Basement Bars & Wet Bars in Columbus, OH
Columbus Basement Finishing connects Columbus homeowners with local contractors who build basement bars. A dry bar is cabinetry and a counter. A wet bar adds a sink, which needs a water supply and a drain, and often an under-counter fridge or ice maker. The plumbing is what separates a simple job from a larger one.
- Free in-home estimate from a local contractor
- Moisture and radon dealt with before the walls go up
- Permits and inspections handled by the contractor
Dry bar or wet bar
A dry bar has no plumbing. It is base cabinets, a countertop, shelving for bottles and glasses, and usually a small fridge plugged into an outlet. It can go almost anywhere and adds little to a finishing project.
A wet bar has a sink. That means hot and cold supply lines and, more to the point, a drain. Supply lines are easy to run. The drain has to reach an existing waste line with enough slope, which may involve cutting the slab or fitting a small pump. Where the bar sits in relation to existing plumbing decides how much this costs.
Planning a bar that gets used
- Size it for the room. A full walk-behind bar needs about three feet of working space behind it. In a smaller basement a straight run along one wall does the job.
- Decide on seating. Stools need an overhang on the counter and legroom below.
- Plan the power. A fridge, ice maker, dishwasher and blender each want an outlet, and some need a dedicated circuit.
- Light it in layers. Under-shelf strips, pendants over the counter and dimmable ceiling lights.
- Choose surfaces that take spills. Quartz or sealed stone counters, and a floor that is not carpet.
Appliances to decide on early
An under-counter fridge, a wine or beverage cooler, an ice maker, a dishwasher drawer and a kegerator all need space built into the cabinetry and, in some cases, water or a drain. Tell the contractor which you want before the cabinets are ordered.
Pairing it with other rooms
A bar works well beside a home theater or games area. If you are adding a bathroom, placing the bar on the other side of the same wall keeps the plumbing short.
How it works
Tell us about your basement
Answer five quick questions online.
Get matched
We pass your request to a local basement contractor who covers your area.
In-home estimate
They inspect the space, talk through your plans and give you a written price.
Decide
There is no obligation. Go ahead only if the plan and the price suit you.
Basement Bars & Wet Bars FAQs
Where is the best place to put a wet bar?
As close to existing plumbing as the layout allows, such as the wall shared with a basement bathroom or under the kitchen above. Shorter pipe runs cost less.
Do I need a permit for a basement bar?
A dry bar on its own usually does not, but new plumbing and electrical circuits do. If the bar is part of finishing the basement, it is covered by that project's permits.
Other services
Basement Remodeling
Updating a basement that is already finished, from new flooring to a full redesign.
Learn moreBasement Bathroom Addition
A half or full bathroom below grade, including the drain work that makes it possible.
Learn moreBasement Bedroom
A legal bedroom downstairs, with the escape window and ceiling height the code asks for.
Learn moreEgress Window Installation
Cutting in an escape window and well so a basement room is safe and can be a bedroom.
Learn moreBasement Home Theater
A media room planned around sight lines, sound control and wiring before the drywall goes on.
Learn moreBasement Home Gym
A workout room with the right floor, ventilation and enough headroom for the equipment.
Learn moreBasement Home Office
A quiet, well-lit workspace away from the rest of the house.
Learn moreBasement Kitchenette
A compact kitchen for entertaining or for a relative living downstairs.
Learn moreBasement In-Law Suite
A self-contained space with bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette for family or guests.
Learn moreBasement Flooring
Floors that tolerate a concrete slab and the odd damp spell, laid over the right underlay.
Learn moreBasement Ceilings
Drywall, drop or painted open ceilings, chosen around headroom and access to pipes.
Learn moreBasement Waterproofing
Stopping water and damp before a basement is finished, so the new work stays dry.
Learn moreBasement Framing & Insulation
The walls behind the walls, built to stay dry and keep the room warm.
Learn moreBasement Playroom
A safe, hard-wearing space for kids that can become a teen room or den later.
Learn moreAreas we serve near Columbus, OH
Columbus Basement Finishing serves Columbus, OH and surrounding communities, including Grandview Heights, Upper Arlington, Bexley, Grove City, Gahanna, Hilliard, Worthington, Reynoldsburg, Westerville, Dublin, New Albany, Canal Winchester, Pickerington, Powell and Delaware.