Staircase Flooring Options

Every home with more than a single story will have a staircase where the width, height and configuration will vary according to the building design. Staircases have various flooring options. Your decision on what to select should be governed by their structural and functional use in your home. Here are some flooring options for staircases.

Ceramic or porcelain tiles can provide a modern chic look or a rustic earthy finish. Tile is very easy to clean and maintain. The drawback to tile on stairs is it can be very slippery. Imagine walking down tile stairs in only socks. A slip and fall on tile might be a very painful experience.

Hardwood flooring gives a staircase an unmatched elegance with a classical look. Keep in mind stairs tend to be very high traffic areas so if you are installing wood on stairs, keep the janka hardness scale in mind. The harder to wood, the less prone it will be to dents. Scratches and scuffs usually have to do with the finish on the wood and not its hardness.

If you love the look of hardwood or tile, you might want to explore laminate. Laminate offers a range of designs and colors and can mimic hardwood or tile. Laminate is a very durable floor that can withstand a high traffic area like a staircase. Laminate is also very easy to clean and maintain.

Carpeting is one of the safest staircase flooring choices. You have a choice of using a carpet runner to cover existing flooring like tile, laminate or hardwood or doing a full carpet on the stairs. One of the biggest complaints about carpet on stairs is the fact it’s difficult to keep clean and lugging a vacuum cleaner up and down stairs can be very tiresome and cumbersome.

Consider the age group of the people who will be using the staircase. Safety is a major criterion which must factor into your decision.