https://stream.echo6.co/videos/watch/69326535-e754-454e-ac0d-8ccde9719e62 Senior technical editor Mark Powers builds a hypertufa table. (See below for a shopping list and tools.) SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse If you've never heard of hypertufa, let us explain why this concrete look-alike is the perfect material for an outdoor table. Made from a mix of cement, peat moss, and perlite, hypertufa has much of concrete's strength and durability, but it weighs a lot less, doesn't require sealing, and has a more textured, organic appearance. Senior technical editor Mark Powers cast a tabletop with a recess for adding easy-care sedum and designed a notched cedar base that can be taken apart and stored flat. Hypertufa requires a few weeks to cure, so get started now and you'll be able to show off your handsome new table before summer draws to a close. Cost: About $65 Time: 8 hours plus curing time for the tabletop Difficulty: Easy. Even a novice can cast the tabletop and build the notched base Shopping List for How to Make a Hypertufa Table: 1x4 scrap lumber, for the form, cedar 1x4s, for crosspieces and stretchers, cedar 1x2s, for legs and support blocks, 1 1/4-inch and 2-inch deck screws, perlite. Get two bags, peat moss. Get one large bag, portland cement. Get a 47-pound bag, acrylic fortifier, for the hypertufa mix, to prevent cracking, 3/4-inch rigid-foam insulation, petroleum jelly or cooking spray, to coat the interior of the form, 1/4-inch hardware cloth, plastic sheeting, to cover the form while the tabletop cures, polyurethane glue, such as Gorilla Glue, 1-inch brad nails, dust mask and protective gloves, Tools for How to Make a Hypertufa Table: miter saw, jigsaw, drill/driver to assemble the form, utility knife for cutting the foam, wire snips, mixing tub to make the hypertufa mix, hoe, chip brush to spread petroleum jelly on the interior of the form before casting the tabletop, hammer, pneumatic nail gun, Cut list: 1x2 legs: 4 @ 14 inches 1x2 upper support blocks: 4 @ 11 inches 1x2 lower support blocks: 4 @ 3 inches 1x4 form frame, short sides (scrap): 2 @ 28 inches 1x4 form frame, long sides (scrap): 2 @ 30 inches 1x4 reinforcement blocks: 4 @ 3 inches ¾-inch rigid-foam insulation: 1@ 20 by 30 inches ¾-inch rigid-foam insulation: 2 @ 7 by 14 inches 1x4 lower crosspieces: 2 @ 10 inches 1x4 upper crosspieces: 2 @ 21 inches* 1x4 lower stretcher: 1 @ 31 inches* 1x4 upper stretchers 2 @ 31 inches* *After they're cut to length, miter the ends of the upper crosspieces and all three stretchers at opposing 45-degree angles, and clip 1 inch off the long points of the ends. For each piece, the longer edge will be the top edge. Notch cut instructions: All notch cuts are ¾ inch wide and extend to half the width of the board, or 1¾ inches. Always measure the positions for the notches along the top (long) edge for each piece, no matter which edge the notches are cut on. See diagrams for positioning and sizing. For each 1x4 lower crosspiece: The notch should be centered on one edge of the board; the notched edge is the top edge and will face up during assembly. For each 1x4 upper crosspiece: Cut notches on the top (long) edge. Position the notches 3 inches from each end, measured along the top (long) edge. The notches will face up during assembly. For the 1x4 lower stretcher: Cut notches on the bottom (short) edge. Position the notches 4 inches from each end, measured along the top (long) edge. The notches will face down during assembly. For each 1x4 upper stretcher: Cut notches on the bottom (short) edge. Position the notches 3 inches from each end, measured along the top (long) edge. The notches will face down during assembly. Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House INSIDER to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/pages/streaming-app Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter http://bit.ly/AskTOHTwitter Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG http://bit.ly/AskTOHIG For more on This Old House and Ask This Old House, visit us at: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseWebsite How to Make a Hypertufa Table | This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/ Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:44:20 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://stream.echo6.co https://stream.echo6.co/client/assets/images/icons/icon-512x512.png https://stream.echo6.co/videos/watch/69326535-e754-454e-ac0d-8ccde9719e62 All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://stream.echo6.co/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.