A good home bar is one you actually use. We plan the plumbing, power and layout first, then build the counters, back bar and lighting so it feels finished, not added on.
Lititz has a downtown built for walking out to dinner and a drink. A home bar brings some of that feeling back to the house, for watching a game with friends, hosting the family on a holiday or just having a place to pour something at the end of the week. In most homes in Manheim Township and Warwick Township, the natural spot is the basement or a finished lower level.
The house decides a lot. Newer homes in Warwick Township and the neighborhoods off the Lititz Pike often have open basements or walkout lower levels with room for a full bar, seating and a lounge area. Older homes in Lititz may have tighter basements, so a great room or a converted outbuilding can make more sense. On farm properties, a carriage house or barn-style building can hold a bar room of its own.
We start by finding where the water, drains and power can reach, because that decides what the bar can do. Then Joe designs it around how you entertain: a bar sink and ice maker, a beverage fridge, a dishwasher if you host often, and a back bar that shows off what you pour. Tom builds it, from the framing and plumbing through the countertop and trim.
A bar sink needs water in and water out, plus a proper vent. In basements below the sewer line, the drain may need an ejector pump to lift waste up to the main line. We find out at the consult so the plumbing plan is set before design.
Refrigeration, an ice maker and a dishwasher each want their own circuit. We plan dedicated circuits, outlets at counter height and lighting controls so nothing trips the breaker in the middle of a party. If the panel is short on space, we plan for that too.
Counter height, bar-stool height, knee space and the walkway behind the bar all decide whether it is comfortable. We lay these out around how many people you host and where they gather, so whoever is pouring isn't trapped behind the counter.
The back bar is what people look at. We design shelving and display lighting for bottles and glassware, and pick stone or wood countertops that suit the room. If you plan to cook at the bar, we add ventilation for that.
Home bar pricing depends mostly on how much plumbing and electrical the space needs and the counters, cabinetry and appliances you choose. Here is how projects typically range.
$15,000–$40,000
Custom cabinetry, a stone or wood countertop, a bar sink with plumbing, and an under-counter beverage refrigerator.
$40,000–$90,000
A longer bar with back-bar display shelving, an ice maker, a dishwasher, lighting design and bar seating.
$90,000–$175,000+
A full room built around the bar: custom millwork, lounge seating areas, a hidden entrance option and media.
These are typical industry ranges for finished projects in Pennsylvania, shown for planning only. They are not a quote. Your price depends on the size and condition of the space, the structural, electrical, plumbing and HVAC work it needs, the cabinetry and finish level you choose, and permit requirements. Plumbing distance (basement bars sometimes need an ejector pump), appliance brands, cabinetry and countertop material drive the range. Bar stools, furniture and décor are not included unless they're listed in your quote. Every project gets a fixed, itemized quote after design.
We design and build home bars in Manheim Township, including the Neffsville area, in the borough of Lititz and across Warwick Township, from basement bars to bar rooms in carriage houses and outbuildings. Because a bar means new plumbing and electrical, we pull the permits and schedule inspections with your township or borough for most projects.
Almost always. The question is how the water drains. If your basement floor sits below the sewer or septic line, the sink needs an ejector pump to lift waste up to it. That's common in basements north of Lancaster. We check where your drain line runs at the consult and include the right solution in the plan and quote.
It changes a few details, not whether you can have a bar. We confirm how the bar drain will tie into the septic system and whether an ejector pump is needed, and we plan water supply from your existing system. It all gets worked out during design so there are no surprises once the build starts.
Yes. On larger lots in Warwick Township and the northern parts of Manheim Township, an outbuilding can make a great bar room. These projects usually need water, drainage, power and heat brought to the building, so we assess all of that first. Then we design and build the room the same way we would inside the house.
Most bars start with a sink, an under-counter beverage fridge and an ice maker. If you host often, a small dishwasher saves trips to the kitchen. Some people add a wine fridge, a kegerator or a coffee setup. We plan the electrical and space for what you want now and what you might add later.
It can. A bookcase door or a hidden panel is one option some homeowners like for a bar room. Most of the work is still the bar itself: plumbing, power, layout and finish. If you want a hidden entrance, we design it in from the start so it opens smoothly and lines up with the room.
A design consult takes about an hour at your home. You'll leave with a clear answer on what fits, what it involves, and what it costs.
Consults by appointment, weekdays and Saturday mornings
