If you’re designing a new home or looking to update an existing one, you may be trying to decide between wood stairs or carpeted ones. Maybe you prefer the appearance of wooden stairs, but have concerns about noise, or maybe you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your home and need to take their health into consideration when making your decision.
Nowadays, homeowners and homebuyers are increasingly opting for wood stairs over carpeted ones, and many do so for the myriad of benefits wood staircases offer. For example, when compared with carpeted staircases, wood ones are:
Easily refinished
Stairs, by design, undergo heavy usage, so in many cases, it makes sense to opt for long-lasting wood, as opposed to carpet, which is prone to staining and collecting dirt. Wood stairs stand strong despite heavy traffic, and while they hold up extremely well over time, they are also easy to refinish, meaning you can give them a fresh look and feel with minimal effort and expense virtually any time you’d like. You can also add handrails, balusters and other elements to wood stairs to update or upgrade their look through the years.
Easily cleaned
Honestly, is there anything more painful than trying to vacuum carpeted stairs? As painful as it can be, though, it’s highly necessary if you opt for this type of staircase design – and particularly if, as mentioned, you have people living in your house who have asthma or allergies. Why? Carpeted stairs trap dust and other allergens, which you can release into the air every time you step on them. Wood stairs, meanwhile, require little more than an occasional mopping to keep them clean.
Easily adaptable
While wood stairs offer numerous benefits, some homeowners hesitate to install them for fear of noise or slipping. If you have such concerns, consider adding a simple staircase runner or tread rug. In doing so, you can muffle noise and prevent slipping without having to sacrifice the highly desirable look and feel of wooden stairs. You can also remove, change or update your runners or tread rugs with relative ease, breathing new life into your abode anytime you wish.
Ultimately, wood stairs offer flexibility, durability and longevity, meaning they are more likely to hold up and retain their beauty over time than their carpeted counterparts. Additionally, many modern homebuyers prefer hardwood stairs over carpeted ones, meaning you may find it easier to sell your home after opting for a wooden staircase design.