Crackled Tabletop

Customize a tabletop with a crackled finish to match any room in your home.

All About

Product Ideas

Materials and Tools:

6" wide 5/4" poplar boards
measuring tape
miter saw
square
150-grit sandpaper
2" x 4" lumber
drill
2-1/2" screws
primer
paint rollers and brushes
latex satin paint (base coat: Folksy Gold SW6360, top coat: Bitter Chocolate SW6013) (Sherwin-Williams)
Illusion crackle medium (Sherwin-Williams)
water-based polyurethane

Steps:

1. Measure the top of the table. The featured table is 56 inches long and 42 inches wide so the boards are cut to 56 inches for the length and eight boards are used to complete the width.

2. Cut 1/4 inch off the ends of the boards on a miter saw to make them square and uniform. Make a mark at 56 inches and draw a line with a square. Cut each board to length using the saw and sand the entire surface of each board smooth.

3. Measure the inside of the base on the existing table, which is 35-1/2 inches for the featured table. To hold the tabletop secure from underneath, cut three 2x4s to 35 inches in length.

4. Place the 2x4s on the eight top boards, measuring in from the sides so that the 2x4s are placed an equal distance from each edge. Drill pilot holes into the 2x4s so that each top board has two screws per board. Drill counter sink holes so that the screw head will be below the surface, and then drive screws through the supports into the top boards.

5. Flip the boards over and remove any dust. Prime all the boards with a tinted primer that matches the top coat and let dry.

6. Sand the boards and remove the dust. Apply the base coat and let dry. Brush crackle medium over the entire surface — the thicker the coat, the bigger the cracks. Allow the crackle to dry as directed.

7. Apply a top coat and allow the crackle medium to work. Let dry. Apply three coats of polyurethane for protection, sanding it between layers.

8. Remove the old tabletop from the base leaving the existing cleats intact. Set the new top in place and use screws to attach it to the cleats.