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Home Decorating

Wood versus carpet stair treads

12 years ago

Hello everyone. Great forum!

Anyways, I am in the design phase of our new U-shaped staircase that will run all the way from the basement to the second floor.

I've already decided to keep the staircase open between the run of stairs to keep an open feel. However, this creates a question that I wanted everyone's opinion on.

Would it look funny to have wood treads for the stairs going up to the second floor but carpeted treads for the stairs going down to the basement?

Again, since the staircase is open, as you are going upstairs, you can look down to the basement stairs and see that the treads are finished differently (ie. carpeted) than the stairs going upstairs.

I guess one way of saving cost is to have painted risers (which seems to be the preferred option especially if all the window and baseboard trim in the surround area is also painted) instead of finished wood risers.

In that way, I'm assuming everyone's answer is to keep things consistent and NOT do carpet on the treads for the basement stairs.

Thanks for any input you can provide!

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Comments (6)

juliekcmo
12 years ago
I find that carpeted stairs are functionally good.
It helps keep dirt and dust from making its way upstairs, keeping the bedrooms cleaner. And it makes the stairs less slippery when descending.

Would you consider wood treads, painted risers, and carpet up the center?
neetsiepie
12 years ago
What is the reason for carpeted stairs to the basement? Is that the entry area?

Our old house had carpeted stairs and we ended up pulling it out after DH slipped and fell down the last 3 steps, knocking a large hole in the wall at the bottom. It could have been the carpet type, which was installed over finished hard wood steps, but all I know is that after we took it out, no more problems with slipping (or kids using the stairs to 'surf' with cardboard.

Anyway, back to the topic, I'd suggest a unified look if at all possible.
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Thanks for all the feedback. @Patricia Colwell - a couple of them are rough. I'm not sure what type of wood it is. If I don't cover them, I'll have to replace them. I don't want to go back to carpet. That back room and those stairs is the last carpet in the house. I was tempted to consider just carpeting the treads (like the second post I made). I was lucky with the main house stairs, it had oak treads and I just had to clean them up. I guess if I want oak hardwood stairs, there is no magic. Hard work or big payout. As for existing treads, I still can't tell if they are under or butted up against the skirt boards. It doesn't make sense to do it that way, It has to just be well fitted treads. It would take a magician to cut those skirts with every level fitting so well. One more question regarding those three odd shaped treads from the first picture. What is the typical solution? Buy extra treads and use an extra one or two cut fastened together? Or do you order a custom boards from your lumber company? Answer to my own question, for those who are just learning like me. I need to buy/build a left hand winder tread set. Rona and many other places carry them. Done! I have no more questions/concerns with this subject. Thanks for the help. Thanks, Mark.
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rmkitchen
12 years ago
For what it's worth, I (and many others) find carpeted treads much more slippery than wood and hence, much more dangerous.
Arapaho-Rd
12 years ago
I have carpeted treads to my basement and have slipped several times. They are enclosed and not seen from the main floor. Aside from all that, if my staircase were open, I'd probably do all hardwood.
LuAnn_in_PA
12 years ago
When we pulled UP the carpet and left plain treads, people STOPPED slipping on the stairs.
kimhoj
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for the suggestions! I think I'll go with all wood stairs!

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