How to have a gorgeous and safe tiled stairway

While there can be many types of materials, the most glamorous, elegant, and sophisticated comes when you choose tile for stairs. It gives it a contemporary feeling, yet opulent and palatial, feeling. Each area has its own set of priorities and challenges, however, and the concerns with stairs are always safety, longevity, and easy cleanability.

Tiles are effortless to keep clean, especially since there?s no place for dirt to hide. If installed and taken care of properly, it can last up to 100 years, and when guidelines and installation requirements are followed precisely, it?s perfectly safe. As always, feel free to contact us at our tile store in Rockwall, TX, if you have questions.

Be sure the tile is appropriate for a stair installation

Porcelain is best, and it should have a non-slip surface. Look for a "Coefficient of Friction" or COF of at least .60 for the stairs. COF means a grip, and the higher the COF, the greater the traction. The tile should also have some texture and wipe up spills immediately.

Porcelain is made from a non-porous waterproof clay called kaolin; its composition includes sand and glass and is fired at higher temperatures. It results in a heavy, dense, and ideal tile for a bustling, high foot traffic area. It can also be used indoors or out.

Planning for your stairway installation

Much depends upon the substrate, and, for stairs, concrete is best, but it does need to be completely level. Wooden stairs can also be tiled, but you need to be sure they can stand up to weight, and they might need cement backers.

To eliminate any sharpness or protrusion where people can trip, the installer may?create a bullnose (rounded) edge when installing on stairs. Grout lines and shade variations can play tricks on the eye, distorting the perception of where one stair ends and another begins. Our installers surely follow general code practices of riser heights and the measured areas between risers and treads.

To learn more about tile flooring and how it can make your stairs beautiful and safe, come into CW Floors at either of our two locations, San Antonio & Rockwall, TX, for information, inspiration, and a free quote. We service San Antonio, Denton, Rockwall, Dallas, and Fort Worth.