DIY Recycled Glass Countertops
Making your own recycled glass countertops is an easy project to do yourself or with a friend. If you have ever broken plates to make a mosaic trivet or cover a table top, you already know the basics of making your own glass countertop as it is very similar.
Materials needed for a glass countertop.
- Plywood long enough to fit the counter
- Glass bottles or purchased glass pieces in your color choice
- Hammer
- Plastic bin, large size
- Old towel that you no longer want
- Plastic bucket
- Heavy duty work gloves
- Goggles
- Tile adhesive
- Stone and glass sealer
- Trowel
- Wood trim, enough to edge counter
- Small nails
- Sander that has an attachment to polish
Instructions for glass countertop
- Collect bottles in the color or colors of your choice. You may also buy polished glass stones. The amount of glass you will need depends on the size of your counter.
- Wash the bottles well and peel the labels off. If the labels are hard to remove or leave a residue, try spraying them with a solution of warm water and vinegar. Let it sit for a minute or so and then try again.
- Place some of your bottles into a large plastic bin or sturdy cardboard box. Cover the bottles with an old towel. Put on goggles and gloves. It is easier to work with a few bottles at a time.
- Use the hammer to smash bottles. You want the bottles to break into pieces about the size or a quarter or a bit larger. Smash with enough force to break them into pieces, but not enough to crush them into tiny shards.
- Check on the glass and take out proper sized pieces as you work. Remove the pieces you will be using, place them in a plastic bucket. Continue until you have broken all of your bottles.
- Go to your local home improvement store to buy plywood. Cut the plywood to fit the countertop area. You may also ask the home improvement store to cut the plywood for you.
- Use a trowel to apply adhesive to the plywood. Work in 1 or 2-foot sections at a time.
- Put your gloves on and begin laying glass pieces onto the plywood. Press the pieces down into the adhesive. Continue doing this until the entire piece of plywood is covered. Let the adhesive set and dry.
- Apply two coats of stone and glass sealer to entire area. Let it dry between each coat of sealer.
- Clean the glass countertop with a clean damp rag.
- Buff the countertop with your sander that has the buffer attachment on.
- Nail pieces of wood trim to the counter for a finished edge.