Is it Better to Have Carpet on Stairs?

The materials for your home require careful thought. Your stairs are one of the many parts of the house that are used on a daily basis. There are flooring options for stairs that you need to consider. What material should you use when building one, will it be carpet or wood stairs? Let’s look at a detailed comparison of hardwood stairs vs carpet.

Hardwood Flooring for Stairs

Safety

Hardwood for stairs looks sleek, but it can pose danger because it can often be slippery. If you live with children or the elderly, wood flooring may not be a good choice, unless you use non-slip pads called stair treads.

Sound

You hear a lot of stomps and creaks whenever someone goes up and down the stairs. Hardwood for stairs doesn’t offer sound protection.

Wear and Tear

Pets may scratch hardwood. Some pets may also have difficulty using wooden stairs because they easily slip.

Appearance and Flow

If your home is carpeted, then it’s easy to choose between carpet or hardwood on stairs. Some styles may not fit well with the overall look of your home. If your house uses carpeted flooring, choosing hardwood may look odd.

Cleaning

In terms of cleaning, it’s easy to pick between hardwood stairs vs carpet. Hardwood doesn’t collect too much dust and allergens. You only sweep and mop the stairs, making it a perfect low-maintenance material for your stairs.

Cost

Hardwood is far more expensive than carpets. It may even require a refinish from time to time.

Carpet Flooring for Stairs

Safety

A carpeted flooring for your stairs provides more traction than wood. A carpet reduces the impact of a fall because it absorbs the shock. Consider the right thickness when buying one.

Sound

In terms of sound for carpet and wood stairs, the noise is absorbed 10x better when you use carpet instead of hard flooring.

Wear and Tear

Carpeting for your stairs is prone to high foot traffic. It’s not only your family that treads on the carpet but also your pets. Finding the best carpeting for stairs is crucial to preventing stains. Choose the right carpet padding because dirt and debris that get stuck in inner carpet fibers cause damage when left uncleaned.

Appearance and Flow

If your home already has good carpeting, then carpeted stairs will work for the overall theme. Matching a home with carpet and wood stairs can be tough because of the contrast in the look.

Cleaning

Carpets are prone to dust, allergens, and carpet browning. Low-pile carpeting is cleaned easily unlike high-pile carpeting. Use HEPA vacuums that use special filters to clean them efficiently. Regular steam cleaning is recommended as there are many benefits of steam cleaning carpets.

Cost

Carpets are great flooring options for stairs because they cost less than wooden flooring. However, the fees for a professional carpet installer are high, given the special tools used to do the installation. The long-term cost will be expensive as time goes on, as replacement of carpet pads and carpets may be necessary.

Choosing between hardwood and carpet for stairs depends on your lifestyle and preference. By considering the flooring options for stairs outlined in this article, surely you can find one that can work best for you, regardless if it’s carpet or wood stairs.