Finishing of stairs: step by step instruction

Wood for stairs

One of the most popular materials for finishing concrete and metal stairs. Unseemly concrete structures are instantly transformed and look as if they are made entirely of wood. They serve much longer than real wooden stairs, and are able to withstand extremely heavy loads.

Wood is environmentally friendly and safe for health, so this finish is ideal for home use, especially if it has small occupants. Different colors and textures allow you to harmoniously enter the ladder into the overall design of the room. But not every breed is suitable for finishing stairs. Since the structure is constantly subjected to stress and mechanical stress, soft steps are quickly pushed and blurred. For stairs, you need a solid and solid wood, which will serve not one decade.

What rocks are suitable for finishing stairs:

1. Oak - wood has a very beautiful texture and a soft warm color. Over time, the oak paneling darkens and becomes more valuable. You can buy already aged boards, choosing a shade for the interior.
2. Ash - the strength is not inferior to the oak, but it costs a little cheaper. It differs strongly pronounced texture and characteristic grayish shade.
3. Beech is one of the most popular breeds. The wood has an elegant appearance, a beautiful uniform texture, characterized by high strength and durability. When using beech stain, you can make a convincing imitation of mahogany.
4. Exotic breeds are also popular because of their unusual appearance. So, you can pick up any shades, ranging from lemon yellow, ending almost black. Such breeds include merbau, teak, wenge.
5. Softwoods are soft, but this does not mean that they can not be used for staircase lining. On the contrary, with the help of inexpensive sawn timber from spruce, fir or pine, you can save a lot. They are used to form podstupenkov - these parts of the staircase are almost not exposed to mechanical impact, so for them the wood is "worse".With the help of stain can be "fit" pine boards in tone with the main plating.

Wooden stairs are needed not only for beauty. Wood perfectly retains heat, so even a cold winter, stepping on the step will be pleasant. It is much softer and when walking does not give a strong load on the feet - if you ever walked barefoot on a wooden platform or pier, you will immediately understand the difference between such a walk and walking on concrete or tile.

Laminate for stairs

Laminate is probably the most versatile finishing material you can find. It is put on the floor, glued to the countertops, walls, etc. Not surprisingly, it is actively used for the lining of stairs. This option is especially suitable for those cases when the ladder looks heavily and ugly. Laminate is not only able to transform the concrete structure, but also extend the "life" of the wooden staircase, if its steps have already worn out, but have not lost their strength.

For the finishing of stairs, not every laminate is suitable, again - because of the constant load. Thin models should not be used if you do not want to change the skin after 2-3 years. Specialists recommend the use of laminate grades from grades 31 through 34 for staircases. These are commercial products that are specially designed for surfaces that are under heavy load.

Helpful hint: The first number "3" means that the laminate is commercial, and the second one tells about the thickness of the protective coating in millimeters.

It is also important to choose the optimum width of the panels. Ideally, the lamella should cover the tread on the entire surface, otherwise it will be necessary to connect two narrow pieces, and the seam will be a potential point of occurrence of erosion. But such situations, unfortunately, can not be avoided if you are working with a flight of stairs.

In addition to the laminate flooring, you will need the accessories for stairs - moldings or sills. Molding is a special overhead profile for decorating the edge of a step. In other words, it hides the joint of two laminate panels( step and riser) under it and strengthens the fixing strength. Bolts moldings to glue or screws. There are metal, wooden and plastic sacks. Metal, or ladder, moldings are aluminum, brass or steel with imitation of gold, bronze or wood. They differ not only high decorative, but also a long service life. Corrugated products provide anti-slip protection.

Wooden moldings perfectly combined with laminate and pick up the product in a tone is not difficult. In addition to the fact that they protect the joint of the lamellas well and serve for a long time, these pads are amenable to minor repair and adjustment - they can be ground, puttyed or painted if necessary.

Plastic products are the cheapest, but they are not only popular because of that. A wide selection of all kinds of colors and textures makes it possible to pick up the slides for any laminate. They perfectly hide irregularities and form even corners. To fix the laminate use glue, so it is important to choose a very strong and high-quality composition.

Decking for stairs

Decking, also known as a decking board, is the main competitor of laminate. Its main advantage is that it is absolutely not afraid of water. The material is made of wood composite and polymer additives, which make it so invulnerable.

In general, decking came up for arranging outdoor terraces and garden paths, so it's no surprise that it has such performance characteristics. If you make the finish of the stairs such a board, it will serve for almost an eternity or until you get tired of the owners.

Another important advantage of decking is the anti-slip effect. They are even lined with pool ladders, porches and bathrooms, so the chances of slipping on such a surface are negligible.

