Replacing patio tabletop.

Question

Any suggestions of what we can put in as a tabletop for our patio table?

Diane Wentzel Schukar · Answer

I had the same thing happen to mine. I live in WA state and found a good sized chunk of butcher block works great! Gives weight to it, so the wind doesn't catch it. It looks great and I notice that plastic table clothes hold well to it.

William · Answer

I would replace it with wood. You can stain, tile, paint, decoupage, Mod Podge, Unicorn Spit, etc., it. Post what you here with photos. Good luck.

MN Mom · Answer

I had some clumsy contractors who accidentally broke my table top and I just ordered a replacement table. I wish I would have thought to do the wooden top like the others here suggested!

Janet Pizaro · Answer

You can also find discounted ceramic tiles.This happened where I was employed and in order to not take a total wipe out on a sale I found tiles for the customer that fit right in. Just a different approach. Of course you will have to bring them inside during the winter.

Jeanette S · Answer

Plexiglass would work great and it would not cost so much. It may scratch up a little, but you can always use a tablecloth on it.

If you are good at woodcutting, fitting it with deck planks...maybe cedar...would be nice!

Pam Jones Williams · Answer

What about some of those cute plastic trays IKEA has like the cafeteria type? They have several patterned ones. Or making a tray type inset using a pallet, then you could lift it out and change things as you wanted? Even merging both ideas, making the inset then dropping in whatever works for the season

Linda O'Neill Coggins · Answer

If you still want the see-thru look you could always use Plexiglas.

Johnchip · Answer

You can consider metal mesh. They sell sheets of various size and patterns to cover radiators, etc. You can simply put some wood stripping, molding, coving around edges to cover the edge if rough. Can be painted easily with spray paint to any color you wish.

Margarita · Answer

I have the same problem. The glass top of my table shattered and I was going to throw it out, but now I may not. Instead, I am going to use cardboard to make a template for it. I will then use some nice wood or tiles (over plywood). I'll even spray paint the metal part for a whole new look. Great idea, ladies. Thank you.

Dou6927825 · Answer

We put balu slates on ours

Sally Tucker · Answer

Install backer board, tiles or glass mosaic with mortar and grout.

MaryJane · Answer

I would have a circle cut out of wood. Cover it with polish stones, gluing them down on the wood. Also some 1' doweling cut to about 1 1/2 ' ( 8 to 12 of them). Paint brown and stand them upward to stabilize a piece of Plexiglas. Set P. glass over the stones. The dowels will keep the glass level. 1 1/2' should be taller than and stones. Or lay some stones out and judge the size to cut your dowel pieces. Might be less than 1 1/2'. Cork slices could look cute too! I don't know how big your table is. Also pennies would patina over time and you may not need the plex-glass.

Myriam Drachman Correa · Answer

We had the same problem with the glass top, so my husband covered a piece of plywood with colored tiles

Joanna · Answer

Have a piece of plywood cut to fit your table and be sure to seal it well. If you use a tablecloth you won't have to worry about using tiles etc. Just be sure to cover it well when it's not in use --to prevent warping from rain, snow. You could also sand the wood very well and use a nice stain if you don't want to always use a tablecloth.

Melinda · Answer

After coming up with an appropriate size piece of wood to become the table top, cover it (staple gun) with oil cloth. There are delightful prints to choose from. In stores on rolls, usually 56' or 58' wide, and only about $4 a yard.

Ang6697298 · Answer

Have an old set of china you don't use? Wrap each piece in an old towel or cloth and break it into pieces with a hammer. Glue it to plywood to fit your table. Best to use glass glue from a hobby shop and then fill in top with sanded grout.

Krista Beck · Answer

I had the exact same thing happen. My plan is to have plywood cut to fit and then decoupage pages from books onto it, then seal it.

Teresa · Answer

I have a fun idea but you will have to go to the home improvement store to get a little help. Do you like the look of concrete? First you need to know the size of the table you want. Then find some one in the wood department to cut a thin sheet of plywood let them know what you are doing and see if there is any one that knows about concrete backer board it weather poof you can stain it but its brittle so the wood you use needs to support it. they can cut both of the products and suggest stains and even concrete paint or sealer if you want. Talk it over with some one I have found a local home improvement store in town that really helps with ideas have helped me out a lot. Hope it helps Teresa

Linda Johnson · Answer

My husband cut a piece of plywood for the top of our neighbors table just like this one. It was exterior plywood and he put an exterior finish on it. Worked great. She is a senior citizen and loves it. It's easy to care for and use. She doesn't have to worry about it breaking, either.

Cindi · Answer

Cut a piece of wood to fit, and mosaic it. You can get mosaic tiles attached to mesh at any home improvement store, which would be the easiest, but not the cheapest. You can break china to mosaic. What I use to mosaic everything though is crash glass. Sponge on some random colors onto the wood, sprinkle different colors of glitter, and glue on the glass, the bigger chunks work best. Just get some tempered glass, fairly inexpensive, put it in a plastic bag, or on a box, tip it on end, and hit the corner with a hammer. It shatters, and some pieces stay together in 'chunks' and some are smaller, then grout it. You can also put a layer of polyurethane over it to smooth it all out. Beautiful. It's a little work, but well worth it. Don't use glass cleaner if you use the Poly though, it turns it all foggy, I learned that from experience. Oh yeah, you can also use Unicorn Spit if you don't want the trouble of mosaic. Get a piece of wood with some nice grain. I think it's pretty easy, although I've never used it myself, but the result is gorgeous. You'd still have to lacquer it or something for the weather.

Sharon Andruniak · Answer

I Canada we no longer have pennies and I saw the best idea, they cut a piece of plywood the size of the table , arranged pennies over it, heads up and maybe on tail up, then used self levelling varnish to cover it. Was very cool.

Annie Doherty · Answer

Love these ideas I cannot wait to start work, thanks for all the shares.

Carol Roddy · Answer

Try a Habitat Restore (not sure if you have them or not) Anyway, they get all kinds of used counter tops, cabinets etc. I was thinking a previous used counter top OR sometimes big box stores they sell remnants. Good luck.

Lg05449077 · Answer

Get a granite remnant cut for it.

JOHN · Answer

use deck boards for a rustic look

Vicki Roehrig · Answer

or cut a sheet of plywood any size you would like . Attach it to the base of the table and then tile and grout it ! Heavy & sturdy enough to withstand the sun and wind. And it's fun to do with so many different ideas!

Madolyn · Answer

We replaced a shattered glass picnic table w/plywood and then added
3 in. tiles on top and grouted. It was very heavy, very, wanted to use real small square tiles, but was outvoted.

Susan McAuliffe · Answer

Plexiglas cut to size worked well for my son and family.

Jdb5231995 · Answer

Ours also shattered.  Now we are in the process of doing a mosaic top.  Hubby cut 1/2 inch plywood with jigsaw corners. Then he used thin set and screws to put cement board on top.  Now it's over to me to do the tiling.  I still have to pick out the larger tiles, I have the smaller pieces already for the middle.

Lalybelle · Answer

I love the mixed metal with wood look that is so popular now. How about spray painting your legs in black, then using deck boards as JOHN suggested. I used old fence boards, which look fabulous, but needed to be sanded (and sanded) then sealed. I used a plywood base and spray painted it in satin enamel grey, then attached the fence boards. so far, so good!

Replacing patio tabletop.

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Replacing patio tabletop.

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