Creating tiled countertops

Creating a true mosaic of tiles on almost any surface is easy. The first step would be to look in a tile shop and see what is available. Then decide on the pattern you want. There are many books, magazines and TV shows that give step by step instructions as well as design ideas. After choosing a pattern or pattern, draw it on the surface to be tiled. The first step is to prepare the surface by making sure the tiles adhere.

To do this, you mark the surface with a knife, then you coat the surface with a mixture of diluted white glue. Then you take tile cement, commonly known as thin set or mortar, and lay a thin coating on the surface. Place your tiles in the cement according to the pattern you drew. Once the cement has set (do not be in a hurry), fill the gaps between the tiles with tile grout. Most people think that grout is only available in white, but if you look in a hardware store, you will find many grout colors available. You apply the grout by simply smoothing it on all the seams between the individual tiles. Then wipe off the excess with a sponge.

Have you ever been to a cafe, a restaurant or a friend's house and admired the mosaic on the table or walls? Well, it's not that hard to bring that look to you. Where is there a good place to add a mosaic in your home? Kitchens and bathrooms are obvious choices, but bedside tables and patios have also become favorites. Consider beautifying a coffee table purchased in an unfinished furniture store. It's a great little weekend project. Simply add a coat of paint, then make a small mosaic on the tray using tiles of different sizes or even pieces of broken tiles. This same technique works as well for a larger area than this one for a small side table.

Before starting this project, you must start by preparing yourself.

Take the time to research what you want to do before you start laying tiles. There are tons of books on ceramic tiles in your bookstore or library. A recommendation is to simply browse them to find inspiration for your design. Once you have a basic idea of ​​what you want to do, it's always a good idea to draw a sketch of your design.

Then, you will want to place the actual tiles on the counter, starting from the center and extending outwards, to ensure the satisfaction of your project. Once everything is in place, take a magic marker and mark the location of the tiles.

Before cementing the tiles in place, you must prepare the tiles for the mosaic sections. How do you do this? This is where you can have an aggression. Take a mixture of tiles, wrap them in a towel and give them a shot. This is the easiest way to get the broken pieces of tile you need for the mosaic. For border mosaics, you will need smaller pieces of tile. For smaller rooms, use a tile nibbler to separate pieces the size you need. To cement tiles in place, use mortar that you can buy at any tile or renovation store. You have just smoothed the mortar about 1 / 8th of an inch thick. Then use the edge of the trowel to mark the mortar. Then simply put your tiles in place. For mosaic sections, you use the same process. Take the different pieces of tiles and arrange them as you see fit. Try to keep the spaces between the tiles at 1 / 8th of an inch.