Whether you’re building a new home or revamping an existing one, designing a staircase to fit your home’s aesthetic and lifestyle is essential. Take the time to think about your budget, your material options, the level of foot traffic, and other considerations before beginning your renovations. 

There are several questions to ask when tackling this functional design element. Before choosing a stair tread, here’s what you should know to ensure you’re picking the best option for the home.

Have an Understanding of Your Budget

Before choosing a stair tread, you should clearly understand your budget and how flexible you can be if there are extra fees or complications. It’s important to note that a remodeled staircase can increase the value of your home. The total value of a house and the amount spent on the stairs will correlate in price. Depending on materials and design, the staircase will cost around 1 to 2 percent of your home’s selling price.

Remember that the more customization you add to your stairs, the more the project will cost.

You Should Know the Level of Maintenance

How much time and money are you willing to spend maintaining your staircase flooring? Before choosing a stair tread, you should see how much maintenance it will take to keep your chosen stairs in pristine condition.

The key to picking the best stair tread for your home is to be realistic with yourself. How often will you clean these treads? You should select a tread that aligns with your lifestyle and cleaning habits. The same way you clean hardwood treads is different than cleaning tile flooring. It’s also essential to consider any environmental factors like pets and humidity that can contribute to a need for additional cleaning.

Consider the Level of Foot Traffic

Think about how much your household will use the stairs and if the stairs will be in a high-traffic area. You want the stair treads in the front of your home to be more appealing and sustainable for high-foot traffic. It’s not necessary to hold the staircase leading to your home’s upper level to the same standard as stairs leading down to a basement.

You Should Know Your Material Options

Consider the look you want to achieve before choosing a stair tread. Whether your home is traditional, modern, or contemporary, there is a style to fit your requirements and aesthetic. Knowing your options and the specifications of each before selecting a stair tread can save you time and money, so it’s crucial to know which material is best for the property. 

Wood Treads

It’s important to know that with wooden stair treads, many wood species do not hold up well in outdoor weather conditions. That being said, it’s essential to consider if your project is for the interior or exterior of your home. It’s also important to factor in the wood’s durability and grain as well as the construction of the stair tread.

For interior staircases, the best wood options are white oak, red oak, hard maple, and distressed woods. However, hardwoods like ipe or Cumaru are ideal for exterior staircases as they boast superior durability.

Tile Treads

Tile stair treads can be a beautiful, unique, and durable alternative to the wooden stair tread. You can get tile treads that mimic the look of natural wood but feature tile’s resistance to wear and tear. Tile treads do not need as much maintenance since they don’t attract insects or decay.

Glass Treads

Choosing glass stair treads with a floating steel stringer system is an increasingly popular architectural element in modern homes. There are endless colors, patterns, finishes, and textures available for glass stair treads. You can add LED lights to your glass tread to dramatically affect the staircase’s overall aesthetic. However, it is essential to choose a tread that has a non-slip surface to prevent staircase accidents.

Steel Treads

With steel stair treads, it’s also essential to provide slip protection to prevent accidents and incidents. However, metal stair treads are great for a rustic industrial style while still offering extreme durability. Many home designers often pair steel treads with an open beam architecture.

Stone Treads

Stone treads are popular for indoor and outdoor stair applications and come in various types, textures, colors, and finishes. Bluestone treads are thick with a blue-grayish color and add reliability and beauty to any outdoor space with minimal maintenance. 

Travertine stone treads are great for contemporary or modern interior spaces, adding dramatic and beautiful elegance to your home. Travertine is also durable and has a natural non-slip textured surface, making it the perfect choice for those who have kids but still want to have a stylish staircase. However, travertine is more porous than other natural stones, so it is essential to seal it to resist staining. 

Limestone is a natural stone that can you can easily cut and shape to any size you need. This material is exceptionally durable and widely available in various colors, from grays to cream. You can also have contractors polish the stone to your desired finish, but it’s essential to seal limestone to prevent staining. Limestone stair treads are a popular choice for interior or exterior stairs, as environmental factors are not as much of a consideration with this material compared to others.

Composite Treads

Composite stair treads are the perfect choice for outdoor staircases. Composite treads require very minimal maintenance. This material is resistant to mold, fading, cracking, rotting, and scratching. Usually, composite treads pair with a steel support system for a more industrial look, making this the perfect choice for someone with a contemporary or industrial style home.

When choosing a stair tread, you want the best option for you, your family, and your lifestyle. It’s essential to consider additional information about your stair tread’s material before selecting one to add to your home. From understanding which materials will muffle noise to knowing which surfaces are slip-resistant, understanding each option will help you make the best selection.

Whether you are building or renovating your home, Extech Building Materials has a wide variety of building materials for you to use for your next project.