How to Do Mosaic Tile on Glass

Add mosaic tiles to a glass coffee table to make it sing. There are a lot of different materials that are considered mosaic, from traditional tesserae to bones, rocks or seashells. Mosaic work is simply applying mastic to a prepared surface, adding mosaic materials and grouting between the pieces to hold them in place. It's good to start with a pattern idea, but if you are new to the craft, simply create a double row of mosaics around the edge of an old coffee table. If that isn't enough, put a pattern inside your border.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Glass surface TSP cleaner Acrylic-based mosaic adhesive Pieces to mosaic Grout Sponge Spatula Soft-polishing cloth

1. Clean your glass surface with TSP mixed according to container directions. Rinse, dry and polish.

2. Decide upon a color palette. Go around the edges with small tesseraes--1-inch square pieces of glass that are smooth on the front and have ridges on the back. They are designed to sit in the adhesive and hold firmly.

3. Choose your placement. Lay some tiles on the glass and mark the position with a wax pencil so you don't go beyond your set border.

4. Apply the adhesive and begin laying in the tesseraes according to your pattern. Leave a small space between the row and the edge of the glass for grout. Either lay down a section of tile adhesive, or place tesserae one at a time, dabbing them with adhesive individually. As you press the tesserae down, it will displace the adhesive so that it lies beyond the actual piece; don't allow it to run over the edge of the glass. Make sure that there is enough adhesive to securely hold each tesserae.

5. Continue working your pattern around the edge of the glass until it is completed. Allow it to dry thoroughly before grouting. Apply the grout with a paint spatula, pushing it down between tesseraes so that it fills the area completely. Use a damp sponge to wipe grout off the mosaic pieces. Dry completely. Buff mosaic pieces and glass to a nice shine.

Resources

• Everything You Wanted to Know About Mosaics
• Different Materials to Use, and Where to Use Them