The Major Downside To DIY Mosaic Stairs (And How To Avoid This)

Are you looking for a creative DIY to enhance the look of your basic stairs? One way to put your artistic skills to the test while completely changing up your space is by installing your own mosaic tiles on the face of the stairs. This DIY can take a plain set of indoor or outdoor stairs and turn them into a functional piece of artwork that encapsulates your unique style. However, before diving right into this upcycle project, one of the major downsides to DIY mosaic stairs is the tiles cracking and affecting the look (and integrity) of the mosaic. The best way to avoid mosaic stairs from cracking is by using the proper materials, like anti-fracture membranes and expansion joints, to promote longevity. 

If you're unfamiliar with mosaic, this is an art form that involves using small pieces of material to create larger designs. Colorful glass and small pieces of ceramic tile are some of the most common materials for mosaic, and the final products can range from traditional hanging artwork to DIYing a mosaic table or the face of stairs. You can use a pre-existing design as inspiration, or you can go outside the box and create your own pattern.

One of the biggest perks of having DIY mosaic stairs is the beautiful artistic appearance of the tiles and their placement. However, understanding why mosaic tiles and tile floors, in general, are prone to cracking can help you better prepare for your project. One common cause of mosaic tiles cracking is not using the proper materials during the installation process. External factors like temperature fluctuations are a common cause of tile cracking, as well as physical impact and heavy foot traffic, both common with staircases.

You may also experience cracked mosaic tiles due to not taking the time to prep the surface. However, the reason it's so important to prevent cracking from happening to your mosaic stairs in the first place is that this type of damage can affect several different areas. For example, if small cracks start to form in the tiles or in the grout, it can lead to dirt building up in these openings. Letting this occur over time can cause discoloration and the stairs to be more difficult to maintain overall.

Rather than looking for a DIY that camouflages cracked tiles, it's best to prevent it from happening in the first place — and being patient during installation is key if you want to stop your stairs from cracking. In addition to cleaning the stairs and making sure there are no structural issues like cracks, laying a material like an anti-fracture membrane can help keep the tiles from shifting and cracking. These helpful materials typically come in liquid and sheet-based forms, and they function by keeping the mosaic tiles from being affected by issues with the base material. For example, if the concrete or wood below starts to crack, it won't make its way up to the tile.

Another helpful tool to implement during installation is expansion joints, especially for outdoor mosaic stairs or ones with a lot of traffic. Expansion joints help keep the small tiles in place, even when the base material below shifts due to elemental factors like changes in temperature. With the proper preparation and using high-quality materials, you can give your stairs a major design upgrade with minimal risk of downsides like cracking.