5400?? Oh come on. He didn't want the job.

are these your current stairs? what's wrong w/those tiles? (those are good quality spanish type of tiles)

what tiles do you want? What is the look you're after?

can you demo the tiles yourself? yes. protect the wood/walls with cardboard and good tape. break off the tiles and scrape off the old mortar.

I would urge you to watch a video on youtube of this. It's not brain surgery, but there is a level of skill involved if you don't want it to look like crap.

Demo it yourself and save $500-800 bucks. call in another tile guy and get another estimate (but you'll have to provide the tiles yourself. just make sure you get good measurements of the risers height/width, and do a dry layout w/the new tiles)

the problem will be finding tiles that fit the riser size. measure the height. most of those tiles are 4" or 8". whoever did those previous tiles did a good job cutting and lining up the design.

are you aware they have tile decals that go over existing tiles?

https://quadrostyle.com/products/stair-riser-stickers-stair-riser-tile-decals-hamra-in-beige

https://wallternatives.com/products/youre-a-star-tile-stair-riser-decals-white-on-black

Beats me as I’ve never set tile but the price quoted does seem steep even assuming it includes demo which is high labor & not the new tile cost. There might be a minimum job price involved. What I want to say though is that I love your tile & wood color combo. Too bad you don't or it maybe doesn't suit your style…

That is $70 per tile. I know prices have gone up, but really. I might find out what it would cost to replace the stairs. I think stair replacement was around $100 per stair a few years back, so even if the price doubled it would be less than replacing the tile.

I wish I loved this tile. :( But I do not. That price does not include the new tile, which I would supply myself.

...So DIY tiling. Doable? Run away?

did you read my comment?

Oh, dear, I am no help but that tile is stunning!
Maybe we could just trade houses.
Are you firm about wanting tile there? Maybe a different material would be less $$?

Beth H. :

did you read my comment?

I always read your comments with interest as you are a wealth of knowledge, but I'm not seeing a comment from you other than this one.

You can paint tile.

Hmmm, laying plain flat tile isn't hard -- like a backsplash -- but this looks more complicated.

If I were asking myself this question, I'd make a cheap set of just two steps out of cheap plywood ... then go get the cheapest possible tile in that same size ... and see how easy it is to do. It might cost $50 or so, but it would answer your questions.

@Beth H. : I don't see that comment at all either! Always love your comments though!

well that's odd. I'm the only person that can see it? lmao.

I did copy it and post it right above your comment, Kim.

can you see that?

Are your stairs for sale? I love that tile! But since obviously you don't, are they still firmly attached to the stairs? Would you be happy with painted tile?

Years ago my mother painted her mudroom floor tile with one of those 2-part epoxy kits meant to refinish a bathtub and it held up very well for roughly 15 years before she sold the house. Since yours wouldn't see much traffic since it's vertical, it would probably last forever.

@Beth H. : I did see the picture you posted of your comment but now that has dissappeared for me too!

Beth, I can't see any of your comments but the ones asking if we can see your other comments.

I tried it once on a small backsplash for a bath. Not too bad. The hard part will be getting those cut pieces at the top turn just right without a wet saw. Count on more wasted pieces than expected!

At the worst, you could give it up after a few steps and call in a more reasonably priced tilesetter. Unless you're in the Hollywood Hills or the Rotten Apple, the quote seems absurd.

But if you don't like the looks of painted tile, like someone posted, laying tile isn't particularly hard. In fact, I find the hardest part is finding a tile that you like!

There are plenty of videos on Youtube about laying tile. The main things to watch for is keeping the trowel at a constant angle with regards of the tile so the adhesive is spread out evenly, and keep a constant gap between each tile. They sell plastic spacers to help you with gapping.

If the current tiles are still firmly attached, are not loose, and the grout is not crumbling or falling apart, you can even tile right over the existing tiles, just make sure that you get adhesive specifically made for such application.

Beth -- I got an email that you commented, but when I went to look at it, it had disappeared.

I'm in Silicon Valley, so Hollywood Hills-esque, but still. Will get some more quotes.

so, the ones who can't see my comment w/the picture, (1st comment) can you see my third comment w/a copy and picture of my first comment?

What about my 4th comment asking Kim if she can see my comment?

And are you guys using the phone app to view it? i'm on my desktop and can see everything

can you see this photo of my comment? lol.

And I do want tile there, just not that particular tile. I know I'm breaking all the keep-houses-pure rules, but I want to replace it with this one from Etsy. [I posted about another house dilemma earlier, so this tile might look familiar.]

