Need to get some advice/information.

[yalu12]

Hi All,

Need to get some advice/information.

Our wooden stair risers are currently painted, but we've decided to tile them using 1x2 decorative subway tiles.

Here's my questions...

1) Is it possible (or advisable...or not) to tile directly onto the wood, rather than using some type of substrate?

2) If tiling over wood directly is okay, would we first need to sand off the existing paint? Also, what type of mastic or adhesive would be recommended for going direclty on wood?

3) If using a substrate is the best approach, what's recommended? Would it just be best to use 1/4" hardibacker or something comparable?

Any other potential things we should be aware of with this particular tile application?

Thanks in advance,

Yazhini

 

[tfs]

welcome to the forum.

In my opinion, the chances are that if this is in your home then your stairs are probs not up to the job.

I think you will find that the installation wont last very long. Your stairs will probably need some reinforcing to ensure a lasting finnish.

Do your stairs creak when you go up them? What are they made of? mdf, redwood etc

 

[Ajax123]

If these are questions you need to ask I would suggest that this is not a job for you to tackle. Get a pro in to have a proper look. Then if they say it can be done get them to do it. No cowboys for this one ....

 

[KL Tiling]

I did a lot of tiling work at a customer's house a while back which included quoting for the stairs. I advised they didn't do it as the likelyhood of movement is too great for the average wooden residential staircase in my opinion, unless the timber can be reinforced in some way beforehand (the stairs I looked at creaked a fair bit). Too much movement is likely to therefore result in cracks appearing in grout/tiles or complete tile failure at worst. Definately not a job for even the most enthusiastic diyer and I'm sure most pros wouldn't want to do it either.