Learn How to Make a Trivet Using Bathroom Tiles

After you have the tile in your bathroom replaced, it can be hard to know what to do with the extra tile or the old tile that was on your walls. You could use the tiles to create a custom gift for someone special to you. Creating a custom gift for someone doesn't have to be overly difficult. When creating a gift for someone, you want to be sure that you create something that you are sure they are going to enjoy receiving and that they will actually use. Trivets are always great gifts to give to someone that is special to you because they are something that everyone can use. Use the following guide to learn how to create a customized trivet for someone you love.

Break the Ceramic Tiles

The first thing you will need to do to create a customized trivet is to smash the tiles into pieces. Place a tile into a cloth bag and use a hammer to gently hit it so that it breaks. You want to break it into pieces that are about a half an inch in size so you do not want to pulverize it. Repeat the process with tiles of a few different colors and designs.

Create Your Base

The first thing you need to do is choose the size and shape you want to use for your trivet. At your home improvement store, there should be pieces of plywood in many different shapes and sizes. If you cannot find any smaller sizes of plywood, you can have an associate custom cut the plywood to meet the exact specifications you need to be able to make the trivets you want to make.

Create your Layout

Once you have your base, you need to figure out how you want to arrange the tiles on the base to create the trivet. You can choose to place the pieces sporadically over the entire base to create a hodgepodge design or you can lay them in a distinct pattern to create an image.

Create the Trivet

Once you have chosen your design, remove all of the tile from the base, it will be time to attach the tile to the base. Mix a small bowl of concrete thinset to use as the paste that holds everything together. The thinset will have directions on the bag to ensure that you know exactly how much water to add to create the consistency you need for the project. Apply a thin layer of the concrete to the base and then arrange the pieces of tile in the order you choose. Be sure to press the tile into the concrete until each piece is surrounded by the concrete without being covered.

Once the tiles are in place, allow the trivet to dry overnight. The concrete should harden and you should end up with a one-of-a-kind gift that anyone is sure to love receiving. For more information on choosing tiles for projects like this one, contact Art Tile Co. Inc.