What should be the stairs tile?
The main mistake of many is the facing of stair flights with ordinary tiles, even if they are intended for laying on the floor. First, the movement on the steps and along a flat surface is significantly different, and in the first case the strength of the tile should be an order of magnitude higher than the .Secondly, tile, as a rule, has a fairly smooth surface, which is dangerous for your precious health. And, finally, the tile is not as beautiful as the same ceramic clinker tile for stairs.
With respect to strength, it can be said one thing, the tiles for the cladding of steps must have a hardness of grade 5, in addition, pay attention to such an indicator as resistance to abrasion, it must meet at least the 4th category, or even better, the 5th according to PEI.Ideally, the cladding should be used porcelain stoneware or, as it is also called, gres. This artificial stone initially receives all the necessary for the cladding of floors and stairs characteristics.
Stair tiling - basic safety requirements
So, smooth tile does not suit us. And what exactly should be the finishing of the staircase with tiles so that you feel yourself on the steps as safely as on a flat floor? First of all, consider the laws of physics - which causes friction and slip. So that you do not have to bury yourself in school textbooks, we will answer right away - it all depends on the adhesion of your soles to the floor or stairs. That's why you should choose a rough tile, or with abrasive spraying.
Among other variants there is a ceramic facing with a ribbed surface. It should be noted that such a stair tile provides the best grip. On it there can be cuts with built in them elements of other material, for example, rubber. Yes, there is such a tile, it is often stacked near the thresholds from the outside, so that when taking a step into the street, you do not risk slipping on the lining, if for some reason it turns out to be wet.
The tiling of the stairs is performed in three stages
Two words about the dimensions of the tile: it must either fully match the width of the steps, or exceed it. It's all about the seams. On the one hand, they create an additional grip, but on the other - they can cause a fall if you stumble on the tile that comes out of its nest. Do not be afraid to cut the material, even if you are killing a few ceramic pieces before you get the hang of( using the best tile cutter), but the steps will be perfect. But now, in fact, what is the installation of tiles on the stairs?
In order to separate a part of the tile, you can use a conventional roller glass cutter, although it does not make it much easier, but rather, on the contrary, makes it more laborious.
The tiling of the staircase usually starts from the edge of the step of the upper platform to the wall, preferably from the outer corner, if the staircase goes along the wall. An exception can only be the case when the steps have been made with the facing taken into account and adjusted to the dimensions of the tile. Then the work should begin from the wall to the edge of the upper platform.
Some masters recommend starting from the bottom and the first to stack the vertical elements, covering them from above with horizontal ones, but it's more convenient for anyone. So, the first step is fixed with special glue tiles on the horizontal surface, leaving between them a small gap( to determine the width of the gaps and the number of tiles, it is best to first make the stowage dry).
The second stage. When all the platforms and treads are pasted, go to the vertical part of the cladding - the risers. Their height should be exactly the same as that of the step, and it does not matter whether you covered the whole area of the steps with tiles or left a strip for vertical elements. If necessary, cut narrow strips, even if there remains a gap between the edge of the vertical tile and the overhanging part of the upper horizontal, which should cover the end of the riser lining.
After the whole staircase is covered with ceramics, go to the third, final stage - we clean the seams from the glue, and then fill them with special moisture-resistant and frost-resistant trowels. For laying tiles, we recommend fast-setting glue, so that the grout can be started after 4 hours maximum .Otherwise, all the rooms to which the staircase leads, will be inaccessible to you for a long time, or you will have to walk around the inadequately fixed lining.