How to Tile Concrete Stairs
Tile is a great flooring option for any home. It comes in multiple colors, sizes and finishes. It is relatively inexpensive, and it is very durable. For high-traffic areas such stairs, tile can handle the wear and tear. Tiling concrete stairs is a job that any homeowner can complete.
Materials and Tools Needed
- Tile
- Tile Spacers
- Full set mortar
- Grout
- Sealant
- Wet tile saw or cutter
- Level
- Trowel
- Tape measure
- Tile sponge and bucket of water
- Measure the area of the stairs in order to know how much tile, mortar and grout you will need.
- Buy your tile and other materials, paying attention to whether your stairs are inside or out, and buy tile accordingly.
- Check your concrete stairs for dips using the level.
- Use the mortar to fill in any low spots or cracks. Allow to dry per the manufacturer’s specifications.
- Use the measuring tape to find the center of your steps. You will want to place the center of the first tile in the center of the stairs, either flush with the edge of the stair or flush with the back, and then set tiles out from the center tile. This creates a visually pleasing symmetry.
- Use the measuring tape to figure out if you need to cut pieces of tile to cover the stair. Factor in the spaces between the tiles which will be created by the tile spacers. Measure twice before cutting!
- Cut your pieces of tile using the saw.
- Spread a thin layer of mortar on the stair.
- Lay your center piece of tile on the center of the stair.
- Use the level to make sure the tile is level. Tap it gently to make it level.
- Place the tile spacers around your tile.
- Lay the rest of the tiles in the mortar, placing tile spacers between each tile.
- Use the level between each tile to make sure they create a uniform surface.
- Do steps six through 13 with the riser, or the vertical part of the staircase.
- Complete the rest of the stairs and risers with step six through 13.
- Allow the mortar to dry per the manufacturer’s specifications.
- Remove the tile spacers.
- Spread the grout with the trowel on one step, making sure to get it in the cracks between the tiles.
- Drag the wet sponge over the tiles to remove the grout from the surface of the tile but not the cracks between them. This is called “floating the tile.” Rinse the sponge in the bucket when it gets covered with grout. This is an important step because you do not want any grout to dry on top of the tile.
- Spread the grout and float the tiles in sections so that you are always floating wet grout. Make sure not to get too far ahead with the grout.
- Allow the grout to dry per the manufacturer’s specifications.
- Seal the tiles per the specifications of the sealant.