primalmommy on wed 19 may 04
I have four carpeted steps leading down to my back door. They are always
grubby and a pain to vacuum, and I think I could tile them (just bought
a used slab roller.) I am wondering if anybody has tiled steps, homemade
or store bought.. how do you handle the edge of each step? would I
extrude or handbuild something like a curved moulding strip to edge each
stair, or would it be too fragile? Should I just make the tiles long
enough to "bullnose" over the edge? I plan to tile the vertical surface
of each step, too.. it's just particle board anyway under there..
thanks
Kelly
willing to "try it and see" with most things but this one would be a
pain to start over once installed...
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Donald G. Goldsobel on thu 20 may 04
Kelly, If you tile the edges of the stairs, the chances are, some one will
slip, the tile will chip or lose a chunk. There is an edging called a
schluder. I haven't a ghost of an idea of the correct spelling. It is a
metal edge strip, that covers the edge of the stair. It buts up against the
tile, not over it. It has a skid proof surface and is stronger than the
toughest foot gear. My kitchen step down has a schluder and there are no
chips or signs of wear after more than 10 years.
Good luck
Donald
Vicki Hardin on thu 20 may 04
I am wondering if anybody has tiled steps, homemade
> or store bought.. how do you handle the edge of each step?
I have seen tile steps that have an L shaped cap very similar to those on some cabinets. Are the steps concrete or wood? That will make a difference. There is a board you can put on wood that will support tile, but I am not sure what it is called. There is a fancy dress store here in town and the family that owns it did a mosaic mural on the floor. It is beautiful. Instead of grout they used concrete.
Best Regards,
Vicki Hardin
http://ClayArtWebGuide.com
Nicol on thu 20 may 04
Glaze and traction are nearly opposites. The more little nucks and crannies
the less reflection and the greater the traction. Also remember that the
edge will take the brunt of the wear and tare (that's why steps in old
buildings are rounded.) I would recommend th0at the "radius" of the
rounding be quite large (maybe 1 inch or so) to lessen the very strong
likelihood of chipping. Your concept of bull nosing sounds nice. Perhaps
you could glaze (mat for traction) and make the unglazed portion part of the
design on the tiles ( scallops, a saw tooth design, or something
interesting)
Bob Nicol
Whims, Fleetwood PA
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On Behalf Of primalmommy
Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2004 12:37 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Tile stairs?
I have four carpeted steps leading down to my back door. They are always
grubby and a pain to vacuum, and I think I could tile them (just bought
a used slab roller.) I am wondering if anybody has tiled steps, homemade
or store bought.. how do you handle the edge of each step? would I
extrude or handbuild something like a curved moulding strip to edge each
stair, or would it be too fragile? Should I just make the tiles long
enough to "bullnose" over the edge? I plan to tile the vertical surface
of each step, too.. it's just particle board anyway under there..
thanks
Kelly
willing to "try it and see" with most things but this one would be a
pain to start over once installed...
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sdr on thu 20 may 04
Kelly, Linda Blossom or Stephani Stephenson might
respond to your question, and they've lots of experience
with tiles. But in case they don't - you can make the
tiles long enough to curve over the edge of the steps,
and that strikes me as most appealing. I have seen
commercial ones done with a separate bullnose, and
I've seen them done sort of half & half - there are lots
of possibilities. Give it a try. Use a good clay body......
regards
Dannon Rhudy
----- Original Message -----
From: "primalmommy"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2004 11:36 PM
Subject: Tile stairs?
> I have four carpeted steps leading down to my back door. They are always
> grubby and a pain to vacuum, and I think I could tile them (just bought
> a used slab roller.) I am wondering if anybody has tiled steps, homemade
> or store bought.. how do you handle the edge of each step? would I
> extrude or handbuild something like a curved moulding strip to edge each
> stair, or would it be too fragile? Should I just make the tiles long
> enough to "bullnose" over the edge? I plan to tile the vertical surface
> of each step, too.. it's just particle board anyway under there..
>
> thanks
> Kelly
> willing to "try it and see" with most things but this one would be a
> pain to start over once installed...
