Have you ever thought about the first thing that your guests notice when they enter your house? It is usually the stairway! So ask yourself whether or not your staircase is pleasing to the eye?
If you’re looking to give it an aesthetic boost, you have the option to cover it with timber or carpet, but now the question arises: which one should you choose?
Table of Contents
Deciding Between Timber Or Carpet
In order to make the decision, it is important to discuss the pros and cons of each of the materials. It is advisable to have a look at both the materials to evaluate them for safety, cost, durability, cleaning, sound absorption and aesthetic value.
Using Timber To Cover Stairs
The first and foremost criterion for selecting any material for the stairs is and should be safety. We’ll have a look at other factors too:
1. Safety
Wood flooring has a great appearance and it is used in many modern homes, but these can also be a bit dangerous as they can become slippery. This carries a constant risk for your family as there is no cushion in case of a potential fall.
Hence it is important to take appropriate measures for safety. You can do so by installing non-slippery stair treads that are available in different varieties. A smart way to make sure that your stair treads do not move out of place is to use adhesive taps on the surface of the tread.
2. Cost
While timber may have a more aesthetic appeal as compared to their carpet counterparts, they come for twice the price. However, you can still save a lot by refinishing the flooring, provided that you have original wooden material. Remember to purchase quality material to avoid any early wear and tear.
3. Durability
In addition to the cost that timber carries with it, they also require maintenance from time to time. For instance, you may have a constant scratching issue if you have pets at home. Hence the wear and tear can take place easily and then again the overall cost maintenance could be pretty high too.
4. Cleaning
One of the advantages of wood flooring is that it will not require constant cleaning as these don’t frequently get too dusty. Cleaning your wood flooring may mostly require simple mopping with or without the use of detergents.
5. Sound Absorption
One of the biggest disadvantages with timber stairs is that these are not good sound absorbers. This means that this flooring could become a constant nuisance if you have children or a big family.
6. Aesthetic Value
As mentioned earlier, the wooden staircase has a very high aesthetic appeal. The fact is that you should only opt for it if other areas of the house have wood flooring or if they have a similar colour scheme. Herringbone parquet flooring is also a great option to look into if you’re looking for an aesthetic option.
It is advisable to use computer images to predetermine what the finished product will look like before you make your decision. The popular recycled oak timber floorboard can be a good choice for your purchase.
Using Carpet To Cover Stairs
Carpet is also commonly used in many houses due to the fact that it is both cost-effective and durable. Let’s look at the pros and cons of using a carpet for stairs to find out if these are the best for you.
1. Safety
The carpet, of course, has a cushion, meaning that a fall may not necessarily result in an injury. Moreover, carpet cannot be slippery so they are less risky in that sense as compared to wood flooring. Nonetheless, be advised that carpeted stairs do not completely rule out the danger of falling. Carpets that are thicker provide a good cushion, but they do pose a risk of falling as they are more slippery.
2. Cost
The surprising fact is that while carpeting your stairs is less costly than the wood, it might cost you a lot of bucks on the installation. Hire an experienced installer who knows the importance of tools that are used to fix the carpet.
The cost of carpeting can also escalate due to the fact that you have to replace them every few years, but you can extend their lifespan with good care.
3. Durability
Carpet flooring can also wear out like the wood depending on how excessively it is used. But the advantage of carpet is that you can choose a material with better-woven fabric so it does not catch much dirt or shoe mud.
In order to increase the lifespan of your carpet flooring, be sure to use darker colours as with these stains will not be easily visible.
4. Cleaning
A carpeted floor will require much more cleaning than timber, but vacuuming it regularly can make it easier. Moreover, with carpet, you will have to constantly watch out for stains and clean them as and when they appear.
Steaming is another option for cleaning carpeted stairs but beware of any moisture that’s left behind.
5. Sound Absorption
Unlike timber, carpets can absorb sound to a great extent but it also depends on how the material is installed. The material is much more convenient to deal with in terms of noise control.
6. Aesthetic Value
A carpeted staircase will only look good if you have carpet flooring in most places in your house. That said, pay attention to the overall appearance of your house before deciding to cover your staircase with carpet. Again, the colour scheme matters to a great extent in giving your house the right finished look.
Final Words
Whether you choose timber or carpet for your stairs is all dependent on how it will match your house’s appearance and suit your family. In either case, make sure to keep the aforementioned tips in consideration and carryout a prior estimate of what the end result with either of the material will be.
About Author:-
Simon is an entrepreneur and self-proclaimed jack of all trades. Simon has experience in the building and home renovation industry and he knows what it takes to knock out a successful project whether it be commercial or residential. Currently, he works as a marketing consultant with Smarter Timber Flooring – a leading name amongst the suppliers of high quality floorboards in Melbourne. Another niche for Simon is travel and outdoors leisure, including sporting equipment and bikes. A big kid at heart if it goes fast, bounces, slides or you can climb it Simon has put it to the test.