Calling floor tilers - help needed

[NicD]

I am buying a one-off new build house which is supplied with just bare chipboard floor panels.
We want to install 600mm floor tiles with electric heating pads to give a modern, clean appearance and provide a hard wearing surface.

so far, so good, but the rooms are interestingly on three levels with risers up and down - see the pics. The stairs are typical new build, creak a little when walked on, and have a snub nose edge finish.

So the question is, can tiles be satisfactorily fitted to the risers to give a long service life?
I am concerned about the exposed edge appearance and cracking under load.

what are my options?

And if any can recommend flooring guys for this in South Devon (Brixham), would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Nic

[jke11y]

I've seen stairs like that beefed up with hardiebacker and tiled on; gets lots of use every day and no problems in 2.5 years (not even any issue with the grout). Having seen the stair beforehand I thought there was no way it would work but I was wrong.

[subsea99]

I would think there will be a lot of movement in the stairs and even with a flexible grout and adhesive the tile and grout may still crack as well as being very slippy if wet and cause a serious hazard.

I'm sure it could be done but if the stairs creak already that's telling you that there isn't enough support underneath and would require stripping out and rebuilding to strengthen them,you would also need to cut off the bullnose to allow tread tiles to run out so risers can butt to underside.

[NicD]

Thanks guys, so can be done but best to strip out and start again with more solid construction.

[Gingerbread Man]

Never a fan of having tiles laid on chipboard. Typically in a bathroom I'd take it up due to the typical moment and flex.

But as a sacrificial layer, you could overboard with 4mm ply screwed like mad or thicker to aid strength. Then to avoid any future movement issues, something like a Ditramatting works quite well.

Also, the straight steps, could you not cut the bull nose off? Would you want overhang if you were to tile the horizontal and vertical surfaces of the treads?

For the curved stairs, I think you'd have to reprofile these. Rip out and redo.

Also, will the wall stringer take the increased floor height, or will the tiles be higher up on the treads, might look funny.
From my very untrained mind.

Edited by Gingerbread Man on Sunday 19th April 08:44

[Simpo Two]

I like the curved flight.

You do realise it will look like a Turkish bath when you've finished...?

[Neil - YVM]

Q

NicD said:

I am buying a one-off new build house which is supplied with just bare chipboard floor panels.
We want to install 600mm floor tiles with electric heating pads to give a modern, clean appearance and provide a hard wearing surface.

so far, so good, but the rooms are interestingly on three levels with risers up and down - see the pics. The stairs are typical new build, creak a little when walked on, and have a snub nose edge finish.

So the question is, can tiles be satisfactorily fitted to the risers to give a long service life?
I am concerned about the exposed edge appearance and cracking under load.

what are my options?

And if any can recommend flooring guys for this in South Devon (Brixham), would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Nic

The stairs, especially the curved ones would be a be tricky to tile.
It is perfectly ok to tile onto chip board floor, with the appropriate backing , assuming that the movement is within accepted tolerances. (Bit concerning that it is creaking already).

Another option may be to use a similar size Karndean/Amtico tile , this can be fitted over underfloor heating, plus is more easily cut to shape, and has noseings available to fit the stairs.

[NicD]

The floors don't creak, only the risers and then only slightly with my 13 stone.

I am probably being precious.

Planning to install Tile Mountain polished porcelain 600mm. These are 1cm thick, so solid.

A friend has them in a large lounge and they look good, but no stairs.