>
>
> style="font-size:13.5px">___________________________________________________
____________
style="font-size:13.5px">Get the FREE email that has everyone talking at href="http://www.mail2world.com"
target="new">http://www.mail2world.com
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>
Earl Krueger on thu 20 may 04
Kelly,
How about "mixed media"?
Maybe an oak or carpet strip on the edge with a tile field.
Earl K...
Bothell, WA, USA
Hank Murrow on thu 20 may 04
Dear Kelly;
I would suggest that you leave the bullnose area unglazed so there is a
built-in non slip portion, since loved ones are likely to bring
slippery shoes into that entry.
Cheers from Maryland, Hank
On May 20, 2004, at 12:36 AM, primalmommy wrote:
> I have four carpeted steps leading down to my back door. They are
> always
> grubby and a pain to vacuum, and I think I could tile them (just bought
> a used slab roller.) I am wondering if anybody has tiled steps,
> homemade
> or store bought.. how do you handle the edge of each step? would I
> extrude or handbuild something like a curved moulding strip to edge
> each
> stair, or would it be too fragile? Should I just make the tiles long
> enough to "bullnose" over the edge? I plan to tile the vertical surface
> of each step, too.. it's just particle board anyway under there..
wayneinkeywest on thu 20 may 04
If you live in a wet or snow environment,
DO NOT use a gloss glaze on a smooth tile
for the stair or bullnose tile.
Use an interesting texture. Then gloss glaze will be ok.
Wayne (still have scars on my shins) Seidl
Key West, Florida, USA
North America, Terra
Latitude 81.45W, Longitude 24.33N
Elevation 3.1 feet (1m)
pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on thu 20 may 04
Hi Kelly,
Unless the glaze is vary hard, it will wear from small
abrasive matters on shoe soles...
Also, unless the glaze or otherwised finished tiles and nose
pieces have a good rough texture, people and
Children (and Dogs) will slip if their shoes ( or paws) are
wet or damp...slips while ascending, or descending...
Also, tread-noses will get broken and cracked, almost
inevitably...uness very stout and very well bedded upon a
stout and stable support.
In short, I do not feel encouraging of the effort...
Make more of your wonderful Pots and handbuilt things
instead...
Save the stair 'tiles' for sometime after hell freezes.
Love..
Phil
el ve(ch)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Earl Krueger"
> Kelly,
>
> How about "mixed media"?
> Maybe an oak or carpet strip on the edge with a tile
field.
>
> Earl K...
> Bothell, WA, USA
>
>
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__________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your
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> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
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at melpots@pclink.com.
Bonnie Staffel on fri 21 may 04
Hi Primalmommy,
If your stairs are subject to wet shoes coming in from the outside, I would
not use just any glaze because it is pretty. The tile should not be
slippery when wet so I would go for a matt glaze. On the other hand, being
of an age where I want the stairs I use to be safe, I would go for paint.
You have kids who will be dashing up and down stairs giving the tiles a hard
time. Going to the dentist's office the other day, noticed one of the tiles
on his steps (even though they were outside) was missing. I realize that
being a potter you want things made from clay, but IMO I feel the negatives
outweigh the positives in this case. You should see the stairs to my
apartment. My daughter painted very colorful abstract flowers on the
risers. They are not slippery and are very attractive. Of course, my
daughter's taste is quite eclectic when color choices were made for the
walls. It is a happy house to live in.
Respectfully yours,
Bonnie Staffel
http://pws.chartermi.net/~bstaffel/default.html
http://www.vasefinder.com/
Donald Burroughs on fri 21 may 04
I would suggest the following.A friend who is a carpenter and who built his
own custom staircase, built with tile inset in mind. What he did is he
constructed a counter sunk area in which to set the tile cutting them to
shape so as to be symetrical in terms of the grout lines. I believe this
can be adapated to suit your situation. In a sense you are framing the tile
a horizontal and vertical surface. You don't really want the tile to wrap
around the riser edge as this could be a safety hazzard. When tile is wet
it tends to be a little slippery even with a matt glaze surface. The wood
framing would in effect deter slipppery edges on your steps.
Sincerely, Donald Burroughs
On the web at http://www.autobahn.mb.ca/~donaldo
and at vitreousart.com
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