Tiling stair risers...questions...

delmonta

Hi, I have wooden stairs in a victorian house. Currently the risers are painted white. I would like to tile them with some square patterned tiles. I have never tiled before, is it ok to tile directly on to painted wood? 

The height of the stair riser is 175mm, and the tiles I want are 165mm. What is my best option for that extra 5mm on top and bottom? Can I fill that with grout or is it too big. Will grout even work when possibly the wood will flex when being stepped on? I was wondering if at the bottom where the tread meets the riser, would it be better to glue on some small wooden quarter circle coving type thing! (sorry I dont know the name). Just a little quarter circle of wood that would cover up the gap instead of grout?

Also if I was to choose 150mm tiles, what would be the best option then? would be a hassle to cut tiny little slithers or tiles, but the gaps otherwise might be too big to cover with anything else

Anything else I should be aware of before attempting this? 

Thanks

grumbler

delmonta said:

is it ok to tile directly on to painted wood?

I'd screw cement backer board to wood first.

The height of the stair riser is 175mm, and the tiles I want are 165mm. What is my best option for that extra 5mm on top and bottom? Can I fill that with grout or is it too big. Will grout even work when possibly the wood will flex when being stepped on? I was wondering if at the bottom where the tread meets the riser, would it be better to glue on some small wooden quarter circle coving type thing! (sorry I dont know the name). Just a little quarter circle of wood that would cover up the gap instead of grout?

It's called 'quadrant' (wooden) or edging/trim/beading for laminate flooring.

10 mm gap is too big IMO. Without trim either cut the tiles or make it 5+5.

delmonta

grumbler said:

delmonta said:

is it ok to tile directly on to painted wood?

I'd screw cement backer board to wood first.

The height of the stair riser is 175mm, and the tiles I want are 165mm. What is my best option for that extra 5mm on top and bottom? Can I fill that with grout or is it too big. Will grout even work when possibly the wood will flex when being stepped on? I was wondering if at the bottom where the tread meets the riser, would it be better to glue on some small wooden quarter circle coving type thing! (sorry I dont know the name). Just a little quarter circle of wood that would cover up the gap instead of grout?

It's called 'quadrant' (wooden) or edging/trim/beading for laminate flooring.

10 mm gap is too big IMO. Without trim either cut the tiles or make it 5+5.

I dont think I have space for backer board and tiles with the overhang I have on the stairs

Ok thanks, quadrant beading, thats what I was looking for

So the 10mm gap is altogether, so 5mm on top and bottom, is that too much? I thought you could buy 5mm spacers for grout so assumed it might be ok. But I was more wondering if you can even grout between the tile and the wooden stair tread, would there be too much flex? Thats why I thought about the quadrant beading

grumbler

You can use fibre cement soffit strip/underboard that can be just 3mm thick. It's not as wide as 175mm, but is easy to saw/cut.

For a good flat surface you can use very thin layer of watery tile adhesive.

rob7475

I'm not sure how long tiles will stay on wooden risers. The wood won't be very thick and with people going up and down the stairs, you're likely to get some small amount of movement which will either crack the grout over time or loosen the tiles

Doozergirl

rob7475 said:

I'm not sure how long tiles will stay on wooden risers. The wood won't be very thick and with people going up and down the stairs, you're likely to get some small amount of movement which will either crack the grout over time or loosen the tiles

This.  There's a lot of flex in stairs.  The grout won't stay for long and the tiles potentially won't either.  Cement backer board is used even in situations where there isn't much flex, let alone where there is.   

I don't think it's a good idea.  

delmonta

Yeah maybe you're right. But I see a lot of photos of people tiling stairs. It's just the risers not the treads so they don't move much hopefully

I'll have to do some more research

NeverTooLate

Could you do a paint effect that mimics tiles instead?

NeverTooLate

Just googled it, sites like Etsy sell 'riser stickers' that look just like tiles - worth a try?

rob7475

delmonta said:

Yeah maybe you're right. But I see a lot of photos of people tiling stairs. It's just the risers not the treads so they don't move much hopefully

I'll have to do some more research

Thing is, they post photo's of their lovely looking freshly tiled risers. What they don't do is post pictures of how it looks 6 month later when it's all fallen off.
If you're set on the tiled look, maybe try the stickers as mentioned by others. There's a good reason why you don't usually see tiles on wooden risers though.

Doozergirl

rob7475 said:

delmonta said:

Yeah maybe you're right. But I see a lot of photos of people tiling stairs. It's just the risers not the treads so they don't move much hopefully

I'll have to do some more research

Thing is, they post photo's of their lovely looking freshly tiled risers. What they don't do is post pictures of how it looks 6 month later when it's all fallen off.
If you're set on the tiled look, maybe try the stickers as mentioned by others. There's a good reason why you don't usually see tiles on wooden risers though.

I've also seen wallpaper that looks good.  Probably needs protecting though with some decent varnish.