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DIY Flooring Remodeling

Indoor Concrete Stairs

6 years ago

Help please! We have some indoor concrete stairs that are covered in some hideous carpet going up to the bonus room above our garage. I want to rip the carpet off and do something else. I originally thought that it would be cool to add wood treads on each stair, but in researching how to DIY that I discovered it is a much bigger process than I thought.

I then thought about staining the concrete, but I have two children under 6 and I’m concerned about slipping and falling down concrete stairs. Is this a real problem, or am I being paranoid?

What is the best way to turn this awful set of stairs into something beautiful?

Featured Answer

klem1

6 years ago

The article assume's concrete is in contact with earth and no moisture barrier underneath. It is perfectly ok to glue directly in this case. Use a knotched trowel for glue.

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Comments (6)

klem1
6 years ago
Your first idea of glueing thin wood flooring would be my choice. You could also use tile intended for wet floors if slip and fall is of concurn. Pool deck paint with sand is easy and might look to suit you. As far as stain, dealing with glue from old carpet will require the most labor.
Amber
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks! That’s what I originally thought too, but according to what I found online you can’t just glue the flooring down directly to the concrete because it would rot (we are complete newbies as this kind of stuff, we just bought our first house a year ago and have learned a TON since then, but still do not know much and rely on YouTube and articles). According to the articles and how-tos, I’d have to screw down plywood and add cement bolts before I could even start with the threads.

Is all of that true, or would it be ok to just glue the wood down directly to the concrete?
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User
6 years ago
Put carpet back.
Bruce in Northern Virginia
6 years ago
If kits use these stairs, I would probably clean and paint the concrete, and then get a carpet company to install a tread runner. It will give you a decent non-slip surface, and still be removable and cleanable. If you use a heavy duty outdoor or commercial grade runner, it should hold up very well.

You can also buy glue-on vinyl carpet treads from several sources, and put them on the concrete. They look very commercial, but will hold up extremely well. However, they are also very hard if your kids fall on them.

Bruce
Amber
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks everyone! You’ve given me some good ideas!

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