Ideas for Staircase Flooring

Wood

• The most common option for staircase flooring is wood. Staircases are usually built of wood, so you can simply varnish, stain or paint the wood to finish your staircase flooring. Hardwood is usually the best option for staircase flooring because of its durability and ability to withstand heavy foot traffic. Oak is a particularly durable wood, but maple and yellow birch are effective options as well. If your wooden staircase is made of an inferior wood that begins to show signs of age, you can add new hardwood treads to an existing staircase. These treads are available unfinished, so you can choose your own stain or paint color, or pre-stained so you only have to install them.

Tile

• For a truly decorative flooring option for your staircase, ceramic tile is an attractive material. You can choose from a wide range of colors and patterns to create the exact look that you want for your stairs. Tile is also a very durable flooring material but can be somewhat hard and cold underfoot. You can install tile on either a wood or concrete staircase frame, but because this is a difficult project, you may want to hire a professional installer. Choose a textured, unglazed finish for your tile so there is adequate traction on the staircase.

Carpet

• Another common option for staircase flooring is carpet. As with carpeting for a regular floor, you can choose from a wide variety of colors, patterns and textures, so carpet is a good way to spice up a plain wooden staircase. Carpeting is also warm underfoot, which is a plus in the winter, and does an effective job of absorbing noise. You can choose carpeting that covers all of the riser and tread or a runner that only covers the center portion of the staircase so some wood remains visible.

Vinyl

• For a budget-friendly staircase flooring material, vinyl tile is an ideal option. It is available in a variety of colors and patterns and is usually applied only to the treads. Choose a textured finish to provide effective traction for a staircase. Vinyl is a very durable flooring material, so it works well on a staircase that receives heavy foot traffic. It is also fairly easy to install and may be installed as a do-it-yourself project. Vinyl staircase flooring is low maintenance and easy to clean as well, making it a good choice if you have small children or pets.