When selecting a terrace board to decorate the stairs in the house, you should also consider the width of the panel to avoid unnecessary seams. But even if you had to cut the board, then here is another "bonus" - its edges do not need additional processing or protection, and in the set there are decorative covers for the ends at once.

Decking perfectly combined with other finishing materials, so it can be safely used in the interior. So, try to compose board steps with risers lined with mosaic tiles, tiles or decorative clinker bricks.

Tiles for stairs

When choosing ceramic tiles for finishing stairs, special attention should be paid to the edges and outer corners of the products. Strength( thickness) also plays an important role. Since it will be walked by feet, therefore, you need to buy floor tiles.

The simplest and most inexpensive method of facing is laying the tiles on the tread with a small overhang equal to the thickness of the tile itself. In this case, you need to choose products with a glazed front edge. From completely glazed surfaces it is better to refuse, as they are very slippery. It is better to buy a relief tile or an anti-slip matte finish. On sale there are products with rounded edges that will give the ladder elegance and accuracy.

For the decoration of tiles lined with tiles steps use special protective profiles, which are fixed to a special glue. In this case, the tiles should be laid so that the edge of the edge is flush with it. Accordingly, the thickness of the profiles should be the same as the thickness of the tiles.

For intensively operated stairs, it is more reasonable to install exchangeable profiles on a metal base. The outer part of this product is made of non-slip corrugated PVC, which is inserted into the base. If necessary, you just need to remove the bar and replace it with a new one.

Carpet for stairs

Many owners of two-story houses prefer to carpet the stairs with carpet, especially if the family has small children or elderly people. The carpet completely does not slip and provides additional thermal insulation. Walk on it nice and comfortable. In order for this coating to last a long time and be soft, a special substrate of cork or wool should be placed under the carpet.

What you need to consider when choosing a carpet for finishing stairs:

1. There is a special class of carpet for stairs, resistant to abrasion, so it's best to stop your choice on it.
2. Note the technical characteristics - the pile should be thick and not very long, and the base - strong and flexible.
3. If you lay the carpet without sizing, it is better to choose a material on a rubberized base, otherwise it will move out of the steps and crumple.
4. Rubber-based carpet creates additional thermal insulation, so it is especially good for concrete and metal stairs.

Finishing concrete stairs

Concrete stairs are considered to be the most durable and reliable, especially if they are inside the house and are not affected by atmospheric precipitation. However, leaving them in a "pristine" form is not enough for anyone - the concrete base is constantly dusting, it is cold and, frankly, ugly. The design of the stairs is completely transformed, if you choose a good cover, which harmonizes with the interior. Let's consider the most popular ways of decorative finishing of stairs from concrete.

Wood trim

The most important problem of all concrete staircases is not a very level surface of the steps. In addition, the height of the risers and the width of the tread are also always different, which creates a lot of problems in the finish. Wood in this regard will hide the design flaws, but it needs to be laid on a carefully prepared surface. To do this, first make an assessment of the state of the ladder, make measurements and align all stages so that they become identical. But it is completely useless to use plaster or putty for leveling, since even the strongest mixtures will not withstand a constant load. Stair flights can be leveled only with special high-strength concrete solutions with additional reinforcement.

The difference in the heights of the steps is a real nightmare for the master. If you do not make them the same, you can forget about the beautiful wood trim. The permissible deviation in height can be a maximum of 9 mm - such slots can easily be masked with putty. But if the swings are large, you will have to build a formwork made of moisture-proof plywood and fill another layer of concrete.

How to make a staircase of concrete:

1. Measure all the steps and find the highest of them - at this height you will "adjust" all the others with the help of self-leveling mixtures. With minor differences in height, the surface still needs to be treated to "beat" the concrete dust and create a solid foundation with good adhesion. The leveling mixture is then applied without formwork with a conventional trowel or spatula.
   If the difference in height is more than 10 cm, make the formwork of moisture resistant plywood and attach it with dowels, so that the tip coincides with the level to which you plan to raise the steps. Before casting the cement mixture, cover the concrete base with an adhesive primer.
2. After drying the leveling layer( depending on the thickness, it can take from 3 days to a week), you can lay plywood. Plywood in this case will serve as a waterproofing layer, so that the wooden lining does not collect excess moisture.
   Prepare a plywood thickness of 10-15 mm in accordance with the width of the tread and the height of the risers.
3. Again, cover the ladder with a primer and wait for it to dry.
4. Glue the plywood on the mastic, level it horizontally with the building level and screw it with dowels.
   
