| Creating a real tile mosaic on almost any surface top | | | | well for a larger area like this as it does for a small |
| is easy. The first step would be to look in a tile shop | | | | accent table. |
| and see what is available. Then decide on a pattern | | | | Before starting this project, there are some things |
| you want. | | | | you should do first to be prepared. |
| There are many books, magazines and TV shows | | | | |
| that give step by step instructions as well as design | | | | Take some time researching what you want to do |
| ideas. After deciding a pattern or design, sketch your | | | | before you start laying tiles down. There are tons of |
| pattern on the surface you are going to tile over. | | | | books on ceramic tiles at your bookstore or library. A |
| The first step is to prepare the surface making sure | | | | recommendation is to just thumb through them to |
| the tile will adhere. You do this by scoring the surface | | | | get some inspiration for your design. Once you have |
| with a utility knife then coating the surface with a | | | | a basic idea of what you want to do, it's always a |
| mixture of watered down white glue. | | | | good idea to draw a sketch of your design. |
| Next you take tile cement, commonly known as thin | | | | |
| set or mortar, and spread a thin coating over the | | | | Then you will want to place the actual tiles on the |
| surface. Place your tiles in the cement according to | | | | countertop, starting from the center and working |
| the pattern you drew. After the cement has set, | | | | outwards, to make sure your pleased with your |
| (don't be in too big of a hurry) fill the gaps between | | | | design. Once you have everything in place, take a |
| the tiles with tile grout. Most people think grout is | | | | magic marker and mark the tiles' location. |
| available only in white but if you look in a hardware | | | | Before you cement the tiles in place, you have to |
| store you'll find many different colors of grout | | | | prepare the tiles for the mosaic sections. How do |
| available. You apply the grout by simply troweling it | | | | you do that? This is where you can get some |
| over all of the seams between the individual tiles. | | | | aggression out. Take a mix of tiles, wrap them in a |
| Then wipe away the excess with a sponge. | | | | towel and give them a whack. This is the simplest |
| | | | way to get the broken pieces of tile you'll need for |
| Have you ever been in a cafe, restaurant or a | | | | the mosaic. For the border mosaics you are going to |
| friend's house for that fact, and admired the mosaic | | | | need some smaller pieces of tile. For the smaller |
| tile on the tabletops or walls? Well, it's not that hard | | | | pieces you use a tile nibbler to break off pieces the |
| to bring that look into your own home. Where's a | | | | size you need. |
| good place to add a mosaic in your home? Kitchens | | | | To cement the tiles in place, use mortar that you can |
| and bathrooms are the obvious choices but end | | | | buy at any tile store or home improvement store. |
| tables and patios have become favorites too. | | | | You just trowel the mortar on about 1/8th inch thick. |
| Consider embellishing a coffee table purchased from | | | | Then use the edge of the trowel to score the |
| an unfinished furniture store. This is a great little | | | | mortar. Then just put your tiles in place. For the |
| week-end project. All you have to do is add a coat | | | | mosaic sections you use the same process. Take the |
| of paint and then make a small mosaic on the | | | | different pieces of tile and arrange them however |
| tabletop using some different size tiles or even | | | | you like. Try and keep the spaces between the tiles |
| broken tile pieces. This same technique works equally | | | | to 1/8th of an inch. |