Step Up!

Published : 30/04/2010 | Author: Tile Africa

We may only think of staircases as a necessary platform to move from one level of a home to another, but there are endless creative options when it comes to designing the floor covering for steps.

Stairs form a practical part of the floor and can be turned into a work of art and a focus point in any home. Whether you have stairs leading from the ground floor to the first storey or from the outside to indoors, think of how you can mix different materials and colours to create a step and landing area that is unique and grabs attention.

Tiles are one of the most durable materials for staircases as they are hard-wearing and suitable for high traffic areas. “Staircases need to withstand wear and tear, especially the edge of the steps and tiles are an ideal material for these areas,” says Kate van Niekerk, marketing manager at Tile Africa.

A tile with a PEI (Porcelain Enamel Institute) rating of 4 is ideal for a high-traffic area such as a staircase, especially stairs leading from an entrance hall, those leading up to the first storey or the small staircases connecting rooms where the floor area is raised or lowered.

Tiles are available in a wide variety of materials and colours, ensuring endless design ideas and options for stairs. The staircase can form a continuation of the floor area where the same tile is used on both surfaces. “This works particularly well when neutral coloured tiles are used,” she says. Alternatively, be creative and design an interesting landing with a combination of different tiles, textures and patterns.

Other options include using bright coloured tiles for the vertical part of the step, known as the riser, or creating borders at the edge of the step, using colourful and smaller tiles. Play around with tiles and create interesting designs on the horizontal part, known as the tread, by placing coloured tiles in a different direction to neutral tiles. A trendy look is combining pearlescent mosaic tiles, used on the riser, with natural stone tiles used on the tread, for a distinctive look with a practical application.

Tiles are extremely easy to clean and require low maintenance. Frequent sweeping and washing with a bit of water and a tile care product will keep the tiles in good condition and bring out their lustre and shine. It is also important to seal the grout between the tiles to prevent if from discolouring and keep in mind that natural tiles need to be sealed for protection.

For more information on Tile Africa contact the toll free number 0800 002 783 or visit their website www.tileafrica.co.za <http://www.tileafrica.co.za/> .