Outdoor Living & Lifestyles - Patio Table Repair
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stevebeckett
03-12-08, 10:39 PM
I have a small patio table I inherited from the previous tenant. The grout was cracking and there were loose tiles all over the top. So I broke off all the old grout and want to reset it all.
It's interesting....I have noticed that after I took all the tiles and grout off, almost the entire surface is rusted. Someone grouted and placed the tiles directly onto the steel top base. Not sure if this is good or bad as I don't really know much about this. Anyhow, I'm wondering a few things:
1) Is it okay to just lay down some grout, place the tiles in it, and let it harden. Then simply glaze over it with a gloss or epoxy?
2) Do I have to do put plywood and backerboard down prior to all of this? Because the top of the table is rusted (where you would put the grout) will it adhere or am I basically working with a disaster here?
3) What do I use to get the rust off the table top?
Thanks!
Steve
It's interesting....I have noticed that after I took all the tiles and grout off, almost the entire surface is rusted. Someone grouted and placed the tiles directly onto the steel top base. Not sure if this is good or bad as I don't really know much about this. Anyhow, I'm wondering a few things:
1) Is it okay to just lay down some grout, place the tiles in it, and let it harden. Then simply glaze over it with a gloss or epoxy?
2) Do I have to do put plywood and backerboard down prior to all of this? Because the top of the table is rusted (where you would put the grout) will it adhere or am I basically working with a disaster here?
3) What do I use to get the rust off the table top?
Thanks!
Steve
Kobuchi
03-13-08, 01:08 AM
Do it again the same way, it'll suffer the same fate all over again.
The rust should come off, or it'll discolour the wet grout. Course or medium steel wool plus water is all you need for that.
The outdoor steel is going to change size with temperature enough that tiles need a backing that won't. And we have to assume some moisture will get under the tile. Plywood or even backerboard won't last, and they complicate the table edge.
If the tiles are clean on the backs and uniform thickness I would bed them in resin with a fibreglass mesh backing. This will stick to the steel initially. After some decades of weathering it may detach from the rusted steel but will remain as one piece.
The resin you can get as small "repair kit" etc. at a big box or fiberglass supplier. It is two-part and hardens quickly! Best pre-arrange the tiles and tape them all together, slide the whole thing into place.
Then grout.
The rust should come off, or it'll discolour the wet grout. Course or medium steel wool plus water is all you need for that.
The outdoor steel is going to change size with temperature enough that tiles need a backing that won't. And we have to assume some moisture will get under the tile. Plywood or even backerboard won't last, and they complicate the table edge.
If the tiles are clean on the backs and uniform thickness I would bed them in resin with a fibreglass mesh backing. This will stick to the steel initially. After some decades of weathering it may detach from the rusted steel but will remain as one piece.
The resin you can get as small "repair kit" etc. at a big box or fiberglass supplier. It is two-part and hardens quickly! Best pre-arrange the tiles and tape them all together, slide the whole thing into place.
Then grout.