Selecting the Best Flooring for Your Staircase
Choosing the right flooring can be difficult, especially if there are different materials utilised throughout the home. However, unlike other parts of the home, the staircase is suited to a range of flooring materials, such as laminate and carpet. Homeowners may struggle to create a plan for their staircase flooring, due to the wide variety of ideas available. Consider matching the flooring to the various staircase features, such as spindles or even metal stair parts.
This guide will take a closer look at the different types of flooring for your staircase, and compare them with one another to find which is most suitable for your home.
Click on one of the links below to jump to that section:
Find out the most important questions you should be asking before buying any flooring.
Explore which types of flooring are suitable for a staircase, including laminate and carpet.
Read about the advantages and disadvantages of each staircase flooring in this helpful comparison table.
Read our top tips on how to properly maintain flooring, and what you should consider.
Questions to ask yourself when deciding on your flooring
Before you decide on a particular type of flooring, ask yourself the following questions:
- 1. Who lives in the house?
Consider who is living in the house, especially if there are young children, elderly occupants, or any pets. Make sure to consider how easy the flooring is to maintain, and hard or slippery floorings are avoided to minimise the risk of injury.
According to a recent survey, 90% of respondents were not aware of how to find the perfect stair part materials for their needs. Find out more about how to ensure your staircase is safe here.
- 2. Is the hallway and stair area light or dark?
It is possible to improve the light in warmth in the home by choice of flooring. If there is insufficient warmth in the hallway, draughty hallways will benefit from carpets, rugs or runners which will provide additional insulation to the room.
Consider utilising stair glass panels to maximise the amount of natural light in the home. Glass panels will help warm the home and allow homeowners to change their flooring to the more conventional and stylish wood.
Interested in glass panels?
Our recommended glass panel stair part:
This glass stair panel is part of the Jackson Woodturners range of contemporary stair parts. They are easy to install and maximise the use of natural light to create an airy staircase.
Browse through the entire range of glass panels to go with staircase flooring here.
- 3. What is the flooring in the adjoining rooms?
Homeowners should consider the layout of the home and its style to create a uniform appearance. If there is an open plan, consider matching the flooring to the adjoining rooms; ideal for wooden or laminate flooring ideas.
Consider matching the stair parts to the rest of the flooring as well. Oak is a strong hardwood that is known for its resistance to wear and tear. As one of the most popular wooden materials, oak can easily be paired with other types of materials, including White Primed and Ash.
Interested in oak stair parts?
Our recommended Oak and Nickel handrail kit:
Shop the Forge Oak and Nickel Handrail Kit.
This oak and nickel handrail kit is part of the Forge range of modern stair parts. Each kit contains 3 x 1200mm pre-finished handrails, 4x wall mounted handrail connectors and 2x handrail end cap and screws.
Shop the entire Forge range here.
- 4. What flooring is currently in place?
Before removing the existing flooring think about how it currently works in the room, even if it is not to your taste, you may find that the type of flooring is perfect for the space.
- 5. What is your budget?
If budget is an issue, keep an eye out for when reputable flooring companies have sales or promotions so that you can get higher-quality flooring at a reduced price. Carpet suppliers often have off-cuts from previous jobs which can prove to be extremely cost-effective.
Flooring suitable for staircases
For your staircase, there is a wide range of materials that are available that can suit a variety of preferences and uses. As aforementioned, consider who will be using the staircase and the materials surrounding your staircase, including the hallway.
Carpet
Carpet is a popular choice for staircase flooring as it provides a warm, padded cushion underfoot, which can be useful if small children or elderly occupants frequent the staircase.
Stair runners
Stair runners are a great way of retaining the original features of a staircase, whilst adding a practical element through carpeting.
Polished wood
For staircases that feature good quality treads, it can be very effective to enhance the original finish. In most cases, sanding and polishing or staining will be sufficient to allow the natural wood grain to come through.
At Jackson Woodturners, we have a range of stair treads in our collection, which are easy to install and maintain. Browse through our stair treads here.
Stair parts can come either unfinished or pre-finished, depending on your particular style. To ensure they are properly maintained, consider applying Treatex Hardwax Oil to ensure the wood maintains its natural beauty.
Interested in wood finishing?
Our recommended Treatex Hardwax Oil product:
Shop the Treatex Clear Hardwax Oil Ultra here.
Simply apply two coats with a brush or roller to protect and enhance the natural beauty of wooden stair parts, including the staircase flooring. These products are easy to use, quick-drying and provide an attractive finish.
Wooden cladding
Stair cladding is a quick and easy way to transform your staircase if it is not in a good condition. Our stair cladding comes in oak and white primed finishes to create your own style with reversible risers.
Interested in stair cladding?
Our recommended oak stair cladding:
Shop the pre-finished oak stair cladding with a reversible riser here.
This stair cladding is an easy way to transform your staircase. The riser is reversible, and homeowners can choose between an oak or white primed wood finish. These come unfinished and pre-finished.
Shop our entire collection of stair cladding kits here.
Painted stair treads
Original wooden staircases can be given a new lease of life by sanding to a smooth finish and applying a coat of paint to complement your interior theme.
Stone/marble
Stone or marble staircases can be incredibly striking; however, they are not the most cost-effective or practical choice. A similar effect can be achieved on wooden staircases by covering existing treads with marble tiles or thin slabs, assuming that the staircase is strong enough to support the additional weight.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of staircase flooring?
In the comparison table below are the pros and cons of each staircase flooring type:
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Pros and cons of staircase flooring |
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Material |
Pros |
Cons |
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Carpet |
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Stair runners |
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Polished Wood |
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Stair Cladding |
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Stone or marble |
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Painted stair treads |
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Flooring tips to keep in mind
- How you decide to approach the flooring of your home is largely determined by how long you are planning on living there.
- If you are in a starter home, you won’t want to invest too heavily in fittings that you will be leaving behind once you move on.
- Be careful if you plan to ‘buy cheap’ because it is also worth considering the desirability of your flooring choice for resale purposes, or indeed if you plan to rent the property out to tenants.
- Neutral is always a good call when choosing décor, and that applies to the flooring as well as walls and fittings.
- Vivid patterns can date quickly, especially in an area which receives so much traffic and you are likely to find that you tire of strong design themes when you walk past them several times a day.
- If you are decorating your ‘forever home’ it is worth investing on the highest quality flooring that you can afford, get it right and your choice of flooring will be a one-off purchase that you will be able to enjoy for the duration of your time in the house.
At Jackson Woodturners, we provide high-quality stair parts, including stair cladding, stair treads, spindles and handrails. Our experts can advise and help you plan your perfect staircase.
Frequently asked questions
Do stairs have to match floors?
Not necessarily. Homeowners can choose to style their stairs however they see fit; whether this is matching the adjoining floors of the hallway or showcasing contrasting looks. It is recommended that if the staircases lead onto carpet, the stair treads and risers should be carpeted or feature stair runners.
For more information on the best staircase advice, read our Advice Centre here.
What type of flooring is best for stairs?
This is all dependent on the preferences and styles of the homeowners. In a recent survey, almost two thirds of the British public stated that their staircase was carpeted.
However, this does not mean carpet is the best idea for your home, as carpet can easily stain and require more maintenance than other staircase floorings.
Browse through our stair tread collection at Jackson Woodturners here.