The appearance of the untreated concrete staircase leaves much to be desired, so the cladding is very important to give the design an aesthetic appearance. One of the most durable and attractive finishes is porcelain stoneware steps. The tread can be monolithic or collected from individual elements.
Porcelain tile, its advantages and disadvantages
This artificial material is made from quartz sand, kaolin, feldspar and clay. The resulting mixture is ground to a dusty state. The pressure under which it is pressed reaches 500 kg / cm so that micropores, cracks, and caverns do not form inside.
The resulting plates are fired at a temperature of at least 1300 ° C so that all components enter into a chemical reaction and completely melt into a homogeneous mass. The obtained ceramic granite does not lose its color, since mineral pigments are added to the mixture in the initial stage of production.
This material is strong, durable, resistant to mechanical damage. Due to the absence of micropores, it does not absorb moisture, therefore, can withstand any negative temperatures and does not collapse with a sharp temperature drop.
Ceramic granite is resistant to acids and alkalis, so no spots appear on it, and a damp cloth is enough to care for it.
This material can be painted in any color and give it almost any texture, which makes the composite indispensable for solving various design ideas. It is environmentally friendly and not subject to burning.
For all its merits, granite has some drawbacks. The first is a rather high cost. The second is a cold surface, on which it is inconvenient to walk barefoot. However, a floor heating system can be used for this.
Step requirements
Despite the fact that the steps have a simple design, they must meet certain requirements:
- the material should not be slippery (especially for stairs for the street);
- easy installation, not requiring much difficulty;
- the color and shape of the steps should be in harmony with the interior or exterior.
Varieties of steps and equipment
Typically, the complete set of the series consists of treads, risers and decorative skirting. Steps can be monolithic or prefabricated.
The length of the whole models is 1200-1300 mm, and the thickness is 7-15 mm. The cost of monolithic steps from porcelain is higher than options from a tile. But this design is much stronger and looks better due to the lack of seams.
For prefabricated steps, most often use modular or solid tiles in sizes 300x300, 450x450, 300x600 mm. Laying can be seamless or with a decorative seam.
Standard slabs
In standard slabs, treads have cuts and embossed strips of abrasive material. The shape of the edge of the step can be simple or curly. In some cases, curly parts are made separately from the plate.
Steps with risers
Under the tread is a riser having a height of 100-150 mm. Combining this element with horizontal slabs, the staircase will look visually solid and stylistically impeccable.
Skirting steps
As decoration in the corners between the wall and the staircase, a ceramic granite baseboard is used to cover the joints.
The use of this element is not necessary, however, it helps a lot in cases where the junction of the steps to the wall cannot be performed perfectly evenly.
Porcelain Tile Selection Tips
Different models of slabs for steps have different surface texture. They are classified according to the following criteria:
- Polished slab with a specularity above 80%. From this material, you can safely lay out the stairs indoors.
- A semi-polished slab with a specularity of no higher than 25% can be stacked on both interior and street stairs.
- The matte plate is coarsely sanded and chemically burned. This surface does not slip at sub-zero temperatures and precipitation. Ideal for outdoor surfaces.
- A glazed slab with a high percentage of specularity has high anti-slip properties. Such material is used for stairs indoors and outdoors.
When choosing slabs made of ceramic granite, it is necessary to check the absorption of moisture, for which you need to moisten the surface with plenty of water. It should not soak into the tiles. This is most easily verified by checking the sample before and after wetting.
If you intend to make the facing of a street staircase, then it is better to opt for plates with a rough surface in order to avoid slipping in inclement weather and frost.When choosing an external tile, you need to pay attention to the filling with dye - it should be uniform. Such material has undergone proper processing and will be resistant to mechanical and weather influences.
Marching stairs trimmed with straight plates. Bevel plates made to order are laid on spiral and semicircular stairs.
If the room has low traffic, then it is best to lay glazed ceramic granite. In office and other buildings where traffic is high, it is better to use matte, unglazed panels. The installation of steps with a kapinos is a more durable solution, in addition it will give the staircase an aesthetic appearance.
In order not to spend a lot of money on repairing steps in the future, it is best to do the step lining with a separate leading edge. In this case, replacing one part will suffice.
Porcelain stoneware technology
- For facing steps with porcelain tiles, preliminary preparation of the base is necessary. First, an acrylic primer is applied to the surface to improve the adhesion of the slab and the staircase. After it dries, all irregularities are smoothed with putty. Then an acrylic emulsion is applied again to make the primer better.
- Before laying, you need to check the size of the plates and steps for compliance. If necessary, a water-cutting machine can be used for trimming, with the help of which an even cut is made. Due to the use of this equipment, the trimmed edge does not crack, there are no chips or scratches on it.
In the absence of such a machine, it is allowed to use a conventional tile cutter.
3. If the cladding is made of prefabricated elements, then it is necessary to mix all the packaging so that the finish is homogeneous. First we recommend comparing the color marking indicated on the box with the marking on the tile. They must match each other.
4. Prepare the glue. For this, the dry mixture is diluted with the required amount of water specified in the instructions, mixed with a construction mixer and left for 15 minutes until a homogeneous mass is formed. This time is enough for all components to completely dissolve.
5. Using a notched trowel, glue is applied to the base and tiles are applied. This tool must be selected according to the size of the step and plate. When applying glue, it is necessary to ensure that the entire surface is completely covered with the composition.
6. Laying slabs starting from the top step of the base.
After the risers are laid, make the lining tread. Corners are treated with a corner made of plastic or metal. After this, grout all the seams and the subsequent cleaning.
For the joint to be perfect, the slab should be on the same level as the step. Tiles are allowed to be slightly wider. If protruding areas remain after installation, then they must be cut. When facing street steps, a slope of 1-2 degrees is made so that water flows freely and does not remain on the surface. Professional craftsmen advise to leave a thin channel on the side to drain moisture.
Care for porcelain tiles
To clean the stairs lined with ceramic granite slabs, it is enough to use a normal soap solution. This coating does not require special polishing mastics or detergents. Even if severe contamination remains on the surface, any product containing alkali or acid can be used. It will not harm the surface of porcelain stoneware.