5. The steps from wood can be ordered in a carpentry workshop or done by yourself. Begin the finish from the bottom step. Insert 3 bolts with a diameter of 6 mm into the bottom end of the riser and cut off the caps.
6. Attach the riser to the concrete and mark the bolt points with a simple pencil.
7. Place the wooden cover and drill holes in the indicated points with a drill of the appropriate diameter.
8. Fill the holes with epoxy resin for stronger fixing and install the riser.
9. In the workpiece for the tread, cut the groove so that it fits snugly into the riser.
10. Spread the surface of the plywood with adhesive mastic and lay on it a wooden workpiece. Screw the steps with self-tapping screws, without forgetting to adjust the horizontal level in advance. Go higher up the stairs, first setting the riser, and then - tread.
11. When the installation is complete, fill the slots on the sides with putty in a tone with wood or cover with decorative skirting boards. Before laying the skirting boards, the surface should be dust-free and covered with a protective varnish.

Laminate flooring

Laminate is an excellent alternative to natural wood. It is more durable, durable, some consider it even more beautiful, but this material is not devoid of shortcomings. So, for laying requires a 100% flat surface, it is afraid of water and requires careful handling.

There are several ways of laying the laminate, we will consider the option of finishing the stairs in the house using a special edge profile:

1. If the steps have an old coating, remove it and clean the surface.
2. If the steps of the concrete ladder have small protuberances, they must be cut with an electric jigsaw or a bit of a ramp to be flush with the end of the ledge. This can be done with wooden blocks and plywood.
3. Align the surface of the steps in the manner described in the previous chapter, but do not cover the leveling layer with plywood. When the solution dries, treat it with sandpaper and dust off with a damp rag or vacuum cleaner.
4. Cover the ladder with a deep penetration primer.
5. Make blanks from lamellas in accordance with the width and length of the steps and risers. For sawing a laminate, use a grinder or a jig saw. In order not to get confused, it is better to immediately number the workpieces and their installation locations on the stairs.
   
6. To begin to attach a laminate it is necessary from the uppermost step to move downward, not stepping on the freshly laid lining. Apply the adhesive on the laminate floor and press it firmly against the corresponding place on the staircase so that when the workpiece is inserted between the elements, a small slit of the same thickness as the lamella remains. This will allow you to push the tread under the riser and make the trim neat. To make a smooth gap of the correct size, before installing, install a support of suitable thickness.
7. Install the protective profile. On the back of his side, apply a little glue and forcefully push the tread and the riser to the corner of the joint. For additional fixing, screw the screws into the profile on the treads in steps of 15 cm.
8. Apply the adhesive mortar to the concrete surface of the trowel with a notched trowel and evenly distribute it so that there are no gaps. Lay the workpiece from the laminate on top. If this is the first step, flush with the laminate floor, the adjacent elements should be connected to the lock in the lock, as in the usual installation. All subsequent treads should be pushed into the cracks under the risers.
9. Install the rubber insert in the edge profile or put it on the stud of the tread board - it all depends on the type of profile.

Repeat the procedure for each step, moving down the stairs. The sequence of work can be slightly changed. So, for some it is convenient to first establish all the risers with gaps, and then - all the treads.

Important: After completing the finish, leave the ladder for at least 24 hours and do not walk on it, so that the lamellas do not move.

Decorating with ceramic tile

If you want to fit a staircase into the interior of the house with ceramic tiles, several nuances should be considered. First, before installing the tiles, you should carefully level the surface, otherwise the coating will quickly loosen, crack or fall off. Secondly, to work with tiles, most likely, you will need a tile cutter, so it will have to be bought or rented. Thirdly, since the tile can only be glued, it is better not to save on glue, but immediately buy the most qualitative composition.

Important point: It is necessary to cope with the facing in one day, then leave the glue to harden for 48 hours. Naturally, during this time the ladder can not be used.

Finishing of the concrete staircase with tiles:

1. Align the surface of the treads and risers with a self-leveling filler.
2. Cover the ladder with an adhesive primer in two layers, applying a second one only after the first one has dried completely.
3. Lightly moisten the concrete surface with a damp sponge and spread the adhesive solution evenly with a notched trowel.
   
4. First, apply a small surface area with glue, and then turn the spatula and walk through the solution at an angle of 45 °.
   
5. The surface smeared with glue must be larger than the area of ​​the tile to be installed by about 5 cm, and the remnants can then be removed with the edge of the spatula.
   
6. Lay the tile, not forgetting to leave the slots for interlacing seams. To do this, use special plastic crosses of the desired thickness. Immediately wipe the adhesive with a dry cloth, because when it dries, it will be much harder to do.
   
7. After laying each tile, tap it with a rubber or wooden hammer to remove air bubbles from the adhesive and securely fix the element.
   
8. To start best with the top step, first lining the top edge, and then moving down the stairs.
   
9. After mounting the corner elements, place the vertical risers using the dividing crosses to give the tile the desired position.
   
