Before & After: 9 Bars and Tables Elevated with Epoxy

Side-by-side before-and-after of a commercial bar and communal tables, showing a muted wood finish on the left and a crystal-clear epoxy finish on the right with brighter reflections and enhanced wood grain.

A well-designed bar or table does more than hold drinks—it sets the tone for the entire space. In this list, you’ll see how epoxy transforms everyday commercial surfaces into durable, refined focal points.

Each before-and-after highlights a different context, from busy bars to shared tables, showing what changes when protection, clarity, and finish are done right.

#1: From Serviceable to Showcase

Before-and-after comparison of a solid wood bar top, showing a softer, lightly reflective pre-epoxy surface above and a crystal-clear epoxy finish below with sharper reflections and deeper wood grain.

Before, this bar functioned well enough—but the surface showed its limits under everyday use.

After a clear epoxy finish, the wood is protected, easier to maintain, and visually transformed, showing what’s possible when an existing surface is upgraded rather than replaced.

Start your own project with UltraClear Bar Top Epoxy!
DIY friendly & professional grade.
👉 Check out our Instagram for more ideas!

#2: Rough-Hewn Slabs Become a Statement Bar

Before-and-after comparison of a live-edge wood bar project, showing raw planks staged in a workshop above and a finished epoxy river bar with a deep blue vein and glass-smooth surface below.

This transformation starts with imperfect, character-rich boards and ends with a fully realized bar surface built for real use.

Epoxy seals the wood, stabilizes natural voids, and introduces a refined river detail—turning raw material into a durable, eye-catching centerpiece without losing the soul of the wood.

Start your own project with UltraClear Bar Top Epoxy!
DIY friendly & professional grade.
👉 Check out our Instagram for more ideas!

#3: A Bar That Holds Up Under Hospitality Pressure

Before-and-after comparison of a hotel lobby bar, showing a wood bar top with a dull, uneven finish during cleaning hours above, and the same bar after epoxy application with a smooth, reflective surface while guests gather below.

Hotel lobby bars see constant turnover, frequent cleaning, and little room for surface damage.

A clear epoxy finish reinforces the wood without changing its character, delivering a smoother feel, brighter reflections, and long-term durability that keeps the bar looking composed even at peak hours.

Start your own project with UltraClear Bar Top Epoxy!
DIY friendly & professional grade.
👉 Check out our Instagram for more ideas!

#4: Quiet Luxury, Sealed In

Before-and-after comparison showing a raw, unfinished wood slab resting on work supports in a workshop above, and the same slab installed as a wine bar counter below with a crystal-clear epoxy finish reflecting warm interior lighting.

Before, the solid wood top was clean and well-made, but vulnerable to spills, rings, and constant wiping.

After sealing with a crystal-clear epoxy finish, the surface gains depth, clarity, and long-term protection—without overpowering the calm, intimate character a wine bar depends on.

Start your own project with UltraClear Bar Top Epoxy!
DIY friendly & professional grade.
👉 Check out our Instagram for more ideas!

#5: Built for Pints, Spills, and Turnover

Before-and-after comparison of a brewery taproom communal table, showing a worn wood surface upgraded to a crystal-clear epoxy finish with brighter reflections and improved durability.

In a busy brewery taproom, communal tables see constant use—spills, condensation, quick wipe-downs, and heavy traffic.

The epoxy upgrade transforms this surface from vulnerable wood into a smooth, sealed tabletop that’s easy to clean and built to keep up, without losing the warmth and character that belong in a taproom setting.

Start your own project with UltraClear Bar Top Epoxy!
DIY friendly & professional grade.
👉 Check out our Instagram for more ideas!

#6: A Café Counter That Keeps Up

Café counters deal with daily exposure to coffee, milk, syrups, and constant wiping.

The epoxy finish seals the wood without overpowering it, creating a smooth, resilient surface that’s easier to maintain while still fitting the warmth and approachability customers expect in a neighborhood café.

Start your own project with UltraClear Bar Top Epoxy!
DIY friendly & professional grade.
👉 Check out our Instagram for more ideas!

#7: A Waiting-Area Table That Stays Presentable

Before-and-after comparison of a tall restaurant waiting-area table, showing a worn wood surface upgraded with a clear epoxy finish that adds gloss, durability, and resistance to frequent guest use.

High tables in waiting areas see constant contact from drinks, phones, and guests passing through.

The epoxy finish reinforces the wood with a smooth, easy-to-clean surface that keeps the table looking polished even during peak service.

Start your own project with UltraClear Bar Top Epoxy!
DIY friendly & professional grade.
👉 Check out our Instagram for more ideas!

#8: A Subtle Upgrade That Changes the Entire Lounge

Before-and-after comparison of a hotel lounge cocktail rail, showing a dull, worn wood ledge upgraded with a thin, clear epoxy finish that adds crisp reflections and improved durability.

Cocktail rails and drink ledges endure nightly wear but rarely get attention during renovations. A clear epoxy finish refreshes the surface with clean reflections and protection against rings and spills—without changing the rail’s slim, understated profile.

Start your own project with UltraClear Bar Top Epoxy!
DIY friendly & professional grade.
👉 Check out our Instagram for more ideas!

#9: Where Craftsmanship Meets the Pour

Before-and-after comparison of a brewery tasting table, showing a raw, unfinished wood tabletop in a workshop transformed into a finished epoxy-coated table set among barrels, with a warm sheen and clean reflections.

Tasting tables sit at the intersection of production and hospitality, taking constant abuse from glasses, spills, and cleaning.

A clear epoxy finish preserves the character of the wood while adding the resilience needed for a working brewery floor—practical, durable, and still unmistakably handcrafted.

Start your own project with UltraClear Bar Top Epoxy!
DIY friendly & professional grade.
👉 Check out our Instagram for more ideas!

Before-and-after comparison of a cocktail bar, showing an older, worn wood bar top replaced with a refined epoxy-finished surface featuring a luminous river vein, crisp reflections, and a cleaner, more modern presence.

A Finish That Changes How a Space Performs

Across bars, tables, and service surfaces, the difference is consistent: epoxy doesn’t just improve how wood looks—it changes how it holds up. Scratches, moisture, daily cleaning, and heavy traffic stop being liabilities and start becoming non-issues.

If you’re considering upgrading a commercial or high-use surface, UltraClear Bar & Table Top Epoxy offers a way to preserve the character of wood while adding the clarity, durability, and longevity these spaces demand.

It’s not about making wood look artificial—it’s about letting it perform at its best, year after year.