Finishing stairs : step by step instructions

About a beautiful house dream of every owner, and if the house has two floors and then cares for decoration twice.Stairway to such housing requires special attention.It should be comfortable, safe and aesthetically appealing.Design ladder in a private house should be in harmony with the overall interior design, so it is important to choose a suitable decoration material.That's what we'll talk in today's article.Get ready to find out what and how to carry out finishing ladder with their hands.

choice of materials

materials for finishing stairs so much that an ignorant man will be very difficult to choose.In order to spare your time and nerves, we have prepared a brief overview of the most practical and available coatings that can be laid on the stairs with his hands.

Wood for stairs

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

Wood is an environmentally friendly and safe material for health, so this finish is ideal for use at home, especially if it has a small tenants.Different colors and textures allow harmoniously fit into the overall design of the staircase room.But for finishing stairs tree approach not every breed.Since the structure is constantly exposed to stress and mechanical stress, soft steps and are pressed quickly erased.For stairs need a firm and strong wood that will serve more than a dozen years.

What breed are suitable for finishing steps:

1. Oak - wood has a very nice texture and soft warm colors.Over time, dark oak paneling and becomes more valuable.You can buy already made old board tucked under the shade of the interior.
2. Ash - is not inferior in strength to oak, but is a bit cheaper.It features a distinct texture and characteristic greyish tinge.
3. Beech - one of the most popular breeds.Wood has an elegant appearance, beautiful uniform texture, is characterized by high strength and durability.When using stain beech can do a convincing imitation mahogany.
4. Exotic breeds are also popular because of its unusual appearance.So, you can choose any colors ranging from lemon yellow, ending almost black.These rocks are merbau, teak, wenge.
5. Conifers are soft, but that does not mean that they can not be used for covering stairs.On the contrary, with the help of cheap lumber from spruce, fir or pine you can save considerably.They are used to form the risers - the part of the staircase is almost not subjected to mechanical stress, so they fit wood "worse."With stains can be "fit" pine boards in tune with the main casing.

Wooden staircases finishing is not just for beauty.Wood retains heat well, so step on the stage will be a pleasure even in the cold winter.It is much softer and walking does not give a strong stress on your feet - if you ever walked barefoot on the wooden platform or pier, you will immediately realize the difference between a walk and walking on concrete or tile.

laminate stairs

Laminate is probably the most versatile finishing material, which only can be found.It is placed on the floor, glue on countertops, walls, etc.Not surprisingly, it is actively used for the cladding of stairs.This variant is particularly suitable for those cases where the staircase looks heavily and ugly.Laminate is able not only to transform the concrete structure, but also to extend the "life" of the wooden stairs, if it steps already wear, but do not lose strength.

not every laminate is suitable for finishing stairs again - because of the constant load.Thin models should be avoided if you do not want to change the trim in 2-3 years.Experts recommend the use of ladders laminate grades 31 to 34. These are commercial products that are specifically designed for areas experiencing heavy load.

Helpful Hint: The first digit "3" means that commercial laminate and the second indicates the thickness of the protective coating in millimeters.

is also important to select the optimal width of the panels.Ideally the lamella should cover the entire tread surface, otherwise you have to connect the two narrow pieces, and the seam is a potential point of visiting clobbered.But such situations, unfortunately, can not be avoided, if you work with a stairway.

addition to the laminate skin you need accessories for stairs - moldings or sills.Molding - a special invoice profile to decorate the edge corner stage.In other words, he hides under a joint of two strips of laminate (stage and riser) and strengthens the attachment strength.Krepjat moldings glue or screws.There are metal, wooden and plastic sills.Metal or stairs, moldings are aluminum, brass or steel with imitation gold, bronze or wood.They are not only highly decorative but also a long service life.Corrugated products provide protection against slipping.

Wooden moldings are perfectly combined with the laminate and choose the product in the tone will not be difficult.In addition, they are well-protected compound of the slats, and long are these sills lend themselves to minor repairs and adjustments - can be sanded, paint or putty if necessary.

Plastic Products is the cheapest, but they are popular not only because of.A wide choice of various colors and textures allows you to choose the nut for any laminate.They perfectly hide imperfections and form smooth corners.For fixing to a laminate using adhesive, so it is important to choose a very strong and qualitative structure.

Decking ladder

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

general decking invented everything for the outdoor terraces and garden paths, so it is not surprising that he has such performance.If you make such a finish ladder board, then it will be almost an eternity, or until you get bored owners.

Another important advantage of decking - Anti-slip effect.They even veneer ladder for swimming pools, bathrooms and porch, so the chances of slipping on a surface are negligible.

When selecting decking for registration of the stairs in the house should also take into account the width of the panel, in order to avoid unnecessary seams.But even if you had to cut the board, then here's another "bonus" - the edges do not require additional treatment or protection, and once complete go to the ends of decorative caps.

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

tile stairs

When choosing ceramic tiles for finishing steps, special attention should be paid to the edges and corners of the outer products.Also plays an important role the strength (thickness).Because on it will go down, therefore, need to buy floor tiles.

easiest and most inexpensive way is facing tiling on the tread with a slight overhang, equal to the thickness of the tile itself.In this case, you must choose a product with a glazed front edge.From the fully glazed surfaces should be abandoned, as they are very slippery.It is better to buy relief non-slip tiles or with a matte finish.On sale is a product with rounded edges that give the ladder of elegance and accuracy.

