The stairs are not only an integral component of your home, but also have great potential to be a prominent focal point. Especially with the right materials, it can add to the aesthetic of your space. What if you want to enhance your stairs? Can you put timber flooring on stairs?
Wood is a common material used on floors. Timber flooring, therefore, would make a great addition to the space. The important thing to note when using timber flooring on stairs is the size of the staircase and the fit of each step, including the risers.
That’s why it’s important to have everything ready first before proceeding with the application of the timber flooring. With the right preparations, the installation can be completed fast enough, which is important because stairway access is important.
Should You Put Timber Flooring on Stairs?
Using timber flooring on stairs presents both economic and aesthetic benefits. If you’re looking to give that natural and enhanced look to your staircase, consider using timber for it.
Using timber flooring on stairs is perfect, not only for its clean, finished look but also because it is healthier and easier to maintain. Unlike carpets, dust and micro particles don’t get trapped on timber flooring. This makes it an ideal material, especially for those who have allergies.
Maintenance is also a lot simpler and easier with timber flooring. All you need is to sweep or mop regularly to avoid dust build-up. Spills and stains can also be easily remedied as well, unlike with carpets, which may require stain-removal costs.
Most importantly, timber flooring on stairs makes for a very economical choice because of its sturdiness. Wooden stairs in general can easily last as much as 25 years. With great care, it can even go for longer.
What Tools Do You Need to Put Timber Flooring on Stairs?
For a smooth process, it’s highly recommended that you ready the tools needed before getting started. The good thing about putting timber flooring on stairs is that it doesn’t require any particularly special equipment or heavy machinery.
To put timber flooring on stairs, you only need basic handyman tools like a pencil, tape measure, utility knife, hammer, and saw. You’ll also need a basic flooring installation kit. In it are the flooring spacers, crowbar, setting glue, and tapping block.
You’ll also need nails to firmly secure each piece of flooring on the steps. Depending on whether or not you’ll add nosing to the steps, you could also use an adhesive like Liquid Nails.
What Preparations Do You Need to Put Timber Flooring on Stairs?
There’s a process for installing timber flooring on stairs. It’s important that you carefully strategize how you’re going about it, otherwise, you might end up with incomplete or inaccessible stairs.
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on January 11, 2023.
The most important part of preparing to put timber flooring on stairs is getting an accurate measurement of the steps that will be applied. Also, get the measurements for the risers ready. From there, you can saw the timber to the size you need concisely, making installation faster and easier.
Among the most important elements you need to consider when measuring and cutting timber are the height of the risers, the tread size, and the edge mouldings that may be applied. Use a table saw to achieve desired results faster.
Clear any obstructions in your work area. If there are any additions or enhancements like an attached baby gate, for example, it’s best to remove them first for easier movements.
Carefully remove the carpet first in case there’s one on the staircase. You can simply use a pry bar and utility knife to get them off. Keep an eye out for any nails, tacks, or staples that may be protruding or loose. Make sure to remove all of those to prevent any injuries.
Once you have the carpet all out, check that there isn’t any damage to the subfloor. Make sure to repair or replace them before proceeding with the timber flooring installation.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on January 11, 2023.
If all is good on that part of the stairs, then you can proceed to cut off the existing nosing. This is so that you can begin working with a completely flat stair profile. This helps greatly in allowing an easier installation process.
How to Put Timber Flooring on Stairs
The best way to start installing timber flooring on stairs is by making your way from the bottom up. This makes it easier for you to follow through with the work more comfortably.
First, apply the risers. Use the adhesive to set them in place. Nails are optional for this part since risers are attached to the subflooring anyway, so they won’t necessarily be getting any pressure. But just the same, you can nail it to better secure it.
After that, you need to cut the tread caps to size. For this, you will need to secure them with nails to ensure that they don’t move, and that the stair step remains stable. Once the tread caps are installed, you can proceed to the edge molding. Again, you can simply use an adhesive, or double it up with nails to secure it.
Once you have all the steps ready, you can put on the finishing touch and apply a stain on your stairs. Make sure to sand the timber flooring first before staining for a smoother application. Follow the coating instructions for this step.
ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on January 11, 2023.
When all that is good and dry, you can also put grip strips or anti-slip strips on the steps to give some more traction to it. You can get clear strips for that so you can retain the appearance of the timber flooring on your stairs.