An obligatory element of a two-story house is a staircase. The structure carries a functional load and is an element of decor. In order for it to serve for a long time, it is necessary to protect the steps from the negative influence of external factors and premature wear. The staircase can be decorated with different materials that have their own characteristics.
Guidelines in the choice of finishes for the stairs
Regardless of the material of manufacture, the steps must be veneered. Finishing for this is selected so that the operation of the structure is simple and comfortable. Most of the work can be done independently. The choice of cladding depends on such factors:
- stair configurations;
- the required parameters of sound insulation;
- load intensity;
- general style of room decoration.
An equally important parameter is the ability to carry out cladding work with your own hands. They immediately take into account the cost of finishing, its technical characteristics, as well as the degree of decorativeness.
Variety of finishing materials
Staircase sheathing can be complete or partial. It largely depends on the design style of the room.
Wood
Natural wood is one of the most popular materials. With its help, steps, fencing are trimmed. In this case, the structure looks monolithic. For cladding, oak, beech, as well as exotic woods are used. The budget option involves the use of coniferous materials. It can be boards or lining.
The finish can be additionally decorated with tinting compounds. The advantage of wood cladding is environmental friendliness, luxurious appearance, ease of installation and repair, durability. If it is not possible to sheathe the structure with natural material, you can use MDF panels.
A natural stone
Concrete stair steps are often decorated with natural stone: marble, granite, sandstone, basalt tiles. This material is durable, decorative. The finish looks expensive. It can be used not only indoors. It is best used on wide structures that are installed in large rooms.
The advantage of the stone is fire resistance, a wide range of shades and textures. The disadvantages of cladding include poor sound insulation (steps cause a ringing noise), high cost. Often it is required to attract specialists to carry out the work.
The stone gets dirty quickly and is not very easy to clean. This disadvantage can be eliminated with the help of special protective compounds that repel dirt.
Steps with this finish remain cold.
Carpet
Carpet is used if there are children or elderly people in the house. This material makes the steps less slippery and less noisy. You can install the finish immediately. For fixing, use wooden or plastic skirting boards or brass rods. To increase the life of the material, felt is laid under it.
The carpet is durable, resistant to moisture and abrasion. Staircase facing can be done by yourself.The advantage of carpet is that it will be pleasant to walk on the steps even barefoot, as the product is soft and warm. It is suitable for wooden and concrete stairs.
Laminate
The choice of laminate as a finishing material depends on the design features of the building. This cladding is best suited for wooden stairs. They take on a very neat and beautiful look. Since the structure is exposed to mechanical stress on a daily basis, it is necessary to choose a high-strength laminate with an anti-slip coating. Before laying the lamellas, the base requires leveling and waterproofing.
The advantage of the material is the variety of shades, the ability to select the required size of elements, ease of installation. You can do it yourself. Laminate is able to imitate other natural facing materials.
Paint
Metal or concrete stairs can be finished with paint. If the structure leads to a cellar, basement or household premises, it is better to use a composition with water-repellent properties. The advantage of the paint is its good decorative ability, a wide range of shades.
Before applying the composition, the ladder will have to be primed. If it was decided to finish the stairs with wood, instead of paint, use a stain or varnish.
Necessary tools and materials for work
It is necessary to sheathe a structure from any material after preparing the tools. For work you will need:
- plumb line and building level, pencil or marker for marking the surface;
- chisels, trowel;
- paint and primer brushes (you can use a roller);
- puncher, screwdriver;
- jigsaw;
- Sander.
To level the steps, you will need concrete mortar or putty. I also use moisture resistant plywood as a substrate. Some materials can be secured with glue, dowels, acrylic sealant, or liquid nails. Finishing needs to be bought with a 10% margin.
DIY staircase decoration
The finishing of a wooden staircase or concrete structure is carried out in several stages: preparatory, leveling, facing. Before sheathing, carefully check the geometry of the steps. They should all be the same. The technology of facing steps with tiles or other materials involves the following actions:
- Base marking. It is done along the adjacent wall.
- Preparation. If the structure is wooden, you need to carefully inspect it for cracks, rotten or broken parts. The flaws are filled with putty. The tree is treated with an antiseptic and fire retardant. The concrete base is coated with a deep penetration primer. Cracks and grooves are repaired with a repair compound. If there is an old decorative coating on the structure, it is dismantled.
- Alignment. Plywood is used for wooden structures. To level a concrete staircase, you will have to install beacons, formwork and pour concrete mixture. You can use a self-leveling compound.
- Installation of cladding. When facing stairs with wood or other finishes, the steps themselves are first processed. Work begins from the bottom of the structure. Bolts are screwed into the lower end of the riser, applied to the concrete and the locations of the fasteners are marked. Holes are drilled in the stairs, which are filled with epoxy. Now the riser is installed and the treads are laid, having previously cut out a groove that allows the horizontal element to fit snugly against the vertical one. Next, a decorative plinth is installed.
- Installation of carpet. For such a finish of a wooden staircase, a canvas suitable for the width is chosen. Initially, the material should lie flat for a day in order to level out.The carpet is laid on the structure from top to bottom and fixed with special strips.
- Stone installation. The finishing of a concrete staircase with granite or marble tiles is carried out from the top of the structure using glue. The retainer is applied to the surface with a notched trowel. After that, the trim element is firmly pressed against the base. Additionally, you can tap the tiles with a rubber hammer (you need to be careful with marble). First you need to trim the tread, and then the riser.
Sheathing stairs on a metal frame can be done using wood panels and drywall. The elements are prepared in accordance with the dimensions of the steps. Screws are used for fastening. First, the horizontal part is installed, and then the vertical one. Wooden planks may be slightly longer than the steps. Drywall is mounted on the back of the frame. Next, plaster is applied to it and painted or pasted over with wallpaper. If necessary, a railing is installed on the structure.
