Don’t you just hate it when a builder does sloppy work?  We had a small sink installed on our patio at our little roundhouse a few weeks ago, and I wasn’t very happy with the finished look. Don’t get me wrong; the contractor knew how to do all the plumbing bits. But when it came to finishing things off, he didn’t have a clue. Look at this patio wall!!!

 

Ugly mess left by the contractor after building out patio

UGH!!! That’s just gross.

Ugly mess left by the contractor after building out patio

This is our holiday home, and when we’re there, we spend a lot of time on the patio enjoying this view.

 

Gorgeous view from the upstairs patio

The last thing I wanted was to get distracted by the mess the builder left behind.  I’m a bit anal when it comes to things like that.  We had two choices, get someone to fix the problem for us or do it ourselves.

Not much of a choice when you don’t have a lot of money, so we went for the DIY option. Since we don’t have a tile cutter, we decided to use these easy-to-install grey pebble tiles.

Easy to install grey pebble tile
One finger cannot lift a #pebble Click to Tweet

Okay, before we get to the tutorial, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram. And don’t forget to subscribe so you’ll never miss a post!

How To Tile a Patio Wall In a Day

The pebble tiles we chose to tile our patio come in 30 cm x 30 cm sheets. There are about 50 pebbles stuck onto a sturdy mesh-like backing. The mesh is really easy to cut with a pair of scissors, so you don’t need any fancy tile cutters 😉

 

What we used to tile the patio wall

Because the gaps between some of the pebbles are quite wide, we used coarse mosaic grout adhesive to attach the tiles. The manufacturer adds  sand to the mixture so it doesn’t crack or shrink as easily as non-sanded grout would.

We chose a dark grey adhesive to match the darkest colored pebble on the sheet and mixed it according to the instructions on the back of the packaging.

 

Mix the grout or mortar in a bucket with water

The mixture should look like creamy, thick, smooth butter.

 

Mix the grout or mortar according to the manufacturer's instructions. It should look like thick, smooth butter when you're done

Using a trowel, we applied the adhesive (grout) evenly onto the rough, yucky patio wall.

 

Apply the grout adhesive with a trowel

I found it easier to work in sections and to put a thicker layer of adhesive onto the wall.

Work in sections to avoid the grout adhesive drying out

That way, when you squish the pebble tiles on, the adhesive oozes through the mesh, and it sits firmly.

Paste the pebbles tiles into the grout adhesive

The best thing about using pebble tiles is you can just use a pair of scissors to cut the mesh backing it when it doesn’t quite fit into the space. Note to self: Please wear gloves the next time. I think I lost all my fingerprints tiling the patio wall.

 

The mesh can be cut with scissors

Once the grout adhesive sets, we applied a little more between the “pebble gaps” and then sponged off any excess.

Fill the gaps between the pebbles with grout

Lol, look at my hair. I really need to do something with it; every time we go down to the coast, I end up looking like an upside-down mop. Okay, wait, that’s not true. I always look like an upside-down mop.

 

Fill the gaps between the pebbles with grout

We didn’t buy enough tiles to go all the way around. It’s a budget thing. So I removed some of the pebbles from the mesh and made a hubby a big, fat heart just to remind him how much I love him. If you do have spare pebbles left over, save them to make these 10-minute napkin rings. 

The pebble tiles can be used to make a heart too
Here's a happy fact. Penguins propose with a pebble 🙂 Click to Tweet

The grout adhesive works really well as paint too.

 

Smear the grout onto raw concrete

Now I just need to figure out how to hide that white pipe.

Beautifully tile patio done in a morning

I may just paint the PVC next time we go down. But for now, I’m in love with how the patio makeover turned out.

Lovely stone pebble heart adds interest

All in all, it took me just over three hours on a beautiful Saturday morning to transform our patio.

 

How to tile a patio wall to create interest and hide sloppy building mistakes. Pebble tiles - full tutorial on the blog #DIYTiling #DIYHome #Patio

Don’t you just love that face? It’s from an old fountain.

 

How to tile a patio wall to create interest and hide sloppy building mistakes. Pebble tiles are so easy to use #DIYTiling #DIYHome #Patio

And some plants to soften up the look.

 

How to tile a patio wall to create interest and hide sloppy building mistakes. Pebble tiles are so easy to use - full tutorial on the blog #DIYTiling #DIYHome #Patio

Our seashell collection found a home in the old rusty pot.

 

How to tile a patio wall to create interest and hide sloppy building mistakes - full tutorial on the blog

We filled our pot plants with succulents. They’re such rewarding plants, drought-tolerant and almost maintenance-free.

 

How to tile a patio wall to create interest and hide sloppy building mistakes - full tutorial on the blog

Okay, so I lost my fingerprints somewhere on that wall, but I really think it was worth every second.

This step-by0step tutorial will show you how to tile a patio in a morning with out any fancy tools. Get the full "how to" at a Crafty Mix

I’d love to hear what you think about the patio wall makeover. Were pebble tiles the right choice?

If you’re planning on tiling your patio soon, don’t forget to pin the tutorial for later.

This step-by0step tutorial will show you how to tile a patio in a morning with out any fancy tools. Get the full "how to" at a Crafty Mix

Sharing is caring 😉

This step-by-step tutorial will show you how to tile a patio in a morning with out any fancy tools. Get the full "how to" at a Crafty Mix. #DIYPatio #Outdoor

If you’d like to make something similar, we’ve got you covered. Disclosure: Clicking on the links below means we may receive a commission from Amazon. But don’t worry, it won’t come out of your pocket, and it helps us come up with more crafty ideas to share with you 😉

WHW Whole House Worlds Farm Fair Garden Galvanized Zinc Planters, Set of 3, Rectangle Containers, Vintage Style, Shabby Green Gray Rusty Patina, Raised Oval Logo, 15.75, 14.25, and 13 Inches Long
WHW Whole House Worlds Farm Fair Garden Galvanized...
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Pebble Tile Round Top Classic, 11 1/2' x 11 1/2' (.918 sq. ft. per Piece), Green/Black/Tan
Pebble Tile Round Top Classic, 11 1/2" x 11 1/2"...
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Unique Cast Iron Woman Bird Wall Plaque
Unique Cast Iron Woman Bird Wall Plaque
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Sending love and blessing as always. Thank you for popping in for a visit.

Made with love by a Crafty Mix