How To Lay Tile on a Picnic Table

Concrete Backer Board

• 1

  Measure the top of the picnic table to be tiled.

• 2

  Measure and cut the concrete backer board to cover the tabletop uniformly.

• 3

  Attach the concrete backer board to the tabletop using both tile adhesive and 3/4-inch wood screws evenly spaced along the surface about 10 to 12 inches apart. Using tile adhesive and wood screws will ensure that you have a secure and rigid surface on which to lay the tile.

Tile Layout

• 4

  Mark the center point of the tabletop. It's important to center the tile to get a uniform look.

• 5

  Measure and mark lines on the tabletop to show tile placement. The possibilities are endless here depending on your choice of tile. Using a large tile in the middle of the table with smaller tiles to cover the tabletop edge and corners works well.

• 6

  Dry fit all of your tiles on the marks making sure to allow for even grout joint lines. The thinner the grout joints in this application the better.

• 7

  Measure and cut any tiles that need to be trimmed and place them in the dry-fitting process. Laying out all of the tiles without adhesive will enable you to make small adjustments as needed to create a great design.

• 8

  Take a digital picture of the tabletop once you have dry fit and laid out the tile so that you can duplicate your design. (Skip this step if it is a simple layout.)

Tile and Grout

• 9

  Post a large copy of the digital picture of your tabletop tile layout so that it is easy to see while you work.

• 10

  Using a notched trowel, apply the tile adhesive to the concrete backer board surface. If it is a large table, do this in manageable sections so that the adhesive does not dry out.

• 11

  Place the tiles on the table top according to the layout in the picture. Allow the tile adhesive to dry overnight.

• 12

  Using a sponge-covered trowel, apply the sanded grout between the tiles, removing all excess grout as you work. Follow up with a wet sponge to remove the residual grout from the tile surface. Allow the grout to dry overnight.

• 13

  Apply grout and tile sealant to cover the entire picnic tabletop and allow it to dry over night again. Apply a second coat of sealant to the entire surface to finish your new tile-top picnic table.