Installing Large-Format Tile on Stairs: Technology, Materials and Design

Large-format tile stairs: the architectural accent of your space

A staircase is not just a functional element connecting floors. It is an architectural dominant that can become a real decoration of an interior or exterior. Large-format tile, porcelain stoneware and natural stone let you create stairs that impress with their beauty, elegance and durability.

M-STONE is an expert in cladding stairs with large-format tile and natural stone in Kyiv and Ukraine. Our craftsmen create stairs that become the central element of a space, from classic marble flights to modern minimalist structures.

Types of stairs and the specifics of cladding them

By location

Interior stairs

Stairs inside a house have special requirements:

• Aesthetics (harmony with the interior)
• Safety (moderate slip resistance)
• Comfort (pleasant tactile feel)
• Acoustics (minimising the noise of footsteps)

Exterior stairs

Outdoor stairs work in extreme conditions:

• Frost resistance (freeze-thaw cycles)
• Slip resistance (rain, snow, ice)
• UV resistance (keeping colour)
• Strength (intensive use)

By construction

Straight flights

• The simplest construction
• One or several flights
• Optimal for cladding with large-format tile
• A minimum of material waste

Turning stairs (L-shaped, U-shaped)

• Flights with a 90° or 180° turn
• Intermediate landings
• More complex cutting geometry
• Need careful layout planning

Spiral stairs

• Round or oval in plan
• Each step is wedge-shaped
• The most complex to clad
• Need individual fabrication of elements

Cantilever (floating) stairs

• Steps are fixed to the wall without risers
• A modern minimalist look
• A “floating” staircase effect
• Limited width of steps

Modular stairs on stringers

• A metal or wooden frame
• Steps are laid on the stringers
• The possibility of combining materials
• A modern industrial style

Elements of a staircase and their cladding

The step (tread)

The horizontal surface on which the foot lands.

Standard dimensions

• Width: 25-32 cm (optimally 28-30 cm)
• Length: 80-150 cm (depending on the width of the flight)
• Cladding thickness: 10-30 mm

Cladding specifics

• An anti-slip surface
• A rounded or straight front edge
• The possibility of an overhang above the riser

The riser

The vertical part between steps.

Standard dimensions

• Height: 15-20 cm (optimally 16-18 cm)
• Length: according to the width of the flight
• Thickness: usually less than that of the tread

Finishing options

• The same material as the tread
• A contrasting material (an accent)
• Mirror or glass (a modern style)
• Backlit (an LED strip)

The nosing (the step’s edge)

The front edge of the step that overhangs the riser.

Types of nosing

• Straight: a minimalist look
• Rounded (bullnose): classic, safe
• Shaped: decorative, for classic interiors
• With an insert: an anti-slip or decorative strip

Functions of the nosing

• A visual finish to the step
• Protection of the edge from chipping
• An anti-slip element
• A place for LED backlighting

The landing

The horizontal surface between flights or at the beginning/end of the stairs.

Features

• The same material as the steps
• The possibility of a decorative pattern
• Matching with the floor of the storey

The stair skirting

Finishing the place where the stairs meet the wall.

Options

• A ceramic skirting in the tone of the steps
• A stone skirting
• A hidden skirting (flush with the wall)
• A backlit skirting

Balustrades and handrails

Combination options

• Stone balusters: a classic style
• Wrought-iron balustrades: elegance
• Glass balustrades: modernity
• Metal handrails: minimalism
• Wooden elements: warmth

Materials for cladding stairs

Porcelain stoneware

Advantages

• High strength and wear resistance
• A wide choice of designs (marble-look, wood-look, concrete-look)
• An affordable price compared with natural stone
• Stable characteristics
• Ease of care

Formats for stairs

• Ready-made steps 33×120 cm, 33×150 cm
• Cutting from slabs of 60×120, 80×160, 120×240 cm
• Sets (tread + riser + skirting)

Types of surface for stairs

• Matt: a universal choice
• Structured: maximum safety
• Lappato: for interior stairs

Marble

Advantages

• Unrivalled natural beauty
• A unique pattern on every slab
• Prestige and status
• The possibility of restoration
• Durability (centuries)

Popular varieties for stairs

• Bianco Carrara: a classic white
• Calacatta: a premium one with golden veins
• Crema Marfil: a warm beige
• Emperador: a luxurious brown
• Nero Marquina: an elegant black

Features

• Sensitivity to acids
• The need for a water-repellent treatment
• The possibility of polishing out scratches
• An aged (antiqued) finish for slip resistance (exterior stairs)

Travertine

Advantages

• A warm natural look
• An antique character
• A pleasant tactile feel
• Not slippery (especially antiqued)
• Does not heat up in the sun

Popular options

• Classic: beige with characteristic pores
• Noce: a rich brown
• Silver: a cool grey

Application

• Interior stairs in a classic style
• Exterior stairs in a Mediterranean style
• Stairs by a pool

Granite

Advantages

• The strongest natural stone
• Minimal water absorption
• Ideal frost resistance
• Resistance to abrasion
• Durability

Application

• Exterior stairs with a high load
• Stairs of public buildings
• Grand stairs

Finishes for stairs

• Heat-treated (flamed): maximum slip resistance
• Bush-hammered: a textured surface
• Polished: for interior stairs

Onyx

Features

• Translucency when backlit
• Exclusivity and uniqueness
• The highest price category

Application

• Backlit risers: a magical effect
• Decorative inserts
• Exclusive projects

Design solutions for stairs

Monochrome style

The concept: treads and risers made of one material in one colour.

