adding tables to a placeholder

I have a placeholder on a page.  I am adding controls as needed in th C#. 
This works fine for TextBoxes and Buttons, etc.
However, I have tried to add <asp:Table> as a literal control, and although it does appear in the code when the page source is viewed, it doesnt have any characteristics of the table as programmed - ie, no border, background color, alignment, etc. 
((PlaceHolder)FindControlRecursive(this.Page.Master, "PlaceHolderItems")).Controls.Add(new LiteralControl("<asp:Table ID='Table" + i + "' runat='server' HorizontalAlign='Center' Width='500' BackColor='#EBE8C6' BorderStyle='Double' BorderWidth='3px' BorderColor='Black' Height='250'><asp:TableRow VerticalAlign='Middle'><asp:TableCell Width='180px' HorizontalAlign='Center'>"));
((PlaceHolder)FindContr ...