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The Old House Flooring Design Dilemma

Stairs - Paint? Cover? Leave it?

2 years ago

We just had our fir stairs refinished. We were told that the stairs are bruised from impact over time. Our flooring guy said that fir is soft and he’s not able to sand out these spots because of how deep they penetrate. We went with a light to medium stain so there won’t be much color change from this point.

Would you leave it? Paint it? Cover it with a runner? Replace the stair treads?

Our house is a 1920s craftsman with lots of “character bruises”, but the defined area on the stairs makes it very noticeable in my opinion. View is from top floor looking down and from landing to main floor. We were planning to paint the risers regardless.

Comments (10)

calidesign
2 years ago
I'd just paint the risers and leave the stairs bare. They are so much easier to clean that way. You can always add a runner in the future if you decide you don't like it or it needs more protection.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
I agree paint the risers but IMO a runner could easily be a show stopper if you choose the right one and i would probably make the railing and top of the newle post a much darker color not sure about your style butthese are all pretty cool
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I’m not an absolutist curmudgeon against all remodeling. Do No Harm isn’t applicable to the 00’s McMansion. Or some of the 70’s tract ranches. All of the harm inflicted on those was done in the beginning, and they have no place to go but up. But you just know that some Philistine somewhere sees Falling Water as just some pile of leaky concrete and stone and would propose bulldozing it in favor of a Mini Mart and 24 hour bait shop. Not every home needs to be preserved. Just the well designed ones. This is a well designed home. So much so that any changes should be approached only by ensuring that they are in harmony with the original intent of the design. It’s physically painful to think of anyone putting up shiplap and painting any of it gray. 10 minutes fads are usually bad ones. Wait 5 years If its good design, it will still be good design. If it’s bad design, you’ll wonder what you were thinking.
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You will need to remove the current tread (and nosing; glued down = big work in a tiny space) without damaging the riser (possible but not likely) and then replace with a product that is IDENTICAL in thickness. Stairs must meet code. Any time you change the tread you MUST meet code. The flooring at the top of the stairs dictate the height of the rise. The flooring at the bottom of the stairs also play a part in the calculations. Yep. Lots of math needed to be done before you do anything with the treads. The people who deal with code on stairs = finishing carpenters = most expensive subcontractors on a build site. You are welcome to 'try' to paint them. Laminate doesn't like to be painted. But you can give it a whirl. As LWO points out, you run the possibility of creating a peeling mess.
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housegal200
2 years ago
I would leave the wood and have a runner where the wood shows on each side, per Patricia's third photo. Yes, the right runner, modern pattern, will create a "pathway" to the upstairs.
ptreckel
2 years ago
I would install a runner where, apparently, there was one for many years.
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Sabrina Alfin Interiors
2 years ago
Paint the risers and add a runner. I'd go with something textured, like a sisal. Like this, perhaps:

Gretchen · More Info

Hudson Waterfront Colonial · More Info
ptreckel
2 years ago
Love Sabrina Alfin’s suggestion to use Sisal. But I would go with a synthetic sisal vs. a real one. Real sisal can be slippery on stairs. There are wonderful synthetics out there that can be self bound or fabric bound and are easy to care for, too!
KW PNW Z8
2 years ago
I’m on the fence. Yes paint risers but I like the treads as they are. But, a runner would look great too! See, on the fence. If you add a runner would you just cover the treads & leave the landing uncovered? A compromise? Maybe just live with painted risers for a bit & see how they feel with use. Maybe the center bruising will either spread out or fade with wear. I think I agree with @Patricia Colwell Consulting that the railing & Newell post would lookgood with darker stain.
Jennifer
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Patricia Colwell, what is your third example, the black and white? Love it!
grapefruit1_ar
2 years ago
Your stairs are beautiful ! Just add lovely runner!
User
2 years ago
We took off the runner which left the character of the wood showing. I dont mind it at all. Our home is 1910 FourSquare. We painted the risers to match the walls in the adjacent sitting room and the accent wall in the foyer. Its Kalamata BM Aura. Everyone comments on the stunning feature.

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