8 DIY ways to finish a concrete staircase

Although concrete staircases are strong and useful, they frequently lack the aesthetic appeal of staircases made of other materials. Your boring concrete steps can become a stunning focal point for your house with a little imagination and some simple tools. There are many DIY options available, whether your goal is to update the style, increase safety, or just add a little elegance.

To take on these projects, you don’t have to be an expert. A whole weekend can be spent mastering many of the simple techniques. The options are endless, ranging from staining and painting to adding wood or tile. Every technique gives you a different way to improve the look of your stairs and make them more sturdy and appealing.

A new coat of paint is one of the easiest ways to update your concrete steps. This is a simple and affordable way that lets you alter the color to fit your interior design. Consider staining the concrete if you want something more organic. This choice draws attention to the texture and gives your steps a deep, earthy tone.

Tiling the stairs is a great option for people who like a more sophisticated aesthetic. Tiles are available in a wide range of patterns and styles, so you can design a layout that goes well with the overall aesthetic of your house. You can also cover the concrete with wooden planks if you adore the warmth of wood, fusing the strength of concrete with the aesthetic appeal of wood.

An additional excellent option that offers both comfort and traction is to add a carpet runner. For outdoor stairs, where slipperiness can be an issue, this is extremely helpful. You might think about installing or maintaining laminate or vinyl flooring for a more contemporary look.

Your concrete staircase can be transformed into a gorgeous feature that improves the functionality and charm of your house with a little imagination and work. You can achieve a cozy, traditional vibe or a sleek, modern look with a DIY project that fits your needs and budget. Explore these eight do-it-yourself techniques to find the ideal way to finish your concrete stairs.

Options for cladding materials

Concrete stairs must meet these two primary requirements:

• safe travel;
• presentable appearance.

There are various structures available for finishing materials, including solid, liquid, and woven materials. But the two prerequisites mentioned above are shared by all of them. Here is a summary of the eight most widely used materials for concrete stair cladding:

1. Laminate. Only high-quality material (classes 33 and 34) with good wear resistance is allowed. Differs in a variety of textures, textures and shades.
2. Cork covering. Increased heat and sound insulation, good wear resistance. The material is 100% environmentally friendly.
3. Carpet. Like cork, it has high soundproofing properties. The surface is soft and pleasant to walk on.
4. Ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles. You only need to choose floor-standing models. Large selection of sizes and designs.
5. Clinker steps. These are finished products specifically for stair steps, which are made from baked clay. Suitable for finishing interior and exterior stairs.
6. Stone. Traditional material for finishing concrete stairs. Gives a presentable appearance. Natural and artificial types of stones are used for cladding.
7. Dye. This material is mainly used for finishing street stairs, as well as internal ones located in service and utility rooms. Cheap, but short -lived solution.
8. Solid wood. This is a classic staircase cladding. Here is a large list of positive characteristics: naturalness, warmth, sound insulation, beautiful appearance, ease of installation, long-term operation.

We will examine each of these choices in greater detail below.

A boring, functional structure can become a fashionable focal point of your house by finishing a concrete staircase, which is also a fun and rewarding do-it-yourself project. This post will discuss eight simple yet stylish ways to update the appearance of your concrete stairs, including painting, staining, tiling, and adding wooden treads. Every method is intended to be doable with simple supplies and tools, making it ideal for do-it-yourselfers of all experience levels. These suggestions will assist you in creating a gorgeous finish on a tight budget, regardless of your style preference—warm, rustic charm or sleek modern.

Laminate cladding

Concrete stair treads can be covered with commercial laminate class 32 or 33. It resists wear well. The lamella’s width is an important consideration when making your selection. If it is greater than or equal to the step’s depth, that is the best choice. However, this is uncommon because steps typically have a depth of 300 mm and the laminate is between 150 and 200 mm wide. As a result, it is frequently impossible to lay the panel longitudinally and entirely seal the steps without using any joints.

As a result, the panels are divided into sections that match the march’s width. For instance, two pieces will need to be used for each step if the step’s depth is 30 cm and the panel width is 20 cm.

Everything is much easier with the riser plane. Since their standard height ranges from 150 to 220 mm, they can have a single laminate panel placed along the plane in front of them.

Let’s move on to the cladding process:

1. A special corner metal profile is used to fasten the laminate. It is attached with dowels or screws to the corner of the step.
2. Laminate pieces are inserted into the corner grooves, and they are connected to each other using a tongue-and-groove lock. You can start installation from any edge.
3. A panel for the riser is inserted into the lower groove of the corner.
4. The laminate must be laid on an adhesive composition, which is called adhesive for laminated parquet. It is applied to the concrete surface with a notched trowel.
5. The corner profile is closed with a corner plate, which is made of wood, metal, plastic. It is inserted into the upper grooves on the profile, which are necessarily processed with adhesive composition.

The same is possible with parquet flooring.

