Thanks to the Internet, there is a treasure trove of DIY inspiring projects literally at your fingertips. While you may one day feel comfortable enough to tackle installing down your own tile flooring or replacing your bathroom’s vanity, it’s probably safer if you start exploring with something a little simpler. So why not take on tiling a side, end, or coffee table? This can help you repurpose a piece of furniture that you might otherwise have curbed but more importantly, it allows you to hone some of the skills necessary to tackle a larger tiling job down the line.
Here’s a quick guide that will help you turn your old table into something new.
Tools You’ll Need
Before you begin the search for the perfect coloured or patterned tile to adorn your new tabletop, you’ll want to ensure you have the proper tools. For this project, you will need to buy or borrow the following:
- Chalk line
- Framing square
- Utility knife
- Margin and notched trowels
- Grout float
- Masonry stone
- Tabletop tiles (for these, you’ll likely have to visit a nearby wholesale tile shop!)
Step 1: Dry Lay Tile
Since adhering tile to your tabletop infers some degree of permanence, you’re going to want to do a dry run to get an idea of what the finished product will look like, and to make sure that the placement of the tiles get marked. To get started, lay one course of tiles across the width of the surface and lay another course across its length. Tweak the position of each of the courses so that you leave half a tile width along the edges, if possible. With that done, go ahead and mark the ends of the table at the edges of each course.
Step 2: Snap Grid
Remove and set aside the tiles. Using the chalk line, snap reference lines using the marks you made when dry laying the tile. You can use the framing square to make sure the lines intersect properly. If any of your lines run askew, now is the time to adjust them; they should all be perpendicular to one another. If you need to snap another grid to make sure everything is square go ahead — doing so will give you peace of mind that the next steps will go off without a hitch and snapping lines is fun.
Step 3: Spread Thinset
Using the directions on the package, mix enough thinset to cover the table, or however much of the table you would like tiled. Apply thinset to the surface and use the straight edge of your trowel to evenly spread the material within the layout lines. With that done, use the notched edge of the trowel to comb the mortar, creating ridges. This not only adds visual appeal, but also helps with adhesion.
Step 4: Lay Tiles
Starting at the mid-intersection of your grid, lay the tiles in any pattern you choose (if your pattern is elaborate, you may want to spend a bit more time playing around with the layout and snapping a quick photo for reference). Make sure you keep the tiles on your layout lines and space them correctly as you go.
Next, remove any excess thinset from the joints and allow it to set. Measure and cut any edge tiles that you need and, using your masonry stone, round out those cut edges.
Step 5: Set Edges and Mortar
When the thinset is dry and set, place your edge tiles into position. Make sure the cut edges are facing inward (the “factory edge” should be facing outward). Let the mortar cure (as directed) and force the grout into the joints using your grout float. Again, let the grout set up then scrape off the excess with the grout float. With the heavy lifting done, all that is left to do is clean the tile which may have to be done a few times with a soft cloth to remove the grout haze from the tile.
Repurposing furniture looks great, keeps otherwise unused pieces out of the landfill, and saves you money, but it also helps you learn valuable skills and build confidence to tackle larger DIY home projects. If you’re looking to spruce up a coffee table to test your hand at re-tiling, check out Sarana Tile for a wide array of tiles for your table or any other DIY home project.