10. Check the leveling of the risers using a square bracket, attaching it to two adjacent sides of the panel.
    

After drying the tile adhesive, remove the delimiters and fill all seams with a special trowel. The color of the composition can be selected in tone to the tile or buy a contrast option to turn the staircase into a bright interior decoration. To protect from moisture and abrasion, the joints after drying can be smeared with a clear varnish.

Finishing with carpet

The carpet is good for being perfect for finishing any staircase, and it can be laid on any surface: concrete, tile, laminate, linoleum, wood, etc. However, before laying such a universal cover, you also need to level the base.

Useful advices:

1. About a day before the finish, spread out the carpet in its full length so that it straightens itself up - so it will be easier to lay it.
2. Carry out work indoors at a temperature not lower than +15 C.
3. Lay the carpet on only the substrate, and it - on a flat base. The substrate is needed to enhance the thermal insulation characteristics of the coating, it makes the carpet softer and more beautiful, smoothing and masking any defects in the substrate.

There are several ways to finish the stairs with carpet: removable cover, non-removable( glueing) and for spiral staircases. Let us consider briefly each of them. Removable carpeting is suitable for small straight stairs. If necessary, it can be washed or replaced.

To make a removable cover, follow the step-by-step instructions:

1. Take measurements of the ladder, taking into account the height of the risers and the width of the stitches. The easiest way to do this is with a normal thread or twine. Attach one end to the top of the stairs and lead the thread along the wall along the corner, repeating all the bends.
2. Begin to lay carpet top-to-bottom.
3. At the corners, attach the "path" with special laths for the carpet.

That's it, that's all. The work is very fast and simple, so even an inexperienced master can cope with it in just an hour.

But to lay carpet on the spiral staircase will be more difficult. To do this, you have to work with each step separately to properly attach the cover. You will also need a special high-strength glue for carpet, a sharp cutter for quick and even cutting of dense material, a rubber kitten and a putty knife with a rubber lining. Use fastening strips for fastening.

Progress:

1. If necessary, level the stair surface with a concrete mix.
2. Cover the dry steps with a moisture-proof plywood.
3. After curing the adhesive, lay the substrate.
4. Begin laying the carpet from the top step. Using a chisel, "plant" it on the retaining bars.
5. Planks attach to the angle between the riser and the tear and secure, tapping with a rubber mallet. Hit the bar with the same force, systematically passing the entire length.
6. Secure the straps with screws or nails.
7. Align the carpet in accordance with the geometry of the ladder, again put it on the bar and snap to the next step.

The third way of laying the carpet involves the use of glue. Since you can not remove and wash such a coating, carpet should be chosen very high quality and dense. Each step in this case will be pasted separately, so carefully prepare the surface and align the corners.

Procedure:

1. Begin installation from the upper stage. Before work cut the carpet into pieces in width in the height of the riser and the width of the tread.
2. Prepare the glue mortar and apply treads and risers on the concrete foundation.
3. Attach the prepared piece of carpet, press and smooth over the entire surface with a rubber spatula.
4. Cut out the protruding parts of the carpet by applying a metal guide, and only after the glue dries.

This work will take a lot of time and patience, but the result is worth it. When you glue and trim excess material, install angled protective profiles and decorative skirting boards.

Finishing of metal stairs

Metal stairs require a slightly different approach than concrete products. With a competent finish, they are able to transform any room. So, from an uncomfortable and cold warehouse, you can get modern apartments in the style of loft or high-tech. Forged elements and a well-chosen shade of plating gives the metal staircases of mystery and luxury. In your power to make the stairs set the mood for the whole interior or emphasized its individuality.

The most popular options for finishing metal structures are wood and stone. In the latter case, the staircase is too cold and not very suitable for an apartment building. But the wooden cladding immediately "soften" the metal and give it a homey feel.

How to trim a metal ladder with wood:

1. Prepare the elements of wood sheathing in accordance with the size of the treads and risers. A popular option is a ladder with open risers. In this case, the design will seem easier and suitable for a minimalist design.
2. Number each piece to avoid confusion during installation.
3. Attach the screws first to the top step, then - the step, then go down the stairs.
   
4. Very interesting are the stairs with slightly protruding edges of the frame. To avoid cracking of wood and reduce the risk of hitting the angle of the step, it is better to remove the bevel around the entire perimeter of the workpiece and slightly round the corners. So the staircase will look even more elegant and tidy.
   
5. The rear part of the metal frame can be covered with sheets of gypsum board, after which plastering and applying a finishing coat - decorative textured plaster, paint or wallpaper.
6. After mounting all the steps, cover the wooden parts with a protective varnish or paint.

Beautiful decorative stairs with their own hands - it's simple and affordable for absolutely everyone. The video below shows how you can "refresh" the ordinary interior, making it more stylish and functional:

Finishing stairs: photo