How to Refinish a Tile-topped Table

Deeper Scratches and Heavy Wear

• 1

  Lay down tarps or plastic sheets and set the table on top to protect the ground from any stain drips or spills.

• 2

  Cover the tiles with strips of low-tack painter's masking tape. Begin at the edge of the tile and apply overlapping strips to the opposite edge. Cover the masking tape strips with a second layer of masking tape running perpendicular to the first layer.

• 3

  Load a sanding block with 120-grit sandpaper. Rub the wood surface, while following the direction of the wood grain, until you reveal bare wood. Wipe the surface with a tack rag. Load the sanding block with 220-grit sandpaper and sand the surface again, following the wood grain. Wipe the wood surface with a tack rag. Load the sanding block with 320-grit sandpaper and sand the wood surface a third time, following the wood grain. Wipe the tabletop with a tack rag.

• 4

  Examine the masking tape. If the edges look raggedy from sanding close to them, apply more masking tape to protect the tile.

• 5

  Fold a lint-free rag into a 4- by 4-inch square. Dip the rag into gel stain. Generally, gel stains are the easiet stains to apply because you slowly build the color and do not have the worry of brush marks and overlapping as with brush-on stains.

• 6

  Spread a thin coat of gel stain, following the wood grain, onto the entire wood surface. Immediately wipe off excess stain with a rag and let the stain dry for one to two hours. Wet a piece of 400-grit sandpaper, load it into a sanding block and lightly sand the surface, following the wood grain. Continue to add stain, wipe off excess, let dry then sand until you reach the desired color.

• 7

  Apply a coat of paste wax with a lint-free cloth. Let the paste wax dry until it turns white and hazy. Buff away the white waxy residue with a lint-free rag.

Minor Scratches and Light Surface Wear

• 8

  Mix grease-fighting dish detergent with water in a small container.

• 9

  Dip a lint-free rag into the soapy water and squeeze out all water, leaving the rag damp.

• 10

  Rub the wood surface to remove oils, grease and dirt.

• 11

  Rub a lint-free, soft rag in a matching colored paste furniture wax. Apply the wax to the wood surface and allow it to dry for 30 to 45 minutes. Use care to avoid getting wax on the tiles.

• 12

  Buff the surface with a clean, lint-free, soft rag. Colored paste furniture wax covers surface scratches and light wear, restoring the finish.