The staircase is one of the most difficult areas to tile. So there are a number of rules that need to be followed to ensure a successful covering and a neat finish. To achieve the sense of harmony you’re looking for, and the aesthetic appeal you’ve been dreaming of, read on to discover the essential instructions for successfully tiling your staircase.
Choosing tiles for a staircase
To give a staircase a long-lasting finish, you need to choose the right tiles carefully. To select the right tiles, it’s best to base your choice on a few relevant criteria.
Colour
This depends very much on the brightness of the stairwell. If the stairwell is bright, you can choose a dark colour such as grey or black. On the other hand, if the staircase leads into a long, dark corridor, it’s best to opt for a light colour such as white or beige. If you’re concerned about ease of maintenance and cleaning, avoid very light or very dark colours. Dirt will be very visible.
Visual appearance
Depending on whether you opt for plain or patterned tiles, the style and aesthetic effect will differ. Plain tiles are ideal for creating a certain homogeneity between the staircase and its surroundings. For this reason, you can opt for one of the variations of porcelain stoneware, which is an excellent choice for both indoor and outdoor staircases. If the staircase is made of wood, you can opt for imitation wood tiles. This way, you can achieve a magnificent parquet effect. If you want to add a modern touch, opt for imitation natural stone porcelain tiles. The anthracite colour, which imitates granite or slate, is an excellent choice.
Would you like to indulge your highly developed aesthetic sense and your imagination? Tiles with geometric patterns and effects are highly recommended. It is also advisable to opt for discreet patterns so as not to overload the decoration of your staircase. Ideally, they should be used to decorate the risers. This type of flooring is available in several variations, offering a wide variety of styles to suit your preferences. For example, if you’re looking to create a vintage or design style, opt for cement tiles with a few pretty patterns. If you want to add a splash of colour to your staircase, dress the risers with mosaic tiles. Mosaic tiles are ideal for creating reflections of light.
Safety
To prevent any risk of falling, you should pay particular attention to the characteristics of the tiles used. They must meet the following standards
- Slip resistance: the tiles chosen must have a minimum slip resistance of R9 when walked on.
- Grip with bare feet
- Resistance: this standard measures the tiles’ resistance to wear (U), punching (P), water (E) and chemicals (C).
Thanks to their rough surfaces, some types of tiles have natural anti-slip properties. However, if you’ve opted for a slightly smooth surface, there are a number of products you can use to make it slip-resistant. Start by fitting a stair nosing. Models with bevelled edges blend in perfectly with all types of tiling. You can also install stair nosings with illuminated trim.
You can also opt for non-slip adhesive strips. They’re easy to fit. What’s more, they considerably reduce the risk of falls. However, they are not very attractive.
Laying tiles on a staircase
Whether you’re dealing with an indoor or outdoor staircase, there are a number of important steps to follow when laying tiles to ensure the best possible result.
Layout
This phase involves calculating the number of tiles required to cover a staircase. To determine the quantity of tiles required, you need to :
- Measure the surface area of the steps: at this stage, it is a good idea to measure the width and length of a step. If the steps do not have the same dimensions, the wider step should be measured. To obtain the surface area to be tiled, multiply the width of one step by the length of the staircase. If your staircase is not straight, it is advisable to divide its surface into smaller sections to make the calculation easier.
- Measure the surface area of the risers: a riser is the vertical area between two treads on a staircase. Take the width of a riser and the height of the staircase. Multiply these two figures to obtain the surface area of the risers to be tiled.
- Determining the number of tiles required: start by calculating the surface area of a tile by multiplying its width by its length. By adding the surface area of the steps and risers, you get the total surface area to be tiled. This is then divided by the surface area of one tile. This determines the number of tiles needed to cover the staircase. It is often advisable to buy an extra 20% of tiles to ensure you have enough stock in case of breakage or cuts during installation.
The sketch
This involves making a scale sketch of your staircase. As an example, you can set yourself the following rule: one tile on your sheet corresponds to 5 cm in reality.
Defining a starting point for the installation
Before you actually start work, you should be aware that you can’t use your staircase until the glue has set and dried perfectly. This takes almost 24 hours. So it’s a good idea to follow a few rules. If the exit of your staircase is at the bottom (it leads to an upper floor, for example), you should start laying at the top. If it leads to a cellar (the exit is at the top), you should start laying the tiles at the bottom.
Respect the order of installation
To achieve an aesthetically pleasing finish and lay your staircase tiles successfully, you need to proceed in three stages. First, lay the stair nosing. Next, lay the tiles on the stair and then on the riser. Start each time with the whole tiles, laying them from the centre towards the edges. This is where you will install the cut tiles.
Making a template ruler
This ruler, graduated to the size of the tiles, is easy to prepare. All you need to do is follow a few simple steps. Firstly, you need a wooden strip the same length as the stair treads. Position the tiles along the length of the strip, taking into account the cross-pieces. Next, mark the position of the tiles on the strip with a felt-tip pen. This is how you obtain a template ruler.
Getting your bearings
To lay tiling on a staircase successfully, it is important to mark out the treads and risers. This will make installation easier and simpler. You should also be aware that tiles should be laid from a right angle. Use a ruler and felt-tip pen to draw perpendicular lines through the middle of the steps and risers.
To mark the vertical rows of tiles, use a template ruler starting from the centre. If the spaces around the edges of the walls are less than half a tile, you need to draw the marks. If they are wider, it would be a good idea to offset the template ruler. This way, you’ll be able to centre an entire tile in the middle of the step or riser. As a result, you’ll get edges that are less than half a tile wide. You can then mark the edges.
Finally, you need to mark the horizontal rows starting from the stair nosing. Next, make sure you place the cut tiles at the angle between the steps and risers. It’s important to remember that marking is important because it helps you determine which tiles need to be cut. The tiles can be cut using a machine such as an angle grinder, or by hand using a saw or ceramic tongs.
Laying the tiles
You need to do some planning before you start laying the tiles. If you need to use the stairs, you can work in two stages. You can also work on alternate treads. In this way, you can use the first tiled steps that have dried (after 24 hours) to lay the tiles on the others.
Next, cut the tiles and prepare the adhesive mortar. For the steps and stair nosings, the technique is identical to that for laying floor tiles. For risers, the work is identical to that carried out when tiling walls.
As you can see, tiling a staircase is a job that requires you to follow a number of rules and have the right equipment. If you find the job complex and difficult to do yourself, we recommend that you call in an experienced tiler. This professional will be able to dress your staircase to the highest standards, guaranteeing a quality result.
