How do I get glass beads to stick in cement?

I've seen other people who mix glass beads into cement giving it a jeweled look. It seems when I try to do this, thecement dries and the beads pop out despite having 1/2 inch cement base. Is there something I can do to keep them in place?

  9 answers
  • Brenda Brenda on Jun 16, 2019

    Possibly glue in place

  • Patty Smith Patty Smith on Jun 16, 2019

    Hi, I’m a stained glass artist and I make cement shapes with stained glass art work. I only use cement and fill the mold up a little from the top. Once I’ve moved and tapped it a little bit to get air bubbles out, I put a water tight glue on the cement and the glass pieces and place them in the cement. I let the entire project cure for 5 days in the mold, then remove the mold and let cure for another 5 days then spay 3-4 coats of cement sealer and let dry. I polish the glass with furniture polish one it’s ready for delivery. I did a stone for a customer in New Jersey 20 years ago and it’s still in one piece. I hope this works for you. Good luck.

    • See 2 previous
    • Janna Janna on Apr 13, 2024

      "water tight glue"? Do you mean waterproof?

  • William William on Jun 16, 2019

    It's not the cement. It's grout around the beads. Glue the beads to a substrate then use grout around the beads. Use E6000 glue.


    Another way is to lay out the beads in a form then pour cement over them.

  • Arthur Arthur on Jul 12, 2022

    What would be the best way to bond glass marbles to an exterior concrete slab where the marbles would constantly be subjected to the elements? Thanks, A

    P.S. I constantly hear and read of people pouring cement--YOU DO NOT POUR CEMENT--YOU POUR CONCRETE and cement is just one element in concrete. The other elements are sand and rock and of course water. Just thouht you may like to know.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Apr 07, 2023

    Whaen they pop out Stick them back in again with Glue!

  • Mogie Mogie on Apr 13, 2023

    Amazon sell glass bead adhesives.

  • Mogie Mogie on Sep 10, 2023

    Add an acrylic fortifier to your mix. Use of an acrylic fortifier to the concrete mix helps glass chips adhere to the concrete. Acrylic fortifiers also improve resistance to water penetration.

  • Betsy Betsy on Nov 25, 2023

    Hi Debra: I have done exactly what Patty says to do with great success. Follow her instructions and Bob's your uncle :)

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Nov 26, 2023

    Maybe use a waterproof Grout /Sealer used for Bathroom Tiles.