I’m the first to admit that when it comes to DIY projects, I’m not the handiest person on the planet. But when I told a girlfriend of mine about this collectible dinner set that my family had hung on to for some reason, and was now worthless because almost every single piece had been broken and glued back together, she suggested we break the plates again and make a mosaic table. As long as I had DIY guide, I was willing to attempt something crafty. Besides, it sounded fun and it actually did turn rather well (if we may so say ourselves).
Start with an old table in need of a transformation. We chose a round one but any shape or size will do. Collect a variety of broken or found objects such as tiles, plates, colored glass, mirrors, beads, seashells, stones, etc. To create as smooth and flat a tabletop as possible, the more level the pieces, the better.
Tools and Materials You Will Need
- Tile Adhesive
- Tiling tool
- Grout
- 1” paint brush
- Super strong glue (WeldBond works well)
- Enough square tiles to surround the outside of the table. (Tile size is determined by this calculation: tabletop + thickest mosaic piece + 1/16” polymer = total thickness)*
- Thin cardboard, cut the same height as the tiles for the perimeter of the table, enough to go around the outside (Cardboard from cereal boxes works well)
- A level
- A polymer compound such as EnviroTex Lite (Amount will vary depending on how big your table top is and how thick you want the top coat)
- Spray paint or stain for the base (optional)
- Tile cutter (optional)
Prep Work
- Wash the table
- Paint the table in a well ventilated area
- Level the table (If the table is wobbly, you can buy levelers at a hardware store)
- When breaking plates, glass, tiles, etc. make sure you protect your hands and eyes with gloves and goggles
- Make a sketch of your pattern or practice on the floor first
Creating the Mosaic Tabletop
- Cover the table top with tile adhesive
- Arrange broken/cut tiles in desired pattern
- Let dry
- Measure the tabletop width and the biggest piece on your mosaic, decide how thick you want your top coat and add these 3 numbers together. (i.e. tabletop 1” thick + 1/4” mosaic piece + 1/16” polymer = total thickness of 1 5/16”)*
- Cut cardboard into total thickness measurement
- Fill in the gaps between mosaic pieces with grout
- Leave to dry as per grout instructions
- Clean the tabletop with a damp cloth or sponge
- Glue cardboard to the perimeter with super strong glue, creating a level mould to pour Polymer compound in, be sure there are no gaps or holes for polymer to leak out of*
- Mix polymer as per manufacturer directions and pour into card board ring or paint onto surface (Save about 1 cup for the last step)
- Check for any leaks.
- Remove bubbles and let dry as per instructions
- Remove cardboard
*NOTE: This step can be skipped if level tiles are used OR if the table top is not meant to be level. In these cases only a thin layer of Polymer is painted onto the table top surface.
Finishing Touches
Paint the sides with tile adhesive. Then glue the tiles to the sides of the table. Let it dry thoroughly. Fill in with grout. Then let this dry. Paint polymer compound all around the new tiles to seal the tiles on the side (or sides) of the table.
