How to Build Mosaic Patio Furniture

Buying patio furniture in a various array of styles can give your home a stylish and personal look.  When it comes to the patio, it can become very expensive.  Fortunately, you can transform you patio by using mosaic tiles.  If you have a flat surface you can make very colorful pictures and patterns with tiles of any color.

Things you will need to build mosaic patio furniture:

• Notched trowel


• Plywood board                 


• Grout


• Grout float


• Lint-free cloth


• Paintbrush


• Tile and grout sealant


• Sponge


• Furniture cleaner


• Medium-grit sandpaper


• Card stock


• Pencil


• Scissors


• Mosaic tiles


• Mastic adhesive

1. Use a sponge and furniture cleaner to clean the surface of the furniture.  Rinse the area with warm water and let it dry completely.


2. Sand the area where you will be adding the mosaic tiles with sandpaper.  Sanding the surface will make it suitable for the process to take place.


3. Make a template of the tiling area by putting a piece of card stock on the piece of furniture and trace an outline on the board.  Be sure to cut the board with some scissors on the traced line.


4. Come up with a layout of the mosaic tiles while using the template.  Put the tiles on the template in the pattern you want them on the tiling area on the furniture.  Make any changes you see fit and when you are ready, start putting them on.


5. Take some mastic adhesive and cover the tiling area.  You will use the flat blade of the notched trowel to apply the adhesive.  Hold the towel at a 45 degree angle and go over the surface of the mastic to raise the ridges.


6. Take the tiles off the template and put them on the tiling surface.  Be sure to press the tiles down onto the mastic.  Use a slight wiggling motion to place them in a secure manner.  Keep putting the tiles down to cover the whole surface.  Get rid of mastic from the front of the tiles using a wet cloth.


7. Put a flat piece of plywood over the tiles and be sure to press down in a firm manner to level the tiles.  Let the mastic set overnight.


8. Apply grout on the tiles with a grout float in order to fill up the tile joints.  Use a damp sponge and wipe off the excess grout after 15 minutes of applying it.


9. Stop for two hours and use a lint free cloth to wipe down the tiles to get rid of grout haze.  Let the grout dry for the amount of time specified.


10. Take some tile and grout cleaner and brush it on the tiling area with a paintbrush.  This will protect the tile and grout from moisture and staining.  Let the sealant dry for 72 hours.