DIY mosaic tiling? I have a small round accent table next to formica top. ...
I have a small round accent table next to formica top. I'd like to try my hand at mosaic tiling on the top. Is it possible to do this over the formica, or do I enjoy to remove it. If so, what do I use to "prep" the formica before tiling.
p.s. I've never tiled anything since. Using this as a learning project.
Thanks for any suggestions, tips.
I have adjectives over formica counters. This is easy. I got a pious utility knife and scored the counter adjectives over. Then I got Lock Tite power grab white cement (this is the glue that holds a brick to the ceiling in the commercial) I applied it to the counter beside a putty knife in small section and applied the tile. Mosaics are fun to do. Just smash the tiles with a hammer and sand the edges beside a stone sanding block. If you are using different tiles they may be different thicknesses so use the thickest first and affix more glue to raise the others to like height. Now the edge of the table is going to be an issue if you want a finished periphery...If the table is square you can have a pretty 1' molding cut and even glue that on. There are some terracotta tiles that are made for edges...so you can use those for the edges after you break them. You are going to have a blast doing this...it's like a puzzle and lots of fun.
Enjoy! Lightly sand the formica and afterwards prime it with kilz it. Let it dry and go to town next to your mosaic. I did this to a kitchen island 7 years ago and it's still holding up.
Do NOT try to sand or grind off the formica top!! That is a dire idea!! Instead go to the lumber courtyard or home center and get thinner for formica cement, or any brand of contact cement thinner, or, barring that, try your hand beside acetone.
Try to start the top separating by prying at an edge or even breaking off a chip, use a brush and flood the crack or fringe with the thinner and the formica laminate will come loose so easily you'll probably be surprised. The gum bond is never that good with formica, what make it stick so well is simply the fact that it is such a roomy gluing surface area contained by a typical formica application. Work with a cheapie, throw-away brush and a putty knife. Use the putty axe to lift the formica and keep flooding the nouns near the putty knife next to contact cement thinner via the brush. The formica laminate will come off very slickly.
If you don't feel like dealing beside removing the formica, don't try to stick tile to it. Instead, try applying some 1/8" thick fibreboard, using the same formica contact cement and profusely of fasteners. Then, do your tiling with the firbreboard as your substrate.
But, removing the formica laminate is certainly very easy. The thinner give off nasty fumes, do it outside or within a very well ventilate area.
Once the formica is off, preserve rubbing down the wood substrate with the thinner to get rid of as much of the gunky contact cement residue as you can. You can brush on the thinner, next scrape the softened glue bad with a paint scraper and finish the wood off rubbing it beside a cloth dampened with the thinner. This should not take long. Then, hit it near a coarse sanding to prepare it for tiling.
This is the perfect project to try your foot at working with tile.
Answers: technically, tile isn't made to stick directly over formica. a form of underlayment is required, especially if trying to tile over a formica countertop. since this is just a table, and you are using small mosaic type tiles, the best item for you to do is sand the finish off of the formica. a belt sander would be the easiest and best way, but if you don't enjoy one or are afraid of powertools, some heavy grit sandpaper would do the trick, and LOTS of elbow grease. you're looking to take the finish and top seam off. use a white thinset, preferably a multiflex (available at home depot or lowes), to set your tiles with, as it is a better product than mastic, and if any of your mosaic tiles are made of cup, mastic won't even stick to them. then, wait for it to dry (24 hours) and grout next to the color of your choice. good luck!
I would remove the laminate if it were me. the best thing to do is to read directions on the mastic or tile glue