Magnificent Mosaic Tabletop
Waste less and get more from broken dishes and a well-used table. Turn them into a mosaic masterpiece that looks artistic and brand new!
Step 1: Prepare your Materials
For this project, you can look for items you already have in your home. Old coffee tables and end tables are both excellent surfaces to mosaic. Try using chipped dishes or tiles leftover from a home improvement project to make your design. Choose pieces that are roughly the same thickness to keep your finished table level.
If you don’t have these supplies at your home, you can buy them inexpensively at thrift stores, garage sales or your local home improvement store. This handy Materials List will help you find all the supplies you’ll need.
Step 2: Protect your Space
Spread newspaper or plastic across your work surface to help keep it clean. You’ll be doing some light hammering, so choose a flat, hard surface such as a workbench, sturdy table or durable floor.
Step 3: Break it up
This is one of the few times you can actually feel good about breaking a dish since you’ll be using the pieces to create a beautiful mosaic. You’ll be working with sharp edges, so be sure to protect your hands with thick workman’s gloves and your eyes with safety goggles.
Loosely wrap your dishes or tiles in an old towel. Keeping them completely covered will help protect your surface and keep the small pieces in one place. Tap your breakables firmly with a hammer, just hard enough to crack them into smaller pieces. Repeat until they are split into fragments that are 1”-2” in size, or the desired size for the mosaic you have in mind.
Step 4: Pattern Play
This is the most creative part of the project, when you design your mosaic. Arrange your glass or tile pieces on your tabletop, leaving 1/8”-1/4” spaces between them. Be sure to keep your gloves on, as the edges of the fragments might be sharp. Have fun experimenting with different patterns. Try alternating colors, creating stripes and circles or applying pieces at random. You can even arrange your tiles to create a simple image, symbol or motif.
Step 5: Stick Together
Once you’ve planned out your design, carefully remove your glass or tile pieces. Use a small house paintbrush (1”) to brush an even coat of clear glass glue onto your tabletop, enough so the tiles adhere to the table without glue spreading over the sides. If you have a large tabletop, you may want to work in sections. Place the tiles in your desired pattern, pressing them down to secure. The glue is slow to dry, which leaves you some time to rearrange and perfect your design. Allow it to dry completely before moving on to the next step.
Step 6: Fill in the Gaps
After the glue is dry use premixed, sanded grout (the kind used for tiling floors) to fill in the gaps between your tiles or glass pieces. It’s available at both home improvement and craft stores. Use a spackling knife to apply a thick coat over the entire tabletop and a grout spreader to spread it evenly. Be sure to fill in all the cracks. When you’re finished, your tabletop should look gray.
Step 7: The Big Reveal
Wait about 20 minutes for the grout to show a powdery film. Then, wipe your tabletop with a damp sponge, holding it flat to the surface. Use a circular motion with a firm, even pressure and rinse your sponge between wipes. When you’re finished you should have an even tabletop with grout between, but not covering, your glass or tile pieces. Allow your grout to harden completely, usually about 72 hours. Be sure to follow the instructions on the package if they differ from what’s presented here.
Step 8: Touching Up
After 72 hours, wipe your tabletop again with a clean, damp sponge. Use it to rub off any grout still remaining on your tile or glass pieces. You can apply a second coat if the surface of your table is not smooth enough or if there are sharp edges that are still exposed. If you plan to use your table outdoors or in an area with a high level of moisture, protect it with a coat of tile and grout sealer, which is available at your local hardware store
When you’re finished, step back and admire your beautiful new table! But why stop there? This technique works well on many different hard surfaces. You can try making mosaic trivets, coasters or even wall art. Get creative and design your own project!
Tile in Style
If you’re not ready to mosaic a whole tabletop, try these step-by-step instructions for Mosaic Tile Trivets from Lowe’s Creative Ideas.
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