First of all, that is a ridiculous quote for the work. A lot of times when you get a ridiculous quote it's because they don't want to do the work. All good contractors are really busy these days and they don't want to do small jobs. Does this work have to be done right away?

I love the new tile! :-)

Beth, I am on a macbook pro and can only see these 2 posts + the one you made with the screen shot about 5-6 min ago.

No other posts showing, but the one made about 5-6 min ago.

Maybe leave the existing blue and change the patterned. 1/2 the work and you can try to do it yourself.

Beth, I am not seeing your comments either.

Like the Samba and Slow Foxtrot,tile work is easy once you learn how it's done. Watching utubes is also about as helpful.

cat, ky. None of them?

see next comment let me know

I had the same problem you're having about a week ago, not seeing all comments. I logged out and back again and it fixed my problem.

And that tile is beautiful!

Beth, I'm thinking you can't see all my comments....I wrote that I am on a macbook pro and firefox. I can only see the ones I screen shot and the later screen shot with the pic that you posted. And all the ones asking if people can see. But nothing of advice or suggestions.

6x6 tiles; I’ve already gotten a sample from the seller and they fit (and are gorgeous). I’m keeping the solid blue and only replacing the pattern.

@dragonfly All this is exactly what I’m concerned about.

she's in Silicon Valley. that 5400 makes sense now! lol.

Emily, can we see a picutre of the staircase in context w/the house? Is it spanish style?

Here are a few more pics. Definitely Spanish style -- although to be fair, the owners 2 owners ago "Spanishified" the house (it was originally a ranch). I know this will at least partially de-Spanishify it, but I'm hoping I can make it lean more Arts and Crafts/Morris style. Honestly, if the Talavera didn't have those really jarring yellow and/or red accents, I wouldn't mind it as much. I like the ones they used outside well enough that I would leave them if they were inside (attaching pic; you'll have to pan in to see them). But I just don't like this one. :/

Clearly, the fireplace tiles are barely hanging on. I think retiling the surround should be a relatively straightforward part of the job.

Outside Talavera -- no jarring red accent. Whyyyyy didn't they use these inside? :P

Oh that's right. I remember your post on the other question.

it's too bad you don't like it. I think it looks perfect.

who is doing the fireplace for you? can they do the stairs? what if you left the solid blue and did something else of the others? that would prob save you some money IF the new tiles were the exact same depth as the old ones.

My husband removed those 2 fireplace tiles, to see how easily they would come off (answer: very easily). The $5K does *not* include the fireplace. That's another $850. It also does not include the solid blue riser tiles, which will stay in place. :P :P

oh wow. 5400 for the print tiles only? wow. yeah, I'd say that's a bit much.

Find someone else.

Yes Beth, all of them, except the ones, everyone else is not seeing either. I do see the couple last ones you made 12 and 3 hours ago.

I would get at least 3 quotes. Some tile jobs are difficult and some are not but I have seen some poor tiling jobs.

You can tile over tile with the blessing of the TCNA. Demo is asking for trouble, more work, and unnecessary unless bringing the risers out the thickness of the tile and thinset makes your stair nosing out of code compliance.

It's probably at code or close now I'd guess.

I think the nosing on the staircase is only about 1/3” (using my super accurate fingertip as a measure). I don’t want to lose any more of it, so we’d have to demo. We could get away with tiling over the tile on the Saltillo steps where the overhang is much wider, but we’d have to figure out what to do with the pieces on either end — the existing tile is set flush with the wall.

I agree with getting more quotes. And, if your DH wants to get involved, perhaps he can do the demo (removing the tile) to save some money.

My DH could do it. So thinking if yours does DIY--and you are always happy with the results he probably can. It is not difficult and does not take 'special skills' it takes being patient and PICKY. Attention to detail and being very particular are the most important factors in your tile person. If they CARE it will turn out--if they get frustrated and decide oh well this is ok..it could be bad.

Not easy when you dislike the tile in a house. I removed about 3500 sq.ft of that red (and some green) saltillo tile, from floors and walls, in my Los Angeles house! The only patterned tile I kept was on the staircase!

UPDATE: months after buying replacement non-Talavera tile, we finally got it installed yesterday and today. Our tile guy was recommended by the contractor of a friend of our old neighbor, and he was awesome -- and charged muchmuchmuch less than $5400. ;) These new tiles definitely have changed the look of the house, which might upset the Spanish-style purists, but I love them. :)

Looks great!

Though I really liked your original tile, I must say that I do like your new tile. I think you’ve retained the ”flavor” of the original look and your new tile is also very pretty. It’s a quieter design without the high contrast of the red color.