Last Piece of the Puzzle: How to Finish the Stairs
The last major aesthetic decision we need to make for the house is how to finish the stairs. The linoleum has been removed from most of them, leaving us with what you see above. We’re going to keep the banister its current dark wood color and will probably paint the vertical back of each stair…
The last major aesthetic decision we need to make for the house is how to finish the stairs. The linoleum has been removed from most of them, leaving us with what you see above. We’re going to keep the banister its current dark wood color and will probably paint the vertical back of each stair white. What do people think we should paint the stairs and the spindles? Keep in mind that the hallway floors on each landing are going to be natural wood with poly. Thanks.
Sorry, I have no info on present carpet installation prices except to say that re Susan’s post about the ABC carpet store outlet in DUMBO; I’ve generally found the store to be a great resource , with a very knowlegeable and helpful staff (they will cut tables down, for instance , in their own furniture shop–and, no charge, store furniture bought on sale for up to three months in their own warehouse). So it would figure that they would be good on carpet installation, too. (and by the way, check some references for possible carpet installers and possibly see previous work: there are some rally terrible ones out there) Could not be more sympathetic, Brownstoners, about the cost of good carpet and installation: but, hey!, you’re springing for the good quality Brit wall paint for obvious reasons –and really, what gets more wear and tear: ceilings or floors/stairs?
I agree re carpeting right to the spindles. We’re doing the same thing. A clean nice look too and easier maintenance.
the carpet wall to spindles?- what’s the cheapest estimate people have just for the labor- we found it to be really expensive but would actually like to do the whole stairwell in carpet
A P.S. to the post I just sent (below) re the taupe wool carpeting, etc: our stairs are carpeted ( with flat, high quality padding underneath) from spindles to wall–i.e, all across the stairs not just as a runner in the middle. This gives a “cleaner” look to the staircase–dowesn’t visually “cut up” the stairs and, of course, people don’t necessarily walk like robots straight up a stair–they often walk on one side or another. As for vaccuming: infinitely easier with the full stair carpet thing: no constant changing from “foor” or rug” with the vaccum attachemnts.
It looks as if (and it’s hard to tell from pic) you might have the makings of a “Scotch Carpet”–it was the name given to painted risers. Not sure what era you’re going for, but that could be an interesting decorative option, particularly if you could find some sturdy paints. They have at the Buccleuch Mansion museum in New Brunswick.
A question to Mr./Mrs. Brownstoner: Why are you painting the spindles of the staircase? Perhaps it is just the photo, but they look as if they are unpainted stained walnut or, if painted, just with one coat of paint. Of course it’s up to you but, as a brownstone renovator for 37 years, my aesthetic and practical preference is for as little paint as possible. (and, on natural wood, for a waxed, not poly finish) I do agree with the post about the color of the risers again,obviously up to you) but a dark color is infinitely preferable to dirty-in-a-minute white. And, for noise control, safety (for little kids, old folks and dogs!) and looks, carpet is not only terrific but almost mandatory.
Cutting to the chase: Sisal is scratchy and highly impractical (dirt falls through it and it’s hard to keep clean), and carpet “blends”–with poly or acrylic–are almost imossible to spot clean. Pure wool, usually more expensive, is the longest lastest, the best looking and comes in the widest choice of weaves–including architectually PC flat weaves, elegant to look at and to walk on. The 20-year old taupe wool carpeting we’ve had on the heavily trafficked (including ten years of teenagers) four story staircase of our house not only still–amazingly!– looks presentable, it continues to be the perfect neutral backdrop for innumerable wall color and furniture changes.
brownstoner,
don’t forget to give us an after pic once you’ve finished- i’d love to see some of these other stair solutions as well, the stairs in our home were really the one big ? and I am still not really that happy- they are such a dramatic detail to decide on since they curve up through the entire house.
I like sisal, and wanted to use it on stair like the ones you have, but was told by the salespeople that it doesn’t take curves well and tends not to lay well on stairs.
We went with an earthy, textured, wool carpet on the steps, leaving the landing sanded and refinished. We like it.
I was just about to mention the asbestos issue, but someone beat me to it… We have two back staircases – one leading to the kitchen, the other to the attic bedrooms – that are covered in old lino. We chose to carpet with berber over the bedroom stairs, rather than disturb the linoleum. We have not touched the kitchen stairs, and want to cover with some other material but are not sure what to use… any suggestions?
Also, we had lots of old asbestos pipe lagging which we discovered after we bought our home, hidden under a drop ceiling in the basement. I went the legit route, hiring the guy’s in spacesuits AND an independent air quality monitor who supervised the work, testing air quality before, during and after the work was done. Mercifully, there was never any contamination in the air. I paid, but not as much as I feared, for these services, and it is money well spent, as I can sleep at night knowing my family is safe. Asbestos exists in almost all old homes in so many different forms, you just have no idea… plaster, toasters, ironing board coveres, acoustic ceilings… and yes, certain types of linoleum.
We also have lead paint issues. Gorgeous woodwork hidden under multiple layers of nasty paint (we just assume some must be lead). I have never sanded/stripped, much as I would like to. There doesn’t seem to be any consensus on the safest route with kids living in the home. I was told that dishwasher detergent contains a substance that breaks down lead. I was window ledges with liquid cascade once a week, and also wet mop floor without around windows and doors. Lead is heavy. It settles and doesn’t stay in the air for long.