How to Create a Mosaic Tabletop
If you need an attractive table for your living room or other area in your home, you can update an old, unused or thrifted table by creating a mosaic top. From an unattractive and worn end or coffee table, you can make a piece of functional artwork that you'll be proud to display in your home. Sand and repaint the table first, if needed. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Mosaic glue
- Brush
- Stained glass and tile scraps
- Rubber gloves
- Grout
- Squeegee
- Sponge
- Glass cleaner
- Cleaning cloth
- Grout sealer
- Roller brush
Instructions
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Brush mosaic glue on the back side of the stained glass and tile pieces and place them on the table surface to create your design. Since the glass or tile pieces are irregular, it can be difficult to make an exact pattern on your table top, but you can still create an attractive design. You can plan your design to make various shapes with triangular pieces of broken glass, creating arrangements that give the suggestion of a scene or object. An alternative is to simply glue randomly the glass or tile pieces, in any way that makes them fit together on the surface. Allow about one-eight inch between each piece, for the grout. Use enough glue to firmly affix each piece in place. If a small amount of glue squeezes out from under the pieces, it's not a problem, as it will eventually be covered with grout anyway. Once your tabletop design is complete and glued in place, allow it to dry for 12 to 24 hours.
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Put your rubber gloves on again and start applying the grout with the help of a squeegee to the entire table top. Make sure to work it into the spaces between your glued pieces as necessary. Keep applying grout over the entire surface until it is even or almost even with the level of your glass or tile pieces. The table edge can be tricky, but try to apply a layer of grout around the entire edge and smooth it as best you can. Clean the grout off the tiles with a damp sponge, when it becomes hard.
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Use a wet sponge to smooth over the entire top surface and also help set and seat the grout better. The tile is going to have a cloudy surface, with a film of grout over it. Whatever film is left can be gently wiped off sporadically during the grout's drying process. Check the grout label for instructions on the time needed for drying If there's still a slight filminess left after the grout has dried, spray some glass cleaner onto a cloth, not on the surface of your table, and gently clean the remaining film off the glass or tile.
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Apply a sealer over the entire surface of the table with a roller brush.
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References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
