The choice of facing the stairs to the second and subsequent floors in a mansion depends on the material, the structure of the supporting structure and the style of the interior. Staircase decoration in a private house focuses on the transition zone from one level to another, therefore it serves as a connecting element between the two zones. The steps and the supporting part are lined using the same material or a combined version is made.
Requirements for registration
A well-chosen finish takes into account requests for safety, practicality, and visually looks flawless.
Basic requirements for the finishing layer:
- the steps do not have a slippery surface;
- the surface is easily cleaned of dirt and washed by available methods;
- the material serves for a long time without destruction and abrasion;
- the cladding matches the interior of the adjacent spaces.
By combining different layers, it is easy to expand a staircase or narrow a wide space. The surface can be finished with stone or wood, choose a natural or artificial version of these materials.
Possible staircase finishes
For country style, materials that are pleasant to the touch in a natural color are used. Natural harmony is felt most subtly with the use of wood in the interior of the staircase. For baroque or classics, it is more difficult to choose a material, but more often designers use artificial or natural marble with inserts of another type of stone.
In the Art Nouveau style, the surface of the steps made of linoleum, laminate with an unusual pattern looks appropriate, ceramic tiles or small-sized mosaic of a matte surface are suitable. They use a practical combination of traditional and modern details, with an emphasis on practicality and convenience.
Laminate
The design is chosen if the material is on the floor surface throughout the house. A similar or similar pattern of a different shade is placed on the steps. The use of an identical layer is relevant in small buildings, when it is important to combine the space to increase the area, rather than crushing it with different types of finishes.
For a passageway with intensive loading, laminate classes 31, 32, 33, 34 with a thick protective layer are used. The width of the tread is selected so that it corresponds to the size of the lamella and it is not necessary to cut the boards along the length, connect them on the steps with locks.
Wood
The cozy natural texture looks good in the decoration of the steps of the stairs in the house, wood is combined with concrete elements or walls finished with cardboard, stone, ceramics.
Wood properties:
- The material, treated with antiseptics and special impregnations, does not rot, resists fire, and is protected from destruction by parasites and bugs.
- The finishing layer does not cause deterioration of the environment in the home, since it does not emit components harmful to health.
For budget options, pine, spruce, fir are used, and Siberian larch, ash, oak and beech are pulling the cost of the finishing layer up.
Carpet
A popular solution in modern homes. The material is distinguished by the size of the pile, the composition of the base and the color.Medium pile types work well on stairs, which at the same time create coziness, and are easily cleaned of dust. It is recommended to put a mixed version with artificial and natural fibers.
The texture of the carpet guarantees safety, since it does not slip, the material creates a certain comfort zone where you can walk without shoes. Such qualities are important for a home where children grow up. The carpet is easy to install and fix, so you can do the finishing yourself.
Ceramic tile
Coverage is a practical and mid-range option. The surface of the ceramics is made in different colors, conveys the pattern of natural stone or is made in a single color. The material is used for facing steps and finishing the entire staircase in a private house. Correct installation and simple regular maintenance will extend the life of the tile up to 30-35 years.
Environmentally friendly material is made from fired shale clay. Ceramics does not absorb moisture, it can be perfectly cleaned with simple detergents. Suitable for indoor and outdoor stairs or gangways in unheated corridors, terraces.
Varnish or paint
Painting wooden surfaces or surfaces finished with cement screed and leveled for painting. The varnishing shows the pattern of the wood, and if a light wood with an inexpressive texture is used, the structure of the material is emphasized with a stain. The tree is treated with linseed oil before painting.
High-quality compounds are used, the surface is varnished several times. They paint all the steps with the same color or combine different shades. Ladders for children are designed so that each tread has a separate color, letters, numbers, drawings are applied to them.
Pros and cons of materials
Finishing the staircase with natural stone looks advantageous compared to decorative tiles, but it is heavy and makes the staircase heavier. Natural stone is durable and does not deteriorate over time.
Linoleum in decoration is popular due to its cheapness and the possibility of self-assembly. They choose a material with a thick base, a high-quality top layer, otherwise the sheathing will need to be replaced after 4 to 5 years.
Monolithic concrete steps serve for a long time, but they differ in an unpresentable look, they require the installation of a finishing layer.
Required tools
Each type of cladding is performed using a specific set of tools.
To finish the steps with ceramic tiles you will need:
- drill with a whisk, solution container;
- notched spatula, straight;
- a tile cutter, a device for forming holes in a tile;
- tape measure, building level, square.
To mount the elements, you will need glue in the form of a dry mixture, which is sealed with water. The gaps between the tiles are adjusted with plastic crosses, they are bought of a certain thickness.
Preparatory work
Before starting the installation of the finishing layer, you need to make sure that the steps are well fixed. If there is a backlash, it is removed by additional fixing methods. The surface to be trimmed is cleaned of dust, dirt, layers of mortar, which has got to the area as a result of other work.
Wooden steps are treated with impregnation, antiseptics, drying oil. Metal elements are painted with anticorrosive compounds, concrete treads are primed to increase adhesion to the finishing layer.
Prepare tools and additional materials so that there are no hiccups during work.
Features of finishing the stairs in a private house
In a private house, they choose environmentally friendly finishes that do not contain aggressive substances and cannot harm health.
The staircase is made on the basis of a wooden or metal structure, the features of the cladding depend on this. Glass design on a steel frame is considered separately.Such marches are transparent and fragile in appearance, therefore they form a light and relaxed style in a private home.
Wooden structure
Beautiful precious woods on the steps do not require complex processing, they are varnished in several layers. Risings or whole treads are distinguished with paint. Wooden stairs are finished with carpet in calm or bright colors.
On the steps, the laminate looks beautiful, which is matched to the kosoura or put in a contrasting color. In a wooden march, only individual elements are lined or material is used for the entire structure. Before work, the wood is treated with a primer so that the decorative layer adheres more firmly to the surface.
Metal
Finished purchased iron structures have already been processed. If the march and steps are made during the welding process on site, they are additionally finished.
Before starting work, the metal is processed:
- degrease with special means;
- align the seams and the surface with a grinder;
- remove rust deposits.
Metal stairs are rarely left in the house without finishing or using only painting. Metal looks cold and is not suitable for cozy decoration. Coating of steps with wood, laminate, ceramics is popular.
DIY finishing technology
The staircase is covered with a carpet, or only a path is made in the center of the march. With different widths of the steps (screw version), they are guided by the largest element.
Work order:
- cut a strip of carpet taking into account the hem (4 cm each);
- installation starts from the top step
- the coating is glued or laid loosely with fastening with mounting rails.
Glue landing is considered a reliable method; it is used along concrete or wooden steps. Fixation with linear parts allows you to dismantle the layer for washing or replacing worn areas, or to move it. Mounting rails are flat strips that are attached with small nails to risers or inner corners of treads.
