Staircases tend to capture the eye because of the way they transcend from one level to the next. If your stairs have seen better days, you might not like the message your staircase is sending. Whether you’re simply tired of the way that they look, or your stairs are starting to fall into a bit of disrepair, refinishing and revitalizing your stairs will have to come sooner or later. Here are a few ideas you can keep in mind when trying to figure out the best way to give your stairs new life.

Stained stairs: If you have wooden stairs that you are trying to retain the beauty of, there are a number of stains that can give the wood just the nudge it needs to reclaim its lost glory. This can require a lot of prep work, as you remove the ground-in dirt from the years of use that your stairs have seen to bring out their best when you stain them. It’s typically recommended to sand, clean and sand again before you start staining. Since stairs tend to be a high-traffic area, you may also want to apply a water-based finished after your stain dries, then sand and repeat the process an additional time or two. It’s a lot of work, but will definitely be worth it in the end.

Carpeted stairs: There are a few ways that you can approach carpeting on the stairs. The entire staircase can be carpeted, you can put strips of carpet on each tread or you can use runners that go down the middle of the staircase while leaving some wood exposed on either side. The important things to remember are that you should always use a low-pile carpet on stairs, and it needs to be secured firmly to keep from beginning a tripping hazard. You should also avoid using carpet that descend into a basement or other damp areas, as you can run into problems with mildew.

Vinyl and rubber treads: If you want to make sure that you have the most slip resistance possible, there are a variety of vinyl and rubber stair treads available. Some of these are designed specifically for internal use, while others are designed for either internal or external installation. Many of these are designed with function taking priority over fashion, though a variety of colors and designs are available for those wanting to avoid ugly black mats. Some of these treads cab even match major colors in your home, giving you extra security while going up and down without sacrificing aesthetics completely.

Stone staircases: An often-overlooked stair material that can add a splash of elegance to your home is stone. Materials like marble or granite can replace the wood treads and risers that you’re used to, matching well with tile or stone floors in other parts of the house. Just be sure to avoid placing stone stairs in areas where they are likely to stay wet, since some stone materials become slick or retain moisture due to their porous nature.

Bringing Your Stairs to Life: Redoing your stairs is a big job, but there are pros out there are to help. We are happy to recommend contractors that would be happy to help you refinish your stairs, no matter what material you decide to use.