How to build a tiki bar
Building your very own Tiki Bar can be a rewarding and cost saving venture as long as you are well-informed on all aspects of how to build a Tiki Bar. Well-constructed Tiki Bars retail for well over $5,000 but you can build your own for under $700 which is a considerable cost saving, to say the least. The total material cost for your tiki bar is dependent upon the availability of materials in your area and the type of Tiki Bar you are planning on building.
Unless you are a professional builder it is not recommended that you attempt to build your own Tiki Bar without a proper Tiki bar Guide that explains in detail everything you need to know about how to build a Tiki Bar. Considering the effort required building a Tiki Bar and the enjoyment that can be derived from using it, it is not recommended that you build a cheap slap-together do-it-yourself bar that will blow over with the first sign of a breeze. If you use durable materials and follow the directions and recommendations of a reliable Tiki Bar Guide you will reap the benefits for years to come with your own home built Tiki Bar.
One of the important things to consider before starting the building of your Tiki Bar is the choice of wood for the poles used to build your structure. The most popular choices are red or white cedar or cypress.
This inherent characteristic of Cypress makes it durable and extremely resistant to harsh weather conditions, insects and fungus. The color of Cypress varies from shades of light to dark honey and this wood is as beautiful and distinctive on the inside as it is durable on the outside. The Cypress tree produces an oil called cypressine which acts as a natural preservative within the wood Over time Cypress will become a light pewter color if left outdoors unfinished in its natural state. It does however take well to sealers, stains and paints as it lacks sap and does not bleed. The lumber is lightweight, scarce of knots, medium textured, and dimensionally stable with a closed straight grain. It is easy to cut, saw, nail, and resists splitting, warping, checking, splintering and cracking
Cedar is a lightweight and dimensionally stable wood that lies flat and stays straight, resisting the natural tendency to crack and check as you might find in many other wood species. Its distinct cell structure discourages moisture rot by allowing it to dry out faster than tropical hardwoods. Red Cedar is incredibly thermal coefficient, meaning even on hot days, it is cool to sit in. Red Cedar fibers contain oils that act as natural preservatives to help the wood resist rot and decay making it excellent furniture material for moist or humid climates. These naturally occurring organic compounds called (thujaplicins) give off that distinct cedar aroma that is pleasant to humans but a deterrent to insects, moths and other wood pests.
Although White Cedar possesses much of the same cell properties of red cedar, (which makes them both suitable woods for outdoor use), it contains much less of the natural acidic tannins that help to preserve red cedar. Therefore white cedar will not last quite as long as red cedar wood.
The choice of a good Tiki Bar guide on how to build a Tiki Bar is still the most important decision when venturing into this project. The choice of wood for the poles used for building your Tiki Bar will influence the durability of the structure as well as the appearance and deserves considerable thought.
|
