Want to build a tiled staircase with LED lighting? It's simpler than it sounds. This is largely due to a nifty product, the Up-Tile10. It's an LED channel that integrates seamlessly with tile steps.
Staircase lighting not only looks great but also increases safety! A well-lit step helps you, your guest, or your elderly friends to ascend and descend without falling.
Using an LED Channel for Tiled Staircases
The Up-Tile10 is designed to work with standard 10mm thick tiles. It mounts on the nose of each step, and projects light onto the surface below. It fits LED strips with a width no greater than 10mm.
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The most amazing thing about this channel is how unobtrusive it is. The indirect lighting effect will also add a touch of elegance and sophistication to the stairs.
Some Other Stuff You'll Need
To install LED lighting in a tiled staircase you'll need a couple of other things besides a tile-in stair lighting channel like the Up-Tile10. These include:
An LED Strip
You're going to need an LED strip to put into that Up-Tile10, and actually provide the light.
Our recommendation is the White Iris IP20 LED strip. If you want accent lighting go with the less expensive 60 LEDs/meter option. Wanting to brighten the room? Move a step up to the 120 or even 180 LEDs/meter strips.
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The White Iris strip is available in 4 color temperatures; 2700K, 3000K, 4000K, and 6000K. That raises the question "Which should I use?"
For a wooden staircase consider using a warmer color temperature. (2700K or 3000K)
Tiled steps often have a colder feel to them, so a cooler color temperature has a more consistent feel. We suggest the 4000K option.
Another strategy is to match your tiled stair lights to the color temperature of any other lighting in the room.
PS. If you want colored lighting for stairs check out the Hibiscus RGBW strip here.
A Power Supply
All low-voltage LED strips require a power supply/transformer/driver to convert the electricity into the correct voltage rating. You'll also need to make sure that the driver is supplying enough wattage to meet the power consumption of the LED strip.
Read this article for help selecting a power supply.
We recommend you use one of our high-quality Meanwell drivers.
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A Diffuser
If the LED strip will be visible from any standing position in the area surrounding your staircase we strongly suggest you use a diffuser. We have several that fit the Up-Tile10
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You can get clearer diffusers for higher light transmission, the only downside is that they're more prone to spotting.
Pro tip: Spotting is when the individual LEDs are visible on the strip. To totally eliminate this consider a COB strip. We recommend the White Lily.
Spotting will only be an issue if the LED strip can be seen from a standing position, or you have very reflective tiles! Test your tiles with a flashlight to determine whether individual LEDs would be visible.
If spotting is not an issue we suggest using the Clear Smooth variant.
A Controller
You can connect your LED lighting to a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi operated smart controller. These allow you to dim the light, and much more from your cellphone or tablet. We suggest using either the Casambi PWM4 or the Blebox 5 channel controller.
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A Motion Sensor
LED stair lights are often installed with a motion sensor. The lights will switch on as needed, and not waste electricity when they're not. Our recommendation is the Casambi Motion Paul or the Casambi basicDIM Bluetooth Motion Sensor.
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Custom Prebuilt Fixtures
Are you a busy contractor who doesn't have the time to sit down and assemble the light fixtures? We've got good news for you. We can build the light fixtures for you, to your exact custom specifications! All you'll have to do is install them into the staircase; no cutting, soldering, etc! All you have to do is get in touch with one of our friendly sales reps, they'll figure out the rest!
Installation Guide
So how do you install LED lighting in a tiled staircase? The basic steps are as follows:
- Cut your channel, strip, and diffuser to length.
- Assemble the light fixture.
- Attach the light fixture to the step with a few screws.
- Apply mortar to the step and the LED channel's side wing.
- Lay your tile.
P.S. Lay your vertical tile before installing the Up-Tile10 for proper spacing. See the illustration below.
We have a full guide on installing the Up-Tile10 right here. It'll come in handy when the time comes for the installation!
Adding Lighting to an Outdoor Tile Staircase
Do you want to add lighting to an outdoor tiled staircase? Well, you could use a waterproof strip, but that is not always enough! We prefer to resin fill.
A resin-filled Up-Tile10 is so waterproof you can install it underwater! Have a tiled swimming pool? Why not add some lighting?
If you're interested you can learn more about our resin filling service in this video.
Conclusion
Do you have any unanswered questions about installing LEDs in tiled steps? Please reach out, we'd love to answer any of your LED-related questions!
You might also find this article on installing lighting in tiled surfaces helpful.
Click here to see all of our tile-in LED channels.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Up-Tile10 compare to traditional Schluter stair nosing?
The Up-Tile10 Tiled Stair Nosing LED Channel offers the same functionality as traditional Schluter stair nosing but with the added benefits of LED lighting and anodized aluminum for outdoor use.
Can the Up-Tile10 be used for outdoor step trim applications?
Yes, the Up-Tile10 Tiled Stair Nosing LED Channel has an anodized aluminum nosing profile, making it suitable for outdoor use.
Does Wired4Signs USA offer installation services for the Up-Tile10?
No, but our team at Wired4Signs USA offers full installation services, including plug-and-play setups and LED resin filling for outdoor applications.
