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How to tile an outdoor tabletop

Potted succulent centrepiece on a tiled outdoor dining table

Overview

This is a great weekend project that transforms a dated but still-sturdy outdoor table with tiles and a stained timber frame to tidy up the edges. All you need is an undercover workspace, simple tools and gorgeous tiles – ours are leftover from a previous project. Make sure your table is strong enough to carry the extra weight of the tiles, and adjust the measurements to suit the size of your own table and chosen tiles.

Steps

  1. 1

    Attach plywood to the table

    Clean the table all over with sugar soap wipes. Using a caulking gun, apply construction adhesive over the top of the table and position the sheet of cut-to-size marine plywood, pressing it down evenly and flush with the edges. Work out the positioning of the tiles – our tiles fit without needing to be cut.

    Green Bunnings hammer
    Tip: Have the marine plywood cut in store to be exactly the same dimensions as your tabletop, or use a track saw to trim it to size.
    Construction adhesive applied to a plywood board
  2. 2

    Apply tile adhesive to the tabletop

    Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to combine tile adhesive with water in a bucket, mixing it into a smooth, toothpaste-like consistency. Use a notched adhesive spreader to apply it in 5mm-thick sections, beginning at one corner of the table.

    Tile adhesive is spread onto a tabletop
  3. 3

    Lay tiles and spacers

    Position a tile flush with the table’s edge, add tile spacers and position the next tile. Repeat to cover the table, putting tile spacers between tiles for even gaps. Wipe with a damp cloth to press the tiles into the adhesive while removing the excess. Leave to dry.

    Patterned tiles placed on a tabletop
  4. 4

    Apply the grout

    Run the nozzle of ready-mixed grout along the edge of the tiles, using a damp sponge to smooth it into the gaps while removing the excess. Leave for 30 minutes and use a clean sponge to wipe away the grout haze that develops on the tiles as it dries.

    Two hands applying grout to tiles
  5. 5

    Make the frame

    Measure the table length to cut two pieces of 65mm x 12mm pine with a handsaw. Working on one side at a time, apply construction adhesive along the plywood, clamp the pine flush with the tabletop and tap in 30mm nails with a hammer every 200mm.

    A person hammers pine frames to a tiled table
  6. 6

    Secure the frame

    Measure the table width, including the frame sides, to cut two pieces of 65mm x 12mm pine. Apply construction adhesive along the plywood, clamp the pine to the table and tap in two 30mm nails into each side of the frame, and every 200mm along the ends.

    A person uses abrasive paper to sand down the corners of a tiled outdoor ta
  7. 7

    Sand the frame, then apply stain and varnish

    Position painter’s tape on the tiles around the edge of the tabletop. Smooth over the frame with 180-grit abrasive paper, rounding over the corners slightly and wiping away dust with a damp cloth. Apply two coats of stain and varnish with a brush, leaving to dry after each coat.

    Timber stain brushed onto the frame of a tiled table
  8. 8

    Fill table sides with gap filler

    Tape around the top of the frame. Apply gap filler between the tape, smoothing with a damp cloth to remove excess. Remove the tape and leave to dry. Finish the tabletop with clear tile-and-grout sealer, running the applicator along the gaps, wiping away excess with a cloth and leaving to dry.

    Gap filler applied to the ends of a tiled table
  9. 9

    Keep in mind...

    • When using a saw, wear safety equipment and always exercise caution.
    • It’s a good idea to have a few extra tiles on hand in case of breakages.
    • The tiles and timber will make the tabletop much heavier, so ensure the table weight loading is able to support this. Enlist some help to move the completed project.

    *Timbers vary by state and territory; contact your local store for further information.

  10. 10

    Another way to give an old table a brand new look…

    New legs and a fresh coat of paint can go a long way, take inspiration from our upcycled coffee table project.

     

    Photo Credit: Leah McLeod

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Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer.