Currently the stairs are carpeted. I have heard that if this is not done properly the tiles will crack. How do I ensure that the stairs are level and stable enough for the tiles? Any guidance is greatly appreciated.
don't , they are way to slippery, accidents waiting to happen!
I am with Ronk on this one, leave tiling the stairs well alone.
this is a really risky thing here not to mention costly. you would have to make some type of wonder board on your stairs. if you are not working with an open stairwell above and below it is really going to be quite a messy, costly job that may or may not even come out the way you want it. Just as a suggestion i wanted something different looking too i took glass rocks and glue them all the way up on the sides. it came out beautiful but it was a helluva job itself to complete. it still gave it the unusual look and everyone who sees it comments on it and likes it personally, i would rethink the tile ON the stairs thing.
It can be done, but the trick is in using the proper setting materials and grout. For starters, you'll need an epoxy thinset. These are industrial grade-- not available at the local home center-- and can be difficult to trowel due to the fact that they set up quickly. You'll want to mix it in small doses so that you can set tile before it cures. Wear rubber gloves, too, as you'll hate to find out the hard way that you have an epoxy allergy. Plus, the stuff's super tacky and gets on but not off just about everything you'll touch. I'd recommend porcelain tiles, as they are stronger than most. But here's the rub: you want an abraded surface porcelain or you and yours will be slipping down to the next level of your home. Then, you definitely want to use at minimum an epoxy grout between your tiles. Allows for flexibility. Better yet, you should use a 100% silicone as grout. You can get these in colors-- they're not all clear. You'll be using that same silicone to create soft joints on the coves (where the riser meets the stairs-- vertical to horizontal), as well. The vertical risers move independently from the horizontal stairs, and a rigid, hard joint here will definitely cause cracking. The best thing you can do is stop by a local tile distributor. They sell primarily to the commercial trade, but most have showrooms and are open to the public. Ask the manager there about your application. If he can't help, he can call one of his suppliers (a guy like me) who can walk you through it.
