How to Make a Mosaic Patio Table

Put Your Unique Style on Display in a Mosaic Tabletop in Ten Easy Steps

The mosaic tabletop can be made from pieces of broken china, broken chips from decorative tiles, or broken colored glass. Color themes can range from subtle to bombastic and depends solely on your taste and choice of materials. Careful planning and color co-ordination in a simple clear design will produce the most attractive garden accent.

Materials and Tools

1" marine plywood in the dimensions to suit your table design
String
Carpenters pencil
Jigsaw
Wood primer (clear)
Paintbrush
Pliers or tile nippers
A large selection of different colors of broken pottery, china, tiles or glass
Tile adhesive
Tile grout
Grout coloring
Rubber gloves
Clean up brush
Soft lint free cloth
Template of design, (optional)

First: Mark your table shape onto the plywood. This shape can be anything you want it to be from a circle to a free style shape to rectangle or square. When you are happy with the shape you have marked draw it on in dark lines with the carpenters pencil so you can see it and follow the lines when you cut the plywood.

Second: Cut out the table top shape being careful to follow your lines or the template for the best affect.

Third: Transfer the picture design that you will be using for the mosaic design onto the plywood. Avoid being too fussy or using small design elements that will not be easy fill.

Fourth: Prime the table top with clear wood primer. Leave this aside to dry.

Fifth: Sort your pieces into containers according to color and type of material. Each table top usually uses only one type of material so if you are using tile…stick to tile don't mix it all up with bits of pottery, bits of glass and bits of tile. The exception to this is if you want a specific design element to stand out. You may use soft greens and yellows for the design of a table top that is then accented with bright red apples made from transparent red glass. The materials you are using should be the same thickness and have the same resistance to heat, sun and water exposure.

Sixth: Use pliers or tile nippers to shape your pieces to fit the design on the table top and try them out by laying them out on the table top or on the template to check for fit and color compatibility. Use any existing artistic patterns on the materials to enhance your design. Focal points in your motif can be made more striking by the use of darker or brighter color design in the bits.

Seventh: When you have completed the design and are satisfied with how it appears you are ready to start gluing it in place on the table top. Work across the table top in sections, smearing the mosaic pieces with adhesive and placing them carefully in the correct position on the design.

Eighth: Mix the tile grout according to the directions on the package and use rubber gloves to protect your hands. Push the grout in between the mosaic bits with your fingers. Be sure to grout every space and there will be zillions of them. Also be sure the grout is even and level with the tops of the mosaic bits.

Ninth: Use the clean up brush to scrub the surface of your piece and clean off any excess grout. Buff with the soft cloth.

Tenth: You can either use the mosaic table top "as is" or seal it with a clear resin. Most people leave the mosaic "natural" because the texture is part of the appeal, but if there are sharp edges sticking up from the surface as sometimes happens it is best to seal the surface to prevent accidents.

Your table top is weather resistant but will last longer if you bring it in during severe weather.

http://www.aolej.com/mosaic/tilemosaics.htm
http://az.essortment.com/howtomakemosa_rilg.htm
http://www.ehow.com/how_7941_make-tile-mosaics.html
To find Books on Creating with Mosaic: http://www.sunshineglass.com/rcol/f-books/mosaic-howto-bks.htm