How to Make a Pebble Mosaic
By , This Old House magazine
Photo: Kolin Smith
Spread the sand to a depth of 3 inches in a sandbox made from scrap plywood or on a plastic tarp or sheeting. Lay the stones upright in the sand in a pattern and shape you like; the sand will hold the stones in place as you work. The stones should be packed together tightly, with parallel stones touching each other in their middles. Don't lay all the stones parallel, though—varying their direction will keep them from shifting out of place. (We created a double- spiral pattern, with one set of stones laid perpendicular to the other.) When you're happy with your mosaic, take a photo of it and note its size and shape for later reference.
Steps
- Introduction
- Overview
- 1. Prep and Sort the Stones
- 2. Lay Out the Mosaic
- 3. Prep the Project Site
- 4. Dampen the Concrete Mix
- 5. Mark the Mosaic's Shape
- 6. Place the Center Stones
- 7. Lay Stones Alongside the Center Stone
- 8. Fill in the Pattern
- 9. Set the Remaining Stones
- 10. Spread the Topping Mix
- 11. Saturate and Shape the Mix
- 12. Let the Mosaic Cure