Home Improvement Corner: Step Up Your Staircase
Steps are a necessity as well as an architectural art. Staircases come in all shapes and sizes, including spiral, straight, L-shaped, U-shaped, winder, curved, split, ladder, and cantilever. They may be a passageway from floor to floor or a cascading embellishment ascending in the center of a room. How can a homeowner take their existing staircase to the next level?
Go from hard surface to carpet. This can done in a few ways. First, add a runner to the existing hardwood steps. Decorative runners add a softer step and are a great way to retain the warm look of a wood staircase while adding cushion, color, and design. You could also completely cover the steps with a new pad and carpet. Homeowners with young children and elderly family members go this route because of safety. The carpet can be installed in a cap-and-band (Hollywood) or waterfall style.
Sand and refinish hardwood. When dealing with a flight that needs refinishing, many factors come into play: color matching, dust, inconvenience, and downtime. Refinishing can be a cost-effective way to upgrade. Matching existing wood takes skill. One must consider factors such as wood age, sun bleaching, wood species, and geographical regions. This is where experience matters.
Choose a hard surface stair transformation. Installations expert and Operations Manager at NK Floors, Joe Lewis, skillfully explains the process. “We remove the old carpet, pad, staples, and tack strip. Next, we remove any squeaks and address other concerns about the structural integrity of the stairs. The treads and risers are then carefully cut, beginning from the bottom up, riser then tread. Once that process is complete, the treads and risers are attached with glue and nails and are caulked. Finally, the skirt boards are painted. LVP treads are usually “walk ready” in a few hours, and hardwood treads in four to six hours. I recommend using painted risers for LVP and oak treads for a brighter set of stairs.”
Replace spindles and railing systems. When altering open stairs, the railing system may need to be removed. This is an excellent time to upgrade your balusters or spindles. Replacing wood spindles with low-profile iron rods adds a trendy look. You may also switch from a vertical to a horizontal orientation.
When upgrading steps, the possibilities are endless. Choose your design, select experienced installers, and use superior products. Your results will be a look that lasts and elevates your space.