Most wet bar projects don't fail because a contractor made one dramatic error — they fail because small, cheap-looking decisions stack up.
These are the mistakes we see most often on Houston jobs, and the ones we vet every scope against before we start.
1. Sink drain without a proper vent
Every sink needs a real vent. AAVs are a fallback, not the plan.
2. Shared circuits with the kitchen
Fridges and ice makers trip shared circuits. Give each its own 20A run.
3. No shutoff on the ice-maker line
Fishing behind cabinetry to shut off a leak is miserable. Add an accessible shutoff.
4. No GFCI at wet-bar outlets
Wet bar = GFCI required. Miss it and you fail inspection.
5. Marble or cheap laminate counters
Alcohol destroys them. Use quartz, sealed stone, or a hardwearing slab material.
How to vet your contractor
Read your wet bar bid line by line and ask which of these mistakes are being avoided — in writing. A contractor who welcomes the question is the one you want; a contractor who deflects is the one to walk away from.
If you'd like a second set of eyes on a scope of work or an existing bid, we're happy to walk through it with you.
