Make It: Wood Table Top

I still have several projects from the patio makeover to share, including this awesome wood table top!

I knew I wanted to include a small table on the patio to place drinks and other items. It was a must for the seating area I had planned. BUT I didn’t want to spend a lot of extra money on it. So, what did I do? I shopped at home!

We had this metal folding table on our larger backyard patio. We used it as a sort of side table. Unfortunately something I had placed on it last summer completely rusted the top. Pretty unsightly, huh? But its still a perfectly functional table so I hated to just toss it out!

The solution? Make a NEW table top and spray paint those legs!

I designed a table top made from 1×4 and 1×2 pine boards that my husband cut and pieced together for me. It sits just on top of the current metal table and gives it a whole other look! And, of course, it covers up that hideous rust stain

The top of the table is six 1×4’s glued side-by-side with liquid nails. Its measures approximately 21×22″.

When measuring a table to make a faux top for, give yourself and extra 1-2 inches to work with.

The bottom of the table top is made with 1×2’s pieced together by cutting the ends at 45 degree angles and gluing them together with liquid nails. Glue the bottom to the underside of the table top. Reinforce the corners and top to the bottom with a nail gun.

To give the table legs an update I first scrubbed thoroughly all over with CLR. Then I taped off the ends of the legs (they are rubber) and sprayed a couple of light coats of Rust-oleum Metallic Aluminum. The change was immediate! No more rust spots or rusty screws!

Going back to the wood table top, I stained it with a single coat of Minwax Dark Walnut followed by 3 coats of polyurethane. I also gave the underside of the table, which wasn’t stained, a single coat of poly to help prevent any water damage from keeping the table outdoors.

I’m loving the new look! It’s like a whole new table!

And it only cost us the lumber (stain, poly, and spray paint were already on hand).

Next time you “need” something for a space, be sure to shop around at home first!

You might just find that you have something that will work with just a little sprucing up.

>> See where I party! <<

Other projects from the patio makeover: