But not for long.

This is the last piece (no really, it is the last thing this time) of the finish work on my 2 year HT room project but I can't decide what to do.

To refresh or initiate memories, my room is not big, 13x24 and it has a raised platform for the second couch. Attached to the rear of the raised platform is a bar. The raised couch sits pretty much against the front of the bar and there is room for stools behind it then the outside wall of the basement.

The room has been operational for some time but the bar is the last piece to call it 100% complete. The bar itself is built on an ridiculously sturdy frame. The outside walls are one-side-good plywood. I have fashioned trim for around the edges & corners, etc. but have not installed them yet until I decide how the top will be built. I don't want to ruin my options to attach it. It has not yet been stained or painted yet for the same reason.

I'm looking for suggestions on what and how to do the bar top. I just can't decide.

- It's a HT room so it will be dark more times than not so I'm not looking for pristine beauty as it will be largely wasted.

- Cost wise, I am looking for something that falls somewhere between economical and Bob won't make fun of it.

I pretty much am aware of all my options but can't decide. Help please!!!

What are your choices you are considering?

I put quartz counter tops in my kitchen and am very pleased with the durability and look of them. Plus they were cheaper than doing granite and I think they hold up better as they are completely non-porous.

But, a very cool wood top is pretty awesome on a bar as well. Pics? What style do you want the bar to be? a ship's galley? Modern? Irish pub?

Andrew, have you heard of EnviroTex Lite? It's inexpensive and looks beautiful.

I'm a paid member at Barplan.com. IMO it's the best resource online for anything to do with bars.

I'll PM you some goodies .

Does Envirotex Lite work on Axioms for a HG finish?

HG Beech would be SO custom!

That would be sweet, Mark. I don't know if the method of application would work, though.

I'm putting in a remnant piece of quartz for our small bar sink in our basement/HT remodel.

Thanks all. Lots to Ponder. I planned on diving into this headfirst on the weekend but went skiing both days instead. Winter is too short this year. Had to enjoy it when I could.

I guess it depends on what the REAL, day-to-day use of the object is going to be, and if you ever plan to move it.

It sounds like it's built-in-place, so you have more options relative to weight.

I haven't lived with the synthetic stone or quartz, so I really don't know how it would be.

Real stone - either slab or tile - is timeless and wonderful. However, I have learned that it is not quite as "maintenance free" as people might like you to think. A big slab of granite would be lovely, but I don't think you can probably DIY.

If you don't abhor the look of grout lines, ceramic tile offers the optimum for creativity and easy maintenance. I found that using dirt-colored (black, in my case) epoxy grout from Laticrete basically eliminates any concern about maintenance of the grout lines.

EDIT: totally forgot...

Wood is lovely, but nobody's found a sure-fire way to keep it lovely in the last 500 years and you're not going to be the first. If you like the way it looks and are amenable to it developing some character as it gets used, good on you.

I saw a few examples of concrete countertops that I liked.

Time and money, buddy.

Have fun. Need pics.

Andrew, what are the dimensions?

Is it small enough to afford stone or wood? All (good) stone and wood are $$$$. Stone counters break things easily. Wood would be way cool.

Don't rule out laminate until you've seen the hundreds of color/pattern choices that are out there. I will make fun of you only if it immitates something that it is not, like wood-grained vinyl-clad speakers. A punchy solid color of laminate could do it for you.

Mondo cheapo: paint grade ply, primer, 3 coats (oil-based) paint, 3 coats poly.

When any effort is made to make a manufactured material look like it's made from a real material, Bob cringes, then laughs.

The new speakers can't come soon enough. I can order them in real wood and then a certain mean person will leave me alone.

Watch out, Murph: Bob is on the verge of mailing you hideous laminate samples!

Not to worry. Based on the time they took to go 75 miles to your house, they would never make it to Murph's.

I thought by renaming the subject header that Murph might get even more replies.
This is just a test!

Acknowledged.

I once had a caregiver that was a stripper and live web cam girl. She's still a good friend. Anyone want to go to the bar ?

That's way more interesting than Murph's countertop. If she had the kind of derrier that one can set stemware down on while she's standing up, I think we could have just killed two birds for Andrew.

Hey! There's a kiddie book title: Two Birds for Andrew. It's a Cockney book.

Speaking of Cockney, if anyone's looking for a humorous read, there is a version of the bible in Cockney. I'm pretty sure it's just called "The Bible in Cockney".

Edit - Yup, here it is.

I think it's just as funny when it's not in Cockney.

Ooooh! I shoud do a gay one! It will be called The Boble.
Or The Gible, or neither.

I was going to say that .

pictures or it never happened