Which floor covering is best for stairs?

Choosing flooring for stairs is not always easy, as each material has specific features, advantages and disadvantages. If you want a stylish look for your stairway without breaking your piggybank here's a quick overview of the different options!

Expertise

What features should I look for in a staircase covering?

When you want to choose a flooring for your staircase, make a list of the questions you need to answer before starting your research. For example, how often will it be used?

In practice, a staircase located in a business environment subject to intensive use must be resistant to wear and tear if it is to have a satisfactory lifespan.

Take into account where the staircase is within the building. If it is in an area where it collects dust easily, it is best to opt for an easy maintenance covering: vinyl or wood for instance.

Of course, you also need to think about the aesthetic appeal of the stair covering: it should blend in seamlessly with the rest of the decor. While some materials offer limited possibilities, others, such as vinyl, can come in an infinite number of different designs!

Finally, safety is an important factor so a non-slip type with a good grip on the stair nose is the best way to reduce falls!

What type of flooring is best for my stairs?

If you're considering building a new staircase on your premises, or renovating an old one, the choice will need to be thought through carefully. There are various solutions and they all depend on your taste and your budget!

Wood

A timeless choice, wood flooring instantly adds a stylish touch to any staircase, and has a number of benefits. For example, it's particularly classy and offers excellent sound insulation!

Wooden stair cladding is compatible with a wide range of decorative styles but does have one major drawback: its price!

In practice, the cost of installing wooden stair cladding varies according to the work involved, but generally speaking, you should expect to pay at least 100 euros per step. Depending on the size of the staircase to be covered, the bill can be astronomical!

Another point not to be overlooked when opting for wood flooring is its complicated maintenance. Very little water should be used for cleaning and it needs to be sanded and varnished regularly to keep its good looks over the years. Despite its price, a parquet stair will tend to deteriorate rapidly if subjected to inappropriate use.

Linoleum

Lino is an interesting alternative for stairs and has a number of advantages.

It is an environmentally-friendly product, made entirely from natural, biodegradable materials. When properly cared for, lino stair treads are unbeatable for their durability, as they can last for decades!

What's more, lino comes in a multitude of colours and textures, so it is suitable for all tastes.

And because it's so hard-wearing, (NDLT attention problème de sens en Français) lino is a very hygienic floor covering with antibacterial properties. Last but not least, lino provides excellent soundproofing for staircases as well as a stylish aspect.

Although lino has many qualities, it also has a number of disadvantages, particularly its maintenance. It is very sensitive to certain stain removers and can lose it’s shine very easily. Lino hates heat or direct sunlight. It needs to be sealed when it is subjected to intensive use!

Carpets

Carpeting on the other hand, has the advantage of being price friendly for all budgets and makes a staircase cosy and warm.

Unfortunately carpeting is allergenic, very prone to dust accumulation and difficult to maintain especially in areas subject to regular use!

Vinyl

PVC flooring seems to be the ideal option for covering a staircase easily for many reasons including its price.

Much less delicate than linoleum, PVC is available in designs that offer extremely realistic imitations of other materials, such as stone or wood where lino is more limited. Vinyl is very comfortable to walk on and also provides excellent sound insulation.

Vinyl flooring is particularly suitable for concrete staircases and has a number of qualities in addition to its price.

It has undergone a number of cutting-edge treatments at the design stage, giving it excellent durability and perfect resistance to wear and impact. It is resistant to stains and has anti-slip properties, reducing the risk of falling down stairs.

PVC is easy to clean everyday and comes in an infinite range of colours and finishes, so it can be adapted to suit any style of interior. PVC flooring is also very trendy and ideal for adding a touch of modernity to a room.

PVC products to suit all your needs

For the best possible finish to your staircases and to reduce the risk of falls, take a look at our range of stair nosings: their anti-slip function directly improves your grip on the stairs!

For easy installation, you can also opt for PVC sold in the form of adhesive strips.

Adhesive strips are particularly suitable for use on stairs, as they are easy to install on small surfaces. What's more, they are easy to cut and hide all the joints, so you can be sure of a great-looking result.

For optimum safety, our catalogue also includes coloured adhesive strips that can be used as stair risers.

How do you cover the treads of a staircase?

Of course, the answer to this question varies depending on the type of covering you choose for your stairs!

First of all start by carefully preparing the staircase. To do this, it's essential to clean it thoroughly, making sure any cracks are filled.

What happens next depends on the type of flooring you choose. Installing a PVC staircase covering, for example, is child's play: all you have to do is measure each step, then cut the adhesive strips to the required size using a Stanley knife.

You can then finish the job by simply sticking the adhesive strips to the staircase!

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