Laying cork flooring

Finishing monolithic concrete involves applying an adhesive floor covering. This is a type of sandwich panel with pressed cork for the base and balsa wood veneer covering the front. A polyvinyl layer is applied on top of the veneer itself to improve the material’s resistance to moisture and wear.

A panel made of cork has a surface area of one square meter. It can be easily divided into sections that are the same size as the risers and steps on a concrete staircase. Unique plastic or metal profiles reinforce the edges. Afterwards, cork-specific glue is used to adhere them to the aircraft.

Crucial! You can only place the cork on a dry surface.

Carpet finishing

The width of the span is taken into consideration when choosing the carpet’s size. Installation is done right out of the roll. Here are a few choices:

1. Using metal or wooden rods, under which the carpet is pulled at the junction of the plane of the step and riser.
2. With the help of glue, when the carpet is laid on an adhesive compound. To do this, you will have to cut the material to the size of the surfaces to be finished.
3. Using hidden mounting profiles (wood or metal). To do this, as in the case of the glue method, the carpet will have to be cut so that it can cover the step with the riser in one strip.

By the way, you can use the same technique to linoleum decorate the stairs.

Cladding with ceramic tiles or porcelain stoneware

One of the trickiest ways to finish. If you select a plain tile whose size corresponds to the depth of the steps, you can do it yourself. But with ready-made products that mimic stair steps exactly available on the market, things have gotten much easier these days.

Sheathing with this kind of material is easy because the surface that needs to be finished is fully covered by a single sheet. Not a single cut or modification. Accurately choosing the slab based on the dimensions of the stairwell’s components is crucial. Steps, risers, and skirting boards are all included in the price of ceramic stair cladding sets. everything in one designer’s creation.

Just like with tiles, ceramics are installed using an adhesive substance. It is crucial to keep in mind that risers or steps need to be glued first. Everything is dependent on how the elements are arranged. There is no difference if these are just slabs. In the event that a specific profile is used for installation, risers are installed initially, followed by the profile and steps. Examine comprehensive guidelines for completing tasks using porcelain stoneware.

Installation of clinker steps

The technology involved in using clinker material for cladding steps is essentially the same as that of porcelain stoneware. In other words, applying an adhesive substance. Clinker tiles are also used to finish street stairs because they are more resistant to frost than porcelain and ceramic tiles.

The order in which the operations were performed:

1. Glue is applied to the plane of the approaches.
2. The plate on the glue composition with alignment in the planes is laid.
3. Glue is applied to the plane of the step.
4. The upper plate with a visor is installed, which closes the upper part of the approaches.

Rules for cladding with stone

Even with synthetic materials, the long-lasting and useful stone decoration of concrete stairs is highly costly. This kind of procedure is related to trimming stone slabs to the dimensions of stair marches. And specific equipment will be needed for this. After someone uses a grinder to cut stone tiles, it is not necessary to discuss the precise dimensions and smooth edges.

Since there are no stair-specific slabs, trimming is not an option. Of course, you can order plates according to specific dimensions, but the price will go up.

On the adhesive composition, installation is completed. The laying technique is the same as that of clinker or ceramic. The cladding elements must be evenly aligned in planes.

Application of paint and varnish coatings

The easiest and most affordable way to finish concrete stairs is this one. Giving the planes their maximum strength and evenness is crucial in this situation. As a result, all surfaces are primed with a deep penetration primer and ground to the highest possible level before painting. They are painted after it dries.

Paint for concrete surfaces requires specific materials made of epoxy, acrylic, or polyurethane resin. Their appearance is identical to that of regular paints. However, their resistance to wear is higher. Using a roller or brush, apply these paints to the prepared surface. Repainting the steps every 5-8 years is all that you need to be ready for.

It’s rewarding and affordable to turn an ugly concrete staircase into a beautiful focal point for your house. A contractor is not necessary if you use one or more of these eight do-it-yourself finishing techniques to achieve a professional look. Whether you like the smoothness of paint, the warmth of wood, or the longevity of tiles, each technique offers a distinct style.

Recall that the secret to success is preparation. Before applying any finish, make sure your concrete stairs are clean and smooth. Finishes that are more aesthetically pleasing and have a longer lifespan are the product of careful surface preparation.

Playing around with various mediums and methods can also be an enjoyable way to express your imagination. Don’t be scared to combine different finishes to create a unique look that complements both your home’s overall design and your own personal taste.

You will save money and have the satisfaction of improving your living area on your own when you take on this project yourself. Whether you decide for a straightforward paint job or a more elaborate tile design, your concrete staircase will turn into a real work of art that showcases your effort and DIY prowess.

Video on the topic

My new method of finishing a concrete staircase with wood (18 min nudilov))

One example of finishing a concrete staircase

Finishing concrete stairs with wood. How we do it ….

the simplest and most optimal way to install stair steps on concrete