Stairs are an essential element of any home that are high-traffic zones, so choosing an appropriate flooring type that meets aesthetic, durability, and safety is critical. As stairs transition between different floor levels that may feature different types of flooring, the type of flooring you choose for your stairs should coordinate with both floors.
The Top Choice of Flooring for Stairs
The best flooring choice for stairs in your home is carpet. When it comes to quality carpet, it’s best to choose the best option that will work for your budget. Our experts at all nine locations are ready to help you find the carpet to fit your needs!
Noise Resistance
Stairs benefit from softer flooring options like carpet that provide noise reduction. Carpet has great sound dampening qualities where you can quietly walk up and down stairs, ideal for parents with young children. The best hardwood floors are beautiful and robust, but even the most durable hardwood flooring is liable to sound anytime you climb up it.
Safety
Safety is key when traveling up and down stairs, especially for older people. According to Senior Safety Advice, the staircase is an area many people hurt themselves each year. Carpet offers extra traction and cushions the impact forces on your feet, back and joints. Even the least comfortable carpet is softer than hardwood floors, and it’s usually more affordable.
Durability
As one of the main pathways in your home, staircases need to be able to withstand high impacts and constant use, especially when you consider the force of gravity as guests ascend and descend the stairs. This may mean you will want to pick different flooring and think long-term to invest in something that will last.
Berber carpet is threaded to be the best high traffic carpet for stairs. Its durability allows it to handle daily wear and tear like a champ, and like any type of carpet, the color and pattern options are nearly limitless. Since this isn’t a very popular option, a decent cut pile carpet is a great option.
What Type of Carpet Should You Choose?
Now that you understand the reasons to install durable carpet on your stairways, many people are unsure of whether to choose thick or thin carpet.
This or That: Low or Medium Pile?
You will want to choose carpet with low or medium pile. The pile of your carpeting refers to the thickness and length of the fibers. Low or medium pile is better for aging adults. Deep-pile carpet offers more cushion for level flooring, but it can throw you off balance on stairs where you don’t want to lose your balance.
Cut or Loop Pile?
The individual fibers of cut pile are cut at the ends for comfier feel and plusher appearance. But, the fibers of loop carpets are threaded to back into the carpet backing to create little loops. The result is more durable but less comfort. Since loop carpets are more durable, they are better option for stairs. This is why some choose berber carpet. But, our flooring experts can help you choose a durable cut carpet for your staircase.
Thick or Thin Carpet Pad?
Hand in hand with this, you will want to ensure you choose a thin and firm carpet pad. Thicker carpet pads absorb more impact force, so they might extend your carpet’s lifespace because they face less wear and tear, so finding the right balance is important.
Other Flooring Options for Stairs
There are other flooring options that combine durability and aesthetics to complete your stairs, but don’t provide as many benefits as carpet.
Luxury Vinyl
Vinyl flooring provides easy maintenance and additional slip resistance. Its affordability with its ease of travel, especially with walkers for older adults, makes it attractive to customers. Although, it doesn’t provide cushion for aging joints like carpet.
Hardwood
Hardwood provides an elegant, sleek look to stairs. It’s ease of cleaning and long lifespan can stand the test of time, but its high maintenance and danger on stairs for all ages is something to consider.
Carpet Stair Runners
Stair runners are another great option for floor transitions from the base of the stair, providing an elegant touch to stairs while ensuring safety up and down stairs. Stair runners segment each step on a staircase into thirds and use a different type of flooring through the center path to create a more elaborate design. This also works well in transitioning between two different types of flooring types on different levels.
Carpet stair runners are the perfect touch of elegance, still maintaining a safe space to walk, prevent slips and falls, absorbs sound, and prevents scratches. Let our flooring experts help you determine the right option for you.
Our Local Experts at Carpetland Can Help
Our experts at Carpetland can help you choose the right flooring option for your staircase. If you have any questions about the installation process, we’re here to answer any questions and guide you through the process from start to finish!
If you’re looking to update your stairway with the best type of flooring, contact us today!