
- Once each of the dowel start to comes out, you need to also roll out any of the air bubbles.
- Finally, using a router, you have to trim the laminate’s edges before you can proceed to apply edge banding together with contact adhesive and a roller.
Always remember that whenever you want to build a breakfast bar,
- Always protect yourself by using safety glasses.
- The edges of your bar top need to be sand in order for the bar top cover to adhere much better.
- If you want to do some cutting, please take note not to set your blade for your table saw any higher that the required level during any cutting task.
- Make sure that the area that you are working is well ventilated before you start to cover your bar top.
- Please do not leave any of your equipments such as power tools unattended.
- Always protect yourself by using safety glasses.