The effect: elegance, wholeness, visual lightness.

Materials: white marble, light porcelain stoneware, beige travertine.

Contrasting combination

The concept: treads and risers of different colours or materials.

Options

• White treads + black risers
• Light marble + dark wood
• Beige travertine + brown inserts
• Grey porcelain stoneware + white grout (an accent on the joints)

The effect: dynamism, expressiveness, modernity.

Book-match on stairs

The concept: mirrored laying of marble on landings or wide steps.

The effect: a symmetrical pattern, luxury, uniqueness.

Implementation: requires careful selection of slabs and high craftsmanship.

Inserts and decor

Options

• Marble rosettes on landings
• Mosaic inserts
• Metal inlays
• Contrasting stripes

Lighting the stairs

Types of lighting

Riser lighting An LED strip under each step creates the effect of a “floating” staircase.

Nosing lighting The light is built into the front edge of the step.

Handrail lighting An LED strip along or inside the handrail.

Skirting lighting Light along the wall at floor level.

Spotlights Built into the wall or the steps.

Possibilities

• Motion sensors (automatic switching on)
• Dimming (brightness control)
• RGB (colour change)
• Scenarios (night mode, party)

The technology of cladding stairs by M-STONE

The preparatory stage

1. Surveying the structure

• Checking the geometry of the stairs
• Measuring all the steps (they may differ!)
• Assessing the condition of the substrate
• Checking flatness and verticality

2. Design

• Choosing the layout
• Planning the cuts
• Agreeing the decorative elements
• Calculating materials

3. Making the elements

• Cutting the steps to size
• Finishing the nosing
• Making the risers
• Fitting the skirtings

Substrate preparation

Concrete stairs

• Cleaning off dust and dirt
• Repairing cracks and defects
• Levelling the surface (if needed)
• Priming

Metal stairs

• Checking the rigidity of the structure
• Anti-corrosion treatment
• Installing backing boards (cement-bonded particle board, plywood)
• Waterproofing (for exterior stairs)

Wooden stairs

• Checking strength and rigidity
• Eliminating squeaks
• Installing cement-bonded or OSB boards
• Waterproofing

Laying the tile

The sequence of work

1. Laying the risers

• We start from the bottom
• Applying adhesive to the substrate and the tile
• Installing with levelling
• Fixing with temporary props

2. Laying the treads

• After the riser adhesive has set
• Controlling the nosing overhang
• Checking the horizontal
• Keeping an equal gap

3. Laying the landings

• Like an ordinary floor
• Matching the pattern with the steps
• Book-match (according to the project)

4. Installing the skirting

• After the main work is finished
• Fitting on site
• A neat junction with the steps

Grouting the joints

Specifics of grouting stairs

• Flexible grout to compensate for vibration
• A colour matching the tile or contrasting
• Careful filling of all joints
• Forming expansion joints

Finishing work

Water-repellent treatment (for natural stone)

• Applying a protective impregnation
• Increasing resistance to stains
• Making care easier

Installing the balustrade

• Installing balusters or glass
• Installing handrails
• Checking reliability

Installing the lighting

• Connecting LED strips
• Installing controllers
• Setting the modes

Specifics of cladding different types of stairs

Exterior stairs

Specific requirements

• Frost-resistant materials
• An anti-slip surface R11-R12
• A slope of the steps of 1-2% away from the building
• Expansion joints
• Drip edges for draining water

Recommended materials

• Structured porcelain stoneware
• Heat-treated granite
• Antiqued travertine

Additional elements

• Step heating systems
• Rubber anti-slip inserts
• Handrails with heating

Stairs to a pool

Specific requirements

• Constant contact with water
• Walking barefoot
• Resistance to chemicals (chlorine)
• Maximum slip resistance

Recommended materials

• Travertine: warm, not slippery
• Structured porcelain stoneware
• Special tile for pools

Spiral stairs

Cladding specifics

• Every step has an individual shape
• Making from templates
• High complexity of the work
• More material waste

Recommended materials

• Natural stone (individual fabrication)
• Porcelain stoneware (cut to order)

Cantilever stairs

Features

• Limited thickness of the cladding
• Visibility of the step edges
• An accent on the nosing

The solution

• Thin porcelain stoneware (6 mm)
• Finishing the visible edges
• Integrating the lighting into the nosing

What the cost of cladding stairs depends on

The price depends on:

• The type and construction of the stairs
• The number of steps and landings
• The material (porcelain stoneware, marble, travertine)
• The type of nosing
• The presence of decorative elements
• The complexity of the geometry
• Lighting
• Interior or exterior stairs

For an exact calculation contact M-STONE!

Contact information

M-STONE: professional cladding of stairs

📞 Phones: +38 068 100 27 96, +38 050 914 18 99 📧 Email: [email protected] 🌐 Website: https://mstone.ua/

Social media

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mstone_kiev/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mstone.kyiv/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@M-Stone_Kyiv/

Geography of work

Kyiv: all districts of the city Kyiv region: Brovary, Irpin, Bucha, Vyshhorod, Vyshneve, Boiarka, Kozyn, Koncha-Zaspa and others Ukraine: travel to large projects across the country

M-STONE’s advantages for stairs

✅ Experience in cladding stairs: all types of construction ✅ Own production: making steps to size ✅ Work with the nosing: all types of finishing ✅ Natural stone: marble, travertine, granite ✅ Lighting systems: LED integration ✅ Quality guarantee: on all work

The current cost of work for your project can be calculated in the online calculators or confirmed by the manager: it depends on the material, the slab format and the condition of the substrate. The consultation is free.