MAP Quality Fencing & Decks
Outdoor Bar Installation in LaSalle and Peru, IL
4.9 ★★★★★ 233 Google reviews across Peru and Morris
Everybody ends up standing around the drinks anyway. Build somewhere proper for that to happen and the backyard gets a center.
Why a bar and not just a table
People Stand Where the Drinks Are
Watch any backyard party. Everyone congregates around the cooler on the ground, nobody sits at the table you set up, and the host spends the evening walking things back and forth.
A bar works because standing is what people want to do. It gives the yard a natural gathering point, puts the drinks at waist height, and means the person hosting is in the conversation instead of fetching.
What goes into one
What Makes an Outdoor Bar Get Used Every Weekend
Height, weather protection and what is behind the bar are the three things that matter.
- Bar Top and StoolsCounter at bar height with overhang for knees. Get the overhang wrong and nobody can sit at it comfortably.
- Mounted TV FramingFraming and power run for a weatherproof TV, positioned so the sun is not behind it in the evening.
- Fridge and StorageWeather rated fridge space and cabinets so drinks and glasses live outside instead of being carried out.
- Under a CoverA bar under a roof works in September and in a shower. One in the open only works on a nice evening.
- Built Into a DeckFramed into the deck rather than set on top of it, which is much easier to do while the deck is being built.
- Lighting and PowerTask lighting over the bar top and outlets where they are needed, run through the structure during the build.
How we build them
An Outdoor Bar Takes More Abuse Than Anything Else
It gets rained on, leaned on, and it holds a fridge and a TV. Interior grade cabinetry and countertop materials moved outside look right for one season and then start swelling and lifting at the edges.
- Exterior rated materials throughout. Including the cabinetry, not just the visible surfaces.
- Framing sized for the weight. A fridge, a stone top and people leaning on it add up to real load.
- Power run properly and protected. Outdoor circuits with correct protection, planned before the structure closes up.
Outdoor bars we have built
Outdoor Bars Around the Illinois Valley
More bar projects go up on our Facebook page as they finish. Click a photo to open it full size.
The plan
How an Outdoor Bar Build Actually Runs
Usually built alongside a deck, a patio cover or an outdoor kitchen rather than on its own.
Work Out Where People Stand
We look at how the yard is used, where the grill is and where people naturally end up, then site the bar into that.
Design, Permit and Power
Layout gets drawn, any permit pulled, and electrical planned for the fridge, the TV and the lighting before framing starts.
Frame, Top and Cabinetry
Structure goes up in exterior rated materials, then the bar top and storage underneath.
Fit Out and Walkthrough
Fridge, TV mount and lighting get fitted and tested, then we walk it with you before we leave.
Build the Bar Now. Pay Over Time.
A bar is usually the piece that gets cut when a budget tightens. 0% financing means it can stay in the plan rather than becoming next year’s project.
Reviews from our clients
What Homeowners Say About Working With Us
Illinois Valley4.9★★★★★204 Google reviews
Grundy County5.0★★★★★29 Google reviews
★★★★★
We couldn’t be happier with our new covered patio. The Trex privacy wall with custom lighting, outdoor TV and two ceiling fans make it the perfect place to entertain.
Mary Herron, Peru
★★★★★
I cannot recommend MAP Quality enough. They turned our space into a beautiful oasis straight out of the movies.
Melyssa Kotecki
★★★★★
The MAP crew did an incredible job. The craftsmanship is excellent and the finished project has been receiving rave reviews from our neighbors.
Mikki Dudley
★★★★★
My project turned out great. The whole team worked so efficiently and got the job done quickly.
Cari Lynn
★★★★★
Matt and his crew were terrific. Quick, clean, and the communication was top notch from the first call.
Andrea Brannon, Peru
Common questions
Outdoor Bar Questions from Illinois Valley Homeowners
How much does an outdoor bar cost?
The structure is usually the smaller part. A fridge, a weatherproof TV and a stone top can cost more than the bar itself, so we price the build and the fit out separately.
Can I put a regular TV out there?
Not if it is exposed. Indoor televisions fail quickly outdoors. Either use a weather rated outdoor TV or build it somewhere fully covered.
Does it need to be under a roof?
No, but covered bars get used far more often. If you are building a patio cover anyway, doing both at once is much cheaper than adding the cover later.
Can you build it into my existing deck?
Usually. The deck framing needs checking first, since a bar with a fridge adds real weight in one spot.
What about winter?
Drain any water line, cover or remove the appliances, and the structure stays where it is. We build with exterior rated materials throughout.
Can you do a bar and an outdoor kitchen together?
Yes, and it is the most common version. Doing both in one build means one set of footings, one electrical run and one schedule.
Get started
Get a Written Price on Your Outdoor Bar
Tell us where it would go and whether a TV and fridge are part of the plan. We come out, walk it and give you one written price.
Call or text us(815) 579-2435
mapqualityfencing@gmail.com