Are Outdoor Bars Weather-Resistant?

The good ones are. A real outdoor bar is built to live outside all year: marine-grade or treated wood, or aluminum, with stainless hardware, a sealed countertop and usually a roof over it. What is not weather-resistant is the indoor bar cart or the particle-board unit that got pushed onto the patio. Here is what weatherproof actually means for a bar, how to tell the two apart before you buy, and the little upkeep that keeps a good one looking good. For styles and layout ideas, start with Outdoor Bar Ideas: Styles, Lighting and Layout.

What Weather Does to a Bar

Rain gets into joints and under the counter. Sun fades finishes and dries wood until it checks. Freeze-thaw opens any crack it finds. Salt air corrodes plain steel in one season. A bar that resists weather is one where each of those has an answer built in — and it's also a bar built to last, see How Long Do Outdoor Bars Last? for lifespan by material.

Materials That Hold Up

Wood

Cedar, cypress and teak resist rot on their own. Pressure-treated pine resists it chemically and needs a finish. Any of these with a marine-grade stain or spar varnish, reapplied every couple of years, lasts a long time outside. Plywood, MDF and untreated pine do not.

Aluminum

Powder-coated aluminum does not rust, does not rot and needs a rinse. It is the material in most modular outdoor kitchen and bar units, including the Taverns To Go 10' x 5' Large Backyard Bar.

Composite and HDPE

Recycled-plastic lumber is immune to water and insects and never needs sealing. Heavier than wood and warmer in sun.

Stainless steel

For hardware, sinks and fridge fronts. 304 grade for most yards, 316 near salt water.

The Details That Separate Outdoor From Indoor

• Stainless or coated fasteners. Plain screws rust and stain the wood around them.
• A sealed, sloped countertop. Granite, sealed concrete, tile or a finished hardwood top that sheds water instead of holding it.
• Feet off the ground. Adjustable levelers or a base that is not sitting in a puddle.
• Drainage in the cabinets. A back panel with vents or no bottom shelf so water that gets in can get out.
• A roof. A tiki thatch, a shingle roof or a pergola over the bar cuts sun and rain exposure by most of the year.

Does It Still Need a Cover?

Not to survive, but a fitted cover in the off-season keeps the finish fresh and the counter clean. Under a roof, a cover matters less. On an open patio in a snowy climate, it is worth the money.

Upkeep for a Weather-Resistant Bar

• Rinse it after a pollen or salt season.
• Reseal wood every one to two years, or when water stops beading.
• Check fasteners and levelers each spring.
• Oil the hinges on any doors.
• Replace thatch every few years if the roof is tiki style.

That full routine, broken down by season, is in Do Outdoor Bars Require a lot of Maintenance?.

For a Rental

Buy the bar that needs nothing between guests. Aluminum or sealed cedar with a roof, a granite or sealed top, stainless everywhere. Put the reseal on the annual checklist and forget about it the rest of the year. Guests photograph the bar; make it the one that still looks good in year five.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can an outdoor bar stay out in winter?

Yes if it is built from the materials above. Cover it or drain any sink line before a freeze.

Will the countertop crack?

Sealed granite and concrete handle freeze-thaw. Tile grout and unsealed concrete can crack. Wood tops move with the seasons and need a finish.

How long does an outdoor bar last?

Aluminum, 20 years or more. Sealed cedar or cypress, 15 to 20 with upkeep. A big-box particle-board bar, one summer.

The Bottom Line

Weather-resistant means the right wood or aluminum, stainless hardware, a sealed top and a roof. Every bar in our outdoor bar collection is built that way, and I am happy to tell you which one suits a coastal yard versus a snowy one. Call 1-800-914-0074.