Collection: Outdoor Bars

Start with the roof, because it sets the look. A flat roof sits low and reads modern. A gable roof is taller and more traditional. Its deeper overhang throws rain further from the counter. The roof style also decides the covering you buy. Roll materials suit a flat roof and shingles suit a gable. Roof coverings are optional items on the listings.

Size is a separate choice. The same style usually comes in more than one footprint. Pick the one that suits how many people you serve and what you keep behind the counter. Dimensions and what each set includes are on its listing.

Yes, with the wiring done by a licensed electrician. The kits are timber structures, so no wiring, switches or light fittings are included. In most cases the electrician runs a supply from the house. The cable is then fixed neatly to the wall or the posts once the building is up.

Plan the cable route before you start. It's much easier to decide where the fridge, lights and power points go while the walls are still flat packed. Your electrician will also advise on protection for an outdoor circuit. What each kit includes is listed on its product page.

Often yes, and it is worth deciding before the building goes up. The kits are timber buildings, so the sink and the tapware are a separate purchase. A simple setup runs a garden line to a cold tap. The sink drains to a gully or a soakage point. Connecting to sewer needs a licensed plumber, and so does a bar serving food and drink to the public. Either may also need approval from your council.

Waste water is the part people forget. Work out where it goes before you settle on a position in the yard.

That comes down to the size you choose, not the roof style. Work from the internal dimensions and the counter layout on the product page, rather than the external footprint. The walls and the counter itself take up part of the floor area.

Measure your fridge, keg unit or ice chest before you order. Allow ventilation clearance around a fridge so it is not sitting hard against timber. Then think about what else has to live behind the counter. That means bench space to work on and shelving for glassware and stock. Choose the size that leaves room for all of it.

What comes as a counter or serving shelf varies by model, so check the listing. Where a timber surface is included, it is the same European spruce as the rest of the building. It is supplied untreated, so the finish is up to you.

Treat a bar top as the hardest working surface on the building. Before it goes into service, coat every face with a quality exterior finish. Include the cut ends and the underside. Check it each season. Refresh the coating in accordance with the manufacturer's recommended schedule. Spills and standing water will find any gap in the coating, so wipe the surface down after use.

The hatch is the opening you serve through. It closes the bar up flat when you have finished. Shut, it covers the counter opening and keeps weather and casual hands out. That is most of what a backyard bar needs. How the hatch is arranged and what hardware comes with it varies by model, so check the listing.

For real security, fix the building down to its base and fit a quality lock to the door. Use a lockable stay or a padlock on the hatch.

A bar like this can be the base for a coffee cart, a cellar door counter or a weekend market stall. Selling food or drink to the public brings in requirements a backyard bar never faces. Food business registration, hand washing and food handling facilities, and liquor licensing are set by your state and your local council. We cannot give legal advice on any of them.

Enquire with your council about the details. Knowing the requirements before you order is much cheaper than finding them out afterwards. Our free council permit check by postcode is a sensible first step. A free consultation with a product specialist covers which bar suits the way you plan to trade.

It depends on where you live. Approval is set by your state and your local council. It turns on floor area, height, siting and setbacks, and on overlays such as bushfire, heritage, flooding and easements. Many small structures are exempt, but the thresholds differ from one council to the next. Nothing here is legal advice.

We offer a free council permit check by postcode. Confirm the position with your council before you order.

A level, sufficiently load bearing base sized to the footprint. Have it finished before the pallets arrive. A concrete slab is the usual answer. Pavers on a compacted bed or a timber subframe on footings also do the job. Give the surface a slight fall away from the building. Rinse water and spills then run off rather than sitting under the walls.

The area in front of the counter matters too, because that is where everyone stands. Paving or decking there makes the bar far more usable. Keep a clear path back to the kitchen for ice and glassware. Think about where noise carries to the neighbours.

Yes. The kit arrives flat packed on pallets, with the timber cut and numbered and an illustrated guide included. The job is following a sequence rather than measuring and cutting. A couple of people with basic tools manage the walls and roof comfortably. How long it takes depends on the size you choose.

Slow down on the counter and the hatch. The hatch has to sit square to close cleanly and keep weather out. Electrical and plumbing work goes to licensed trades. Any carpenter or handyperson can work from the same instructions if you would rather not build it yourself.

Timber is covered for 5 years. Electrical parts and fit-out items are covered for 1 year. Our warranty conditions set out the detail. Your rights under Australian Consumer Law apply on top and can't be excluded.

Warranty covers defects in the materials and the manufacture. It does not cover normal weathering, spill marks or wear on a surface that was never sealed. Finish the building soon after assembly and keep it maintained. If something is not right, contact us on 03 6145 0600 or at hello@nordicspa.com.au. Send your order details and photos, and we will work through it with you.

Your outdoor bar arrives flat-packed on pallets by freight truck. We offer free freight to metro depots in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney. Request a freight quote if you live outside our free delivery zones.

From the depot you can pick up for free, or arrange delivery to your property with the depot. Items held in stock are dispatched within one to four business days. Made to order buildings take roughly eight to fourteen weeks. They're manufactured in Europe and shipped once your order is placed. The listing tells you which applies to the outdoor bar you're looking at. We confirm the timing with you when you order.