Just like homes, not all home projects are created equal. Every artisan knows that their work must match the canvas, so to speak. So when it comes to stairs, some homeowners want to tile their stair treads, the parts of the stairs you walk on. While we understand the impulse, most people shouldn’t be using tile for their stair treads in their homes. If you’re thinking of doing this to your home, read on to find out why we don’t recommend it.
Don’t tile your stair treads
Installing tile on your stair treads seems like a good idea on paper. However, they can come with problems down the road that aren’t readily apparent at a first glance.
They can be slippery
Tiled stair treads can either be slippery or become slippery when wet. To offset this you may have to put runners down, which could ruin the tiled look you’re going for on your steps anyway.
They can crack
Stairs creak when you walk on them because the material they’re made of bend to work with the weight of people walking up and down them. However, tile isn’t malleable like these materials which can lead to cracks in the grout or in the tiles themselves over time.
They’re heavy
Tile is heavier than wood or carpet. Depending on the type you use, the substrate of the stairs can warp under them, causing cracks to appear in the grout.
Tile your stair risers instead
While we don’t recommend adding tile to your stair treads, having tile on your stair risers can be a great way to make your stairwell pop. There are a number of design possibilities for tiling your stair risers, from classic monochrome color schemes to elaborate mosaics and geometric shapes. Stair risers are also better for the tile designs to be seen, since you probably won’t be looking directly down at your stair treads when you’re walking up and down them. Overall, stair risers are the better choice for adding tile than stair treads.
Flohr—your flooring partner
We’ve thrived over the last 20 years because of our commitment to customer satisfaction and service. That means working with you to see your visions come to life and how they could work. So we’d love to work with you. Give us a call today to schedule your FREE consultation and estimate on your project.
