Homemade Bar Tops
You can make a creative bar top in your own home using bits of broken ceramics. Mosaic tile is nothing more than arranging broken bits in a pattern of color. You can create your own mosaic homemade bar top with a little effort and a lot of glue. Once finished, you will have a surface that reflects your creativity and flair for design. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Towel
- Rubber mallet
- Waterproof tile adhesive
- Tile spacers
- Putty knife
- Tile grout
- Sponge
- Tile sealant
Instructions
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1
Wrap plates and assorted tile in an old towel. Break the plates and tile by hitting the towel with a rubber mallet. Work in a manner that will create large and small pieces for your mosaic tile bar top. Separate different colored tile in storage tubs.
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2
Draw guidelines or pattern lines on the wooden top for the bar if you prefer a more uniform look. It isn't necessary to come up with a pattern, but it may help if this is your first time. A pattern can be simply circles and squares of color with a neutral color of tile placed between.
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3
Butter the tile with mosaic tile adhesive. Choose an outdoor tile adhesive for longevity and water resistance. Smooth the adhesive onto the tile with a putty knife or butter knife for small pieces.
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4
Put each tile in place as soon as you apply the adhesive. Place tile spacers between each tile for even grout lines. You can remove these spacers as you go along; they are really nothing more than a guide for tile placement. Let your work cure for 24 hours.
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Mix the tile grout using the manufacturer's instructions. Spread sanded tile grout across the bar top using a putty knife and your hands. Work the grout into each crack and crevice. Allow the grout to dry for two hours.
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6
Wet a sponge and begin mopping off the excess grout. You may need a bit of elbow grease to remove the thickest portions of grout.
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7
Let the bar top dry for 24 hours and paint on a waterproof grout sealer.
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Tips & Warnings
Look for colored plates at flea markets or second hand shops.
Buy assorted tile from Habitat for Humanity discount resale stores. These stores resell excess material from bigger jobs.
Wear gloves to prevent cuts from broken tile edges.
References
- Photo Credit Tile image by Kerry Adamo from Fotolia.com
