The stairs are one of the highest traffic areas in the home, so they should be dressed accordingly. Weather you are looking to cover every inch of your stairs all the way up the stringers, or just want to cover enough to step on normally, you and your stairs should be protected.

There are many products to cover your stairs with; Carpet, laminate, ceramic tiles, vinyl plank or tiles, cork, hardwood and carpet runners. Lets dive into this list so that you can decide for yourself, which is the right choice for you.

First up, the go to stair covering….Carpet. Carpet is warm, soft and stylish. It’s a great option for families with small children, as it is very soft for climbing and crawling up. It is also (usually) cheaper than most other flooring products. Wrapping your stairs in carpet eliminates sharp edges, which helps to protect from injuries caused by trips and falls. In old houses carpet can even help to reduce the sound of creaking stairs. And if you’re worried about the plush carpet blurring edges and reducing depth perception, consider installing commercial carpet, it has a lower pile (or height/density). This is glued right to your steps, and mimics the shape of your stairs. Carpet is the most common floor covering for stairs, and that’s for a good reason. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it. Visit https://mohawkind.com/ to learn more.

Next up is laminate. Laminate is not an obvious choice, but it is a good one. There have been many advances in the durability of laminate, and they now have matching nosing for each colour of laminate, and in some cases, even whole stair treads that slide right over your rough steps. This flooring is for the steps, so you’ll need to paint or stain your risers, though you could use some extra planks, and adhere them to the risers. Painting your risers gives a clean modern twist to an otherwise average set of stairs. Just like laminate planks, laminate stairs are easy to clean, ( no vacuuming!), and they are incredibly resistant against heavy foot traffic. Laminate has also advanced in it’s waterproofing technology. So installing laminate on your stairs can also protect you from water damage tracked in from outside, especially in these Canadian winters. With that said Laminate can become slippery when wet, so we suggest wiping any water up as soon as you can. The clear edges on laminate treads help to distinguish one step from the next, and to give your foot something to grip onto. If your stairs are already loud and creaky, laminate may not help to dampen the noise. Laminate can do more than you’d expect, and it will surprise your with its durability. So why not give it a try. Visit https://mohawkind.com/ to learn more.

Ceramic tiles… odd choice, but okay. I am not suggesting you tile your steps, that could be dangerous because of their hard solid construction and their slipperiness when they are wet, but why not tile your risers, or stringers? You can go in a more decorative direction with colourful tiles, or more modern with something like a marble or slate. If you combine them with a stair tread that has better grip, a bold tile can level up your stairs in a very unique way. Visit https://www.centura.ca/en to learn more.

Vinyl plank or tile is fantastic everywhere else in your home, why not put it on your stairs? Luxury Vinyl Plank/Tile (LVT/LVP) comes in hundreds of colours and patterns so it will suit any home. LVP is also extremely durable, waterproof, and affordable. It’s easy to clean, all it needs is a quick sweep every so often and you’re set to go, no lugging the vacuum up and down the stairs. Vinyl plank also comes in full stair treads occasionally, but usually you will need to use a nosing and glue your planks to the treads and risers. Vinyl plank is a great product, and it can be great on your stairs too! Visit https://www.richmondflooring.ca/en/browse/luxury-vinyl to learn more.

Here’s an option that many people forget even exists, which is truly unfortunate. Cork flooring! Cork is non-slip, Waterproof, Hypo-allergenic, warm, soft, and it resists mold and mildew. What can’t cork combat?! Cork is a natural, renewable material, that is ethically harvested and manufactured. Cork is also rather forgiving because it compresses slightly when stepped on, then springs back up. If you were to trip, a cork floor is going to be much softer that vinyl plank. This also increases the grip that you would have when scaling the stairs. Nowadays cork isn’t just patterned like a bulletin board with that traditional cork look, there are also many wood style designs, and lots of colours to choose from. There is so much to say about cork flooring, so if you’d like to learn more, head over to our article about Amorim cork products here on our blog. You could also visit https://www.amorimcorkflooring.ca/ to learn more.

Now we move onto the old faithful, Hardwood. Hardwood flooring is beautiful and timeless, it can be refinished and easily cleaned. Hardwood is also a natural product, and tends to be a bit more durable than carpet. When maintained properly, hardwood flooring can last decades. It is important to keep in mind what finish is on your hardwood. Hardwood with a glossy finish can be a hazard on stairs, so anything with a natural or matte finish would be safer. Now, hardwood is not a waterproof product, so it’s important that any water tracked in, especially near an exterior door/entrance way, is wiped up immediately, or at least within a couple of hours. With so many natural and stylistic colours and finishes to choose from, hardwood could be right for you! Visit https://www.nextfloor.net/ to learn more.

Here’s an option for those of you who cant choose between the style of hard surface, and the practicality of carpet, Carpet Runners! Runners are a great alternative to full carpeted stairs. You have just as much selection in colours as well as patterns that you would with full coverage carpet, plus the unique aspect of matching that with your favourite hard surface floor covering. You simply order the correct size of carpet to be bound on the edges like a rug, and fasten them to your stairs, with or without underpad. You can staple your carpet runner in place, or you can use rails to hold it in place. Rails are removable and add an extra layer of style to your stairs. Carpet runners may just be my favourite of all other options listed here. They provide safety and style.

You could also add a slide to your stairs, just for fun of course. Or maybe a fireman pole could be fun. Neither of these are very practical at all, but they are entertaining!

So there you have it, all of the many ways to cover your stairs. From soft to hard, and bold to neutral, there is an option for everyone. What choice would you make? Let us know, and book a measurement today! we would love to discover what’s under your feet!