How to Build Mosaic Patio Furniture

Clean the furniture surface with a sponge and a cleaner made for the furniture material. Rinse with warm water and allow the piece to dry completely.

Sand the surface, where you're applying the mosaic tiles, with a sheet of medium-grit sandpaper to remove any loose paint or applied finish. The sanding process creates a textured surface suitable for mastic adherence.

Create a template of the tiling area by placing a sheet of card stock on the piece of furniture and tracing an outline of the tiling area with a pencil onto the board. Cut the board along the traced line with scissors and place the board onto a flat surface.

Plan your layout of mosaic tiles, using the template. Place the tiles onto the template in the pattern you wish to apply them to the tiling area on the furniture. Make any adjustments necessary, and when you're satisfied with tile placement, begin transferring them to the furniture.

Cover the tiling area with a layer of mastic adhesive. Use the flat blade of a notched trowel to spread the adhesive. Then holding the trowel at an angle of 45 degrees, go over then surface of the mastic to raise ridges for better tile gripping.

Transfer the tiles from the template to the tiling surface, carefully following your planned pattern. Press the tiles down into the mastic, using a slight wiggling motion to set them securely. Continue placing the tiles to cover the entire surface. Remove any mastic from the front of the tiles with a damp cloth.

Place a flat piece of plywood over the tiles and press down firmly to level the tiles over the entire tiling area. Allow the mastic to set overnight.

Spread grout over the tiles with a grout float to fill the tile joints. Push the grout with the edge of the float into all of the joint lines, until the grout is even with the tile surface. Wipe away excess grout on the mosaic tile with a damp sponge, within 15 minutes of applying the grout.

Wait two hours, and then use a clean lint-free cloth to wipe the tiles again -- to remove any grout haze. Allow the grout to dry completely for the length of time suggested by the grout manufacturer.

Brush a layer of tile-and-grout sealer onto the tiling area with a paintbrush to protect the tile and grout from staining and moisture. Allow the sealant 72 hours drying time before touching the surface.