RailingsHandrails. Conclusion. If your home has multiple levels, you may find that updating the stairs is a good way to upgrade the look of your whole room or house. This project is also a matter of safety. Loose stairs and railings can cause dangerous conditions for you and your family. Weak stairs can collapse beneath your feet, and loose railings can fail and lead to serious injuries. Whether your project is interior or exterior will cause your costs to vary. Most homeowners pay between 1,0. Types of Stairs. Stairs come in only two types interior and exterior. Interior stairs include the stairs that go up to the higher floors in your house, the stairs that go to the attic, and the stairs that go down to your basement. Exterior stairs include the stairs that lead up to your porch, your patio, or your deck. Where youre building will dictate which materials are best to use. Return to Top. Interior. Interior stairs are most often made of wood. They usually incorporate stains, varnish, moldings, and other carpentry finishing work. WHG-730x730.jpg' alt='How To Install Carpet Runner On Tile Stairs With Carpet' title='How To Install Carpet Runner On Tile Stairs With Carpet' />The degree of design that goes into interior stairs often depends on their purpose. Main staircase approx. A main staircase is more likely to have a stylish or luxurious look to it than stairs going down into the basement. Likewise, attic stairs are probably not going to be as eye catching as a main staircase. Basement stairs approx. Unless you have a finished basement, these stairs are usually not stained or varnished. They often have only a rubber runner nailed to the treads for traction and a simple railing. Attic stairs approx. In older homes, attic stairs are usually a set of plain, unadorned stairs accessed through a door. They may or may not have a carpet runner. Some newer homes have folding stairs for attic access. A pull cord is attached to a ladder like set of stairs that drops down from the ceiling, allowing access. Full service floor covering company located in Massachusetts with a full line of carpet, hardwood, laminate, ceramic tile, and vinyl flooring. Protect your floors with this lightweight, nonskid, machine washable carpet runner and protector ideal for hardwood floors, stairs, staircases, stairways, hallways. Everything you ever wanted to know about cork flooring all in one place. Aluminum stair treads are ideal for Renovate slippery, dangerous, worn stairs with new aluminum coverings. Protecting new steps with safer antislip surface. Return to Top. Exterior. Exterior stairs are made of concrete, stone, wood, or other weather resistant materials. If wood is used, it should be of a type treated or naturally able to withstand the fluctuating temperatures and conditions of the outdoors. The cost of stairs for exterior settings varies according to the material used, the run length of the stairs, and the height they need to be. Some codes require hand rails for certain heights, and specific dimensions for some stairs. To get a better idea of the price, check with your local codes first before designing your stairs. Porch stairs This is where your home says hello to the world. As such, it may be very elaborate or simple and homey. Usually made of wood, they can also be stone, brick, or any other material that complements your home. Patio Stairs to your patio, or to the different levels of a multi level patio, should be made of a matching material, though for a short rise wooden stairs can add a small but elegant accent. Deck Decks are almost always made of the same material as the deck wood or composite. Not only does this look good, it also simplifies treating and conditioning your deck. Contact a Stair Professional Now. Return to Top. Materials and Style. Which material to use will be determined by what type of stair you intend to install. Some materials are simply better suited to certain environments. The most common materials used for stairs are wood, concrete, and metal. Wood. Most interior stairs are made of wood. Any kind of wood can be used, but red oak is the most popular for its durability, price, and appearance. Concrete. Concrete is a common choice for exterior stairs, seeing use in both residential and commercial structures. Though it needs sealing every year, concrete is a very durable material and is appropriate for stairs that will see heavy use and are exposed to the weather. Metal. Metal stairs are almost always seen only in industrial settings. However, metal is still used in homes every now and then. Mostly it gets used for exterior stairs with features cut into the treads to improve traction during wet or freezing weather. The most common use for metal stairs in the home is usually the classic spiral staircase. Styles of Stairs. The style of the stair should be chosen not only to fit your homes look but also to fit your rooms space. Stairs take many different forms and architectural construction further defines them. Straight Straight stairs are the easiest to design and build. An uninterrupted run of stairs from one floor to the next needs room, however. Theyre not often found in modern homes for safety reasons. A fall from the upper stairs means a fall all the way to the bottom. L Shaped L shaped stairs are more in style in modern homes not only for the safety aspect but also for the privacy they tend to afford the upper floors. L shaped stairs have a landing at one point providing a 9. A fall on these stairs means you should only fall as far as the nearest lower landing. U Shaped U shaped stairs are similar to L shaped stairs in both form and function safety and privacy, but they make a 1. This is done either through a single, wide landing or a second smaller landing at a different level than the first. Spiral Spiral staircases are ideal for narrow or confined spaces. These stairs rise in a circle often, but not always, around a central pole. Helical Helical staircases are similar to spiral staircases except that they are wider and dont have a central pole, instead having handrails to both sides. Winder Winder stairs are a cross between a straight stair and an L shaped stair. Instead of a flat landing, the steps continue to curve. These stairs can be at a 9. Arched Arched stairs curve gracefully usually for 9. The turn is not as tight as a spiral staircase, but the footprint is much larger. These stairs require a lot of space and are generally only found in larger homes. Open Risers The riser is the vertical part of a step. The horizontal part is called the tread. Open risers have no riser. They are open between the treads and provide an airy look. Some have a single stringer, the support for the stairs, running up the middle while others have the stringer at each side. Floating Floating stairs are anchored very strongly at the wall, but seem to have no visible support underneath. Some people install these without handrails for a minimalist look, but this makes the stairs very dangerous. Get a Quote on Stairs Today. Return to Top. Demo of Old Stairs. The cost to demolish old stairs varies according to material and construction type. Its usually between 3. Demolishing a staircase is actually an involved affair. While demolishing conjures up images of taking a sledge hammer to everything and bashing away until its rubble, a more appropriate word might be disassembling. There is a certain way to do this to avoid damaging your house. Remove everything thats attached to the walls such as posts and railings. Its important not to damage the wall. Remove the railing. Remove the carpet and tack strips if present. Remove the treads and risers. Sometimes the risers will come off with the treads. Again, be sure not to damage the wall. If youre removing the entire staircase, remove the stringer. Otherwise, if youre just remodeling the staircase, you might be able to leave it in place as long as it isnt damaged. Sap Accounts Receivable User Manual. The treads are the hardest part of a stair removal. They are often nailed down as well as glued in place.