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Tile kicks on stairs…

| Posted in Construction Techniques on January 13, 2002 09:14am

*
Rebuilding a stairwell and tile will be used for the face of all the stairs, with treads of solid 1″ thick ‘Brazilian cherry’, bull nosed with a 1/4″ lip.

My question is – should I attempt to apply the tile to a substrate and mount that to the face of the stairs before I apply treads? If so, should I grout before or after, and how would I best fasten the substrate to the framing?

Thanks for any help.

JA Mike

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  1. calvin_ | Jan 10, 2002 03:20pm | #1

    *
    I might mount the wood riser that the tread would acually bear on, add cement bd if you wish, tile up to behind the lip of the tread (not in contact w/tread), then grout. No grout between the tile and any part of the tread nor on the sides at the skirt. Color matched caulk sanded/unsanded at those pts. Probably would hold the tile up from the tread below and caulk there also. Instead of a lip over the tile, might install a trim to the underside of the tread, floating with no contact to the tile.

    1. wedgehead | Jan 12, 2002 02:09pm | #2

      *We did my buddie's stairs with tile risers, only the treads were carpeted ( 2 dogs, 2 kids)so no problem with the grout/tread joint. We just used 1/4" hardibacker ripped to size and put up with backer board screws. Tile and grout in place. His wife seemed happy, and it still looks as good as when we did it, 4 years or so ago.

      1. GACC_DAllas | Jan 12, 2002 06:39pm | #3

        *I'll go with Calvin on this one. Sounds like a plan.Ed.

        1. calvin_ | Jan 13, 2002 06:08am | #4

          *Shoot Ed, you're just back pattin me for the little legwork on that book. Come on man, you're embarrassing me. Any luck on the search?

          1. GACC_DAllas | Jan 13, 2002 06:48pm | #5

            *Hey Cal,No luck yet, but I'm not in a big hurry.I still think it's a good idea. There was nothing more I could add.Ed.

          2. calvin_ | Jan 13, 2002 09:14pm | #6

            *Thanks.

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