Tiling Wooden Stairs with Travertine

[3gGT]

Originally Posted by Bud Cline Applying the tile directly to wall will work fine. Applying it directly to the wood stringer will not. Use cement board on the stringer and use a flexible thinset rated for movement.

Thanks Bud! I'll probably use the Versabond.

BTW, the rebuild of the stairs went well. It is extremely stiff with 3/4's of a gallon of Titebond glue, dados and rabbets with both the riser and tread constructed of 3/4" cabinet grade plywood. The tread is now 1 1/2" thick and supported by a 3/4" riser containing a dado for the lower tread and a rabbet for the leading edge of the 1st 3/4" portion of the tread and cleats underneath the tread sides. I also lag bolted the stringer plus 2x6 support to the inside wall. The outside stringer is supported by a 2x4 wall. Although no 3rd stringer, it is very strong and stable. Better safe than sorry!