How To Build A Backyard Pallet Bar

DIY design guru Tamara Smith—find her on Instagram @mygrandparentschair—designed and built this backyard bar using a couple of freebie pallets (check your local Kijiji) and a little elbow grease. Here’s how you can make one, too.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Supplies

• 2 wooden pallets (47 x 38 or 42 x 38)
• 2-1 x 6 x 6'
• 1-2 x 4 x 8' (only if you’re using 42 x 38 pallets)
• 1-2 x 12 x 8'
• 2 ½" deck screws
• 4-4" shelf brackets
• 2-4" stainless steel mending plates
• Paint, in the colour of your choice
• Deck stain, in the colour of your choice

Tools

• Mitersaw (or a miter box and handsaw)
• Drill
• Nailgun
• Orbital Sander
• Circular Saw

And here’s how to build it:

1. If your skids are 47" high, cut 5" from the top of each skid. (If your skids are 42" high, this is not required.)

2. Attach the full-size skid and one of the half skids together at a 90-degree angle with screws.(You will not need the other half skid.)

3. Cover the gap between the pallets with a 1 x 6 cut to size.

4. Attach the toe plate with screws. (Make this from the wood cut off the top of the 47" pallet; if you’re using 42" pallets, you’ll need to use a 2 x 4 x 8'.)

5. Attach “shelves” using remaining 1 x 6 cut to size to the inside of the skid on the cross pieces.

6. Sand and paint the bar.

7. Cut a 2 x 12 to size for your bar top. Stain the two pieces of bar top, then use two stainless steel mending plates to screw the two pieces together. (You can use either a butt joint or a mitered corner to attach them.)

8. Attach the bar top using the shelf brackets; leave a 7" overhang.

9. Enjoy your new bar!