How to Tile Rounded Exterior Steps

Sweep the stairs with a broom to remove dirt and debris.

Examine the stairs for cracks, chips, depressions or high spots. Fill in cracks, depressions or chips with concrete patching compound. Let the patching compound dry overnight.

Roughen the surface of the masonry stairs with a wire brush to remove the top layer of masonry. Abrade high spots with the wire brush to make them flush with the surrounding masonry.

Sweep the steps to remove masonry dust.

Measure the width of each stair tread and mark the center points with chalk.

Lay the tile dry on the steps, positioning the starting tile centered over the line indicating the center point. Push the tile in place abutted to the riser. Place two tile spacers, one at the front edge and one near the riser. Dry lay the second tile. Continue to dry lay tile spacers and tiles until tiles cover all stair treads.

Hold the tile in place with your hand. Place a grease pencil on the underside of the edge of the tile that overhangs the edge of the stair tread. Trace a line on the underside of the tile following the curve of the step. Remove the tile and mark the exact placement and the tread on which the tile belongs. Repeat for each tile.

Place the tile with the unfinished side facing up on a wet saw. Follow the curved guideline to cut the tile. Repeat for each tile.

Scoop thinset mortar on a notched trowel and apply a 1/4-inch layer of thinset to the top step. Turn the trowel to the notched side and drag it through the thinset, making wavy lines as you drag it.

Read the back of the tile to determine the placement of the tile. Pick up thinset on the trowel and apply an 1/8-inch layer to the back of the tile. Set the tile in place on the step. Place a tile spacer at the front and back edge of the tile. Continue to spread thinset over the backs of the tiles, set in place and put spacers next to the tiles until the tiles cover all steps.

Block the stairs with an obstacle or caution tape to prevent anyone from walking on the tile while the thinset dries. Drying times vary by manufacturers and range from 12 to 24 hours or more.

Remove the tile spacers by hand.

Mix grout in a bucket and scoop it up with a grout float. Spread the grout over the face of the tile and press it into the spaces between the tiles.

Dip a natural sea sponge into a bucket of water and wash the face of the tile to remove grout from the tile surface.

Block the stairs and let the grout dry for 24 hours.