While considering flooring options for stairs, decorative elements take a back seat, as the important factors needing your attention in the case are functionality and structure of the staircase. There are many flooring option for stairs, depending on the function of the stairs and the overall décor of the area. Here are some of your options:
1. Carpeting – It seems to be the most popular option for flooring, and the main reasons for that its availability in infinite number of colors, styles available, and patterns too. Moreover it’s among the most affordable options one could have. Then, it also has the special quality of absorbing sound. All these characteristics make it a favorite of homeowners. It radically adds to the safety of using the staircase. But on comparing to other flooring options for stairs, it demands much more maintenance and cleaning as it tends to collect dirt and it gets stained easily. And, on its getting stained it’s quite a challenge to remove those stains. This limitation dissuades a lot many DIY enthusiasts.
2. Hardwood – Anyone with a taste for traditional old items will find this to be best option. It easily goes well with most themes of décor. Moreover the availability of large species of wood, allows you to create diverse color shades from it. For giving an exclusive look, you may stain it. Such flooring is extremely tough and durable and its cleaning is the easiest. In a jiffy you can make it look squeaking clean. That prompts its use in high traffic areas that get any number of footfalls. In the long run it works out to be the moist economical option because when it wears out, you need replace it straight away. You can always sand it and re-seal it to make it look brand new again. Its installation too poses no problems, as it’s an easy DIY project.
3. Concrete – There is no better option than concrete for outdoor stairways because that’s easily the most durable product to have. Moreover you can change the color of the concrete to your preference. You may even emboss it with patterns to create variety of designs. However, the drawback with concrete is its weight. It’s a very heavy material that many of the staircases may not be able to support. To support the weight of concrete one normally needs to use a metal stringer.
You’ll surely find this article handy when considering your options of installing flooring for the stairs of your home.