To obtain skirting Tiled steps using special protective structures, which are mounted on a special adhesive.Thus tiles should be laid so that a side edge is flush with it.Accordingly, the thickness profile must be the same as the thickness of the tile.

For intensively used ladders reasonable to set the interchangeable 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 simply remove the bar and replace it with a new one.

carpet for stairs

Many owners of two-storey houses prefer carpet stairs carpet, especially if a family has small children or elderly people.Carpet did not slip and provides additional insulation.Walk through it nice and comfortable.To this coating has served for a long time and it was soft under the carpet should establish a special substrate of cork or wool.

What to consider when choosing a carpet for finishing stairs:

1. There is a special class carpet for stairs, abrasion resistant, so it is better to stop your choice on it.
2. Note the specifications - the pile should be thick and not very long, and the foundation - a strong and flexible.
3. If you lay a carpet without sizing is better to choose the material based on rubber, otherwise it will move down from the steps and wrinkle.
4. Carpet on rubber base creates an additional thermal insulation, so it is especially good for concrete and metal staircases.

Finishing concrete stairs

Concrete stairs are the most durable and reliable, especially if they are inside the house and are not affected by precipitation.However, keep them in the "original" form of a very few people want to - the concrete base is constantly dusty, it is cold and, frankly, ugly.Design ladder completely transformed, if we choose good coverage in keeping with the interior.Consider the most popular methods of decorative finishing of concrete stairs.

Wooden

The biggest problem of all concrete stairs - not too smooth surface stages.In addition, the riser height and tread width is also always different, which creates a lot of problems in the finishing.Wood in this plan will allow to hide design flaws, but it needs to be laid on a carefully prepared surface.To do this, first make an assessment stairs states make measurements and align all the steps so that they become identical.But to use a completely useless for leveling plaster or putty, because even the strongest mix will not withstand constant load.Stairways can dub only special high-strength concrete solutions with additional reinforcement.

difference in step height - a real nightmare for the master.If you do not make them the same, you can forget about the beautiful wood finish.Tolerance height must not exceed 9 mm - easy to conceal such gap filler.But if the differences are large, have to construct shuttering of waterproof plywood and pour another layer of concrete.

How to make a ladder from concrete:

1. Measure all the stages and get the highest of them - at this height you will "adjust" the rest with the help of self-leveling compounds.For minor height differences of the surface you still need to be treated to "nail down" concrete dust and build a solid foundation with good adhesion.Leveling compound thus apply without formwork ordinary trowel or spatula.
   If the height difference is more than 10 cm, do the formwork of waterproof plywood and attach anchors to coincide with the tip of the level to which you plan to raise the level.Before pouring the cement mixture cover with concrete base adhesive primer.
2. After drying, leveling layer (depending on the thickness can go from 3 days to a week) can be stacked plywood.Plywood in this case will act as a waterproofing layer to the wooden lining not collect excess moisture.
   zagotovte plywood 10-15 mm to the width of treads and risers in height.
3. again cover the stairs primer and wait for it to dry.
4. Glue plywood on mastic align horizontally using a spirit level and screw anchors.
   
5. Stairs of wood are available in a carpentry workshop or make your own.Start to finish with the bottom step.At the lower end of the riser screw the 3 screws 6 mm in diameter and cut the cap.
6. Attach the riser to the concrete and mark the screw locations pencil point.
7. Put the wooden trim and drill holes in the hammer drill marked points corresponding diameter.
8. Fill the holes with epoxy resin to a stronger attachment and install the riser.
9. The workpiece to cut the tread groove so that it is firmly rested against the riser.
10. plywood surface promazhte adhesive mastic and lay the wood on it.Screw the screws level, do not forget to pre-adjust the level of the horizontal.Move up the stairs, placing first riser, and then - the tread.
11. When the installation is complete, fill in the gap on the sides of putty to match with wood or decorative skirting close.Before laying the baseboards should be de-dusted surface and covered with a protective varnish.

Finish laminate

Laminate flooring is a great alternative to natural wood.He is a strong, durable, some consider it even more beautiful, but the material is not without drawbacks.Thus, the need for laying 100% smooth surface, he is afraid of water and requires careful handling.

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

1. If steps has the old paint, remove it and smooth out the surface.
2. If steps concrete staircase have small protrusions, they will have to cut the jigsaw or slightly increase the riser so that it is flush with the end of the projection.This can be done with the help of wooden beams and plywood.
3. Align the surface of steps in the manner described in the previous chapter, but do not cover the planarization layer plywood.When the solution is dry, treat it with sandpaper and obespylte damp cloth or vacuum cleaner.
4. Cover ladder adhesion primer deep penetration.
5. Make harvesting of slats according to the width and length of steps and risers.For cutting laminate using grinders or jigsaw.To avoid confusion, it is better to number the workpiece and the place of their installation on the stairs.
   
6. begin to attach itself to the need to laminate the top step, to move down without stepping on freshly laid facing.Apply laminate riser glue and press firmly to the appropriate place on the ladder so that when installing blanks tread remained a small gap size Thickness of wear layer between the elements.This will push the risers and treads a neat finish to make.To make the smooth clearance of the desired size before gluing backup set of suitable thickness.
7. Install protective profile.