Master Bath Marble-Look Tile in Vinings
About This Project
This Vinings home on a hillside lot near Chattahoochee Plantation received a full staircase and master bath floor treatment in a cream polished marble-look porcelain. The homeowner wanted a continuous stone appearance from the entry foyer through the staircase and into the upper-level master bathroom.
Matching the staircase tile to the floor tile required careful layout planning so the veining direction read consistently as you moved up the stairs. We cut the stair nosing pieces from the same tile stock using a wet saw with a diamond blade, then finished the exposed edges with a bullnose profile. The polished surface required unsanded grout with tight 1/16-inch joints to maintain the seamless look.
The home's wood-framed construction meant we checked stair deflection before setting. Stair treads see concentrated point loads, and any flex would eventually crack the tile at the nose where stress is highest.
What We Did
- Assessed stair framing for deflection; reinforced two treads showing movement
- Installed cement backer board on treads and risers with waterproof membrane at tread-riser junction
- Set cream marble-look porcelain with tight 1/16-inch joints using unsanded grout
- Cut and polished bullnose nosing pieces; sealed all grout and polished tile surfaces
