Notes from a Remodeling & General Contractor for the Wichita, KS Area

This month in our remodeling series takes a look down into the basement. And one of the most popular choices we see at S&A Construction, Inc. in the Wichita, KS metro area is adding a bar to help finish out the basement which adds utility, entertainment possibilities, and value to a home.

Bar Basics

Bars are a good compliment to any basement, with the first choice typically being between a dry or wet bar. The difference is a wet bar has a faucet & sink and a dry bar does not. Other common choices are as a minimal layout contained in a closet area, a small arrangement of cabinets/countertop area, or a bar area that contains a refrigerator, wine fridge, sink, dishwasher, and/or microwave.

Best Time to Install a Bar

Bars are best installed at the time of finishing a basement for both cost and efficiency reasons. This allows unobstructed access to install any necessary electrical and plumbing faculties for the bar area. When basements are already finished, running electrical and plumbing becomes more challenging and costly as well as can add demolitions to the bill.

Entry Level Bars

An entry level approach to help save on cost with a basement bar is a layout using store bought cabinets and a pre-formed laminate countertop. After that, the size of the bar will have the biggest impact of the overall cost, which will rise as you add additional features and conveniences but typically it starts at under $5,000.

Custom Built Bars

Most of the wet bars we install in the Wichita, KS metro area are built from scratch. This allows the homeowner and a contractor like S&A Construction to perfectly tailor the bar to the area in question as well as allow for selection of wood species (oak, maple, knotty alder), color, layout/design, function, cabinet type, details, etc..

A quality contractor like S&A Construction can also tailor a theme into the construction. The bar should not be solely thought of for alcohol consumption, but more for entertainment/entertaining or function in the basement area. With custom built bars, the amount of detail and style can be limitless and depends mostly on the budget. In recent years, we have built wine glass holders & organizers, glass front cabinets, etches mirror back splashes, and custom bar fronts (e.g. the bar below was requested to look like a Hershey chocolate bar).

For a small custom made bar like the above, a customer should expect to spend no less than $5,000, with an average being between $8,000 and $15,000 for all the details involved.

Other Possibilities

Earlier in the year, we built a bar area for an older mother that had recently moved in with her middle aged daughter. The purpose of the bar became a basement kitchenette to avoid the mother traveling up and down the stairs to the main kitchen. This project included a full size fridge, sink, disposal, and microwave. We could have added a stove to make it a full functioning kitchen if the homeowner had requested it too.

Other forms of wood work which can be built into basement finish areas are entertainment centers, desks, shelving, and fireplaces, but we’ll save that for another time.

Looking to work on finishing your basement or adding a bar to it in the Wichita, KS area?

At S&A Construction, we handle can help you design and finish your basement with or without a bar. So if you are looking for a remodeling contractor with basement finishing or custom bar experience in the Wichita Kansas area, feel free to give us a call at (316) 262-6770 or an e-mail.

As always, let us know if you have any questions, other ideas, or comments!