Making A Tile Table Top For Outdoors

This tiled table is simple to make but it s engineered to hold up in any weather.

Making a tile table top for outdoors.

I tiled my patio in 2011 and i absolutely hated the entire experience. Second the tiles fit together like a puzzle but an excess of undulations causes trouble. I will probably never do a project like that again. The playful tile treatment atop this diy patio table turns the humble garden accent into a bespoke treasure.

You can build this table with simple tools and basic skills. In the end it came out pretty good but bent over in the georgia sun mixing mortar and cutting tile wasn t very fun. The lightweight frame of the table comes together with pine boards held up by four. Cut the plywood to size based on the tile pattern you have created.

We expanded the size of our table by fastening a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood to the top of table. Ask to see a porcelain or stone tile or a combination that ll withstand harsh weather conditions. To make it easier try to create a pattern that requires no tile cutting. Be sure to apply a little pressure to set the tiles.

First large clay tiles tend to warp see this post for tips on making flat tile which leads to an uneven top so keep individual pieces small less than eight inches on a tile s longest dimension. If your table top is made of another material like granite or metal you can skip this step. Use a hand or belt sander to sand down any rough edges or bulges in the wood. For example if your tile is 3 8 thick and your table is 1 5 thick you would need a strip 1 7 8 wide.

Get your wood and steel at a home center and look for interesting tile at a local tile supplier. Tile a table top. Determine the size of your tabletop. Use a pencil to mark out your design.

If the table top is made of wood you ll want to make sure that you have a smooth surface to place your mosaic tiles. Use tile nippers to trim tiles to fit as needed image 2. Tile top patio table overview. Using a 3 16 trowel spread mastic on the table working in small sections to prevent drying and begin arranging tiles image 1.

All the materials are available at home centers and you can build this table with simple tools and basic skills.