ᐅ Tiles on a quarter-turn staircase – Does anyone have experience with this?
Created on: 15 Oct 2018 18:02
S
sco0ter
Hello,
we had a half-turn concrete staircase tiled. Beforehand, the tiler told us he would need 42 tiles sized 60x60cm (24x24 inches) for 15 steps. He explained that usually there would be only one joint, and on the long stair treads in the corners (about max. 140cm (55 inches) long) there would typically be one more joint.
Since I wanted to avoid this extra joint (or the small triangular pieces that would then appear in the corner), I suggested using 40x80cm (16x31 inches) tiles there instead.
So one half with 60x60cm (24x24 inches) tiles, the other half with 40x80cm (16x31 inches) tiles. That would add up to 140cm (55 inches). If necessary, two times 40x80cm (16x31 inches) tiles could be used, which would be more than enough (160cm (63 inches)).
He said that was possible, and even the tile supplier agreed that it was a good solution.
Accordingly, only 36 of the 60cm (24 inches) tiles and 8 of the 40x80cm (16x31 inches) tiles were ordered.
We also went over everything again on site. He seemed to have understood everything.
Now I come to the construction site and there are two joints on the long steps.
He said it couldn’t be done any other way, which I can’t really understand.
Are there any tilers here who can explain this to me? Mathematically, I can’t make sense of it.
Two tiles in these sizes should easily fit on one stair tread.
I am a bit disappointed. I wonder why you put so much thought into it, discuss everything, buy accordingly, and in the end it’s done differently.
we had a half-turn concrete staircase tiled. Beforehand, the tiler told us he would need 42 tiles sized 60x60cm (24x24 inches) for 15 steps. He explained that usually there would be only one joint, and on the long stair treads in the corners (about max. 140cm (55 inches) long) there would typically be one more joint.
Since I wanted to avoid this extra joint (or the small triangular pieces that would then appear in the corner), I suggested using 40x80cm (16x31 inches) tiles there instead.
So one half with 60x60cm (24x24 inches) tiles, the other half with 40x80cm (16x31 inches) tiles. That would add up to 140cm (55 inches). If necessary, two times 40x80cm (16x31 inches) tiles could be used, which would be more than enough (160cm (63 inches)).
He said that was possible, and even the tile supplier agreed that it was a good solution.
Accordingly, only 36 of the 60cm (24 inches) tiles and 8 of the 40x80cm (16x31 inches) tiles were ordered.
We also went over everything again on site. He seemed to have understood everything.
Now I come to the construction site and there are two joints on the long steps.
He said it couldn’t be done any other way, which I can’t really understand.
Are there any tilers here who can explain this to me? Mathematically, I can’t make sense of it.
Two tiles in these sizes should easily fit on one stair tread.
I am a bit disappointed. I wonder why you put so much thought into it, discuss everything, buy accordingly, and in the end it’s done differently.
sco0ter schrieb:
How can centered be bad? Centered = symmetrical = good. If I may quote myself (from another forum, earlier this week): Symmetry is basically like aesthetics for people with dyslexia. Symmetry never compensates for neglected proportions.
It is inherent to a spiral stair tread that it does not have a clear center: the central joint could only divide either the width or the area in half, and in terms of the other aspect it would inevitably be "off-center."
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
C
chand198619 Oct 2018 06:12I don’t think what’s shown in the picture is the ultimate solution. The joints are almost aligned, but just look at the offsets in the centimeter range (a few inches).
Also, the spiral stairs are more towards the inside than centered…
On the contrary, painters and photographers often avoid or deliberately break symmetry.
The “golden ratio,” for example, is considered particularly aesthetic, with defined proportions but no symmetry.
By the way, a spiral staircase is inherently an asymmetrical element, as 11ant already mentioned, it can’t be arranged symmetrically anyway.
Also, the spiral stairs are more towards the inside than centered…
On the contrary, painters and photographers often avoid or deliberately break symmetry.
The “golden ratio,” for example, is considered particularly aesthetic, with defined proportions but no symmetry.
By the way, a spiral staircase is inherently an asymmetrical element, as 11ant already mentioned, it can’t be arranged symmetrically anyway.
sco0ter schrieb:
How can centered be bad? Centered = symmetrical = good.
So, I would find this nice: If you find that nice, then the right people have met?! The artwork is not far from your staircase, it just was done neater. This happens when you choose the wrong tile! I would have gone straight for 120cm x 30cm (47 inches x 12 inches), then everything would have been from one piece.
Besides, you’ve been here for a while. You could have easily discussed something like this before installing the staircase, couldn’t you?
C
chand198619 Oct 2018 07:41@Zaba12
On the outside of the spiral, the steps can be deeper than 30cm (12 inches). So, you have to accept some compromise.
But you are absolutely right: in the example picture, we actually have the OP’s staircase built properly – it still looks poor.
I believe trying to avoid joints entirely is the wrong goal. The arrangement of the joints is more important, so having maybe three joints on the longest steps can still look fine.
On the outside of the spiral, the steps can be deeper than 30cm (12 inches). So, you have to accept some compromise.
But you are absolutely right: in the example picture, we actually have the OP’s staircase built properly – it still looks poor.
I believe trying to avoid joints entirely is the wrong goal. The arrangement of the joints is more important, so having maybe three joints on the longest steps can still look fine.
sco0ter schrieb:
Here are two more photos. I’m not really satisfied with the joint pattern. What do you think? Couldn’t it have been done more harmoniously? The top photo is truly amazing! In my previous quote from the tile installer, the item "tile installation" for the type and size of the staircase was just under 5000€ gross. Good thing I switched to a simple wood/steel construction when I see something like this.
@chand1986: Regarding the 30cm (12 inches), you might be right, the original poster probably didn’t choose 40cm (16 inches) as the minimum dimension without reason.
11ant schrieb:
It is inherent in the design of a spiral staircase step that it does not have a clear center: the central joint can only split either the width or the surface area in half, but in regard to the other aspect it will inevitably be "off-center."Alternatively, the joint can follow the walking path, maintaining a roughly constant distance from the inside edge. What happens on the outside then becomes almost irrelevant.Similar topics