Do-it-yourself finishing of a concrete staircase with wood - the main points. Do-it-yourself finishing of concrete stairs with wood - instructions and video

High-quality finishing of steps concrete stairs will provide it with an aesthetic appearance and safe operation. Modern market presented wide variety options. The choice depends not only on the personal preferences of the user, but also the location, type of construction, style features of the interior and a number of other factors.

Concrete stands out in many ways positive characteristics. It is reliable and durable, does not require labor-intensive maintenance, but is not aesthetically pleasing. appearance, therefore it needs additional cladding. Among the most popular:

• natural wood;
• ceramic tiles and porcelain stoneware;
• laminate;
• carpets and other coverings.

Each material has its own characteristics and area of ​​​​use.

1. Wood.

The front concrete interfloor staircase may look unnecessarily bulky; to visually lighten it, natural wood is most often used. It has a number of advantages over other finishing options: it combines well with various interior solutions, and is distinguished by heat-insulating and sound-absorbing characteristics. Such surfaces are easy to process, do not weigh down the structure, and can be combined with other materials. What is important for the street is that the tree rarely freezes and practically does not slip.

The choice of cladding depends on the location of the concrete staircase. It is permissible to use any breeds indoors on steps. The most expensive options will be those made from valuable, elite wood: wenge, jatobo and badi. Beautiful texture highlights ash and oak, warm colors inherent in pine. For the street, cladding with hardwoods, such as hornbeam or beech, is suitable. They are specially processed and have a long service life.

When purchasing wood for finishing concrete stairwells pay attention to its main characteristics and quality. The degree of drying is very important - humidity should not exceed 8–12%. Defects are also unacceptable: cracks, holes, knots, different pigmentation. Inexpensive alternative option natural wood is adhesive material. It has good strength and aesthetic properties.

2. Laminate.

Wood is a classic, but not always affordable, finishing method. stair steps. Indoors it will be replaced by cheaper, wear-resistant, impact-resistant laminate. It is especially justified if used to cover floors in adjoining rooms. Manufacturers offer a wide variety of colors and textures. When choosing a laminate for concrete staircase openings, preference is given to a high class and a thickness of 6 to 12 mm. Moreover, the higher the last indicator, the easier it is to work with the material and the better its soundproofing characteristics.

The width of the laminated board must correspond to the size of the concrete tread; the presence of lock systems. For residential premises, the content of formaldehyde is mandatory - it is preferable to choose class E1. For cladding the steps of a staircase, a laminate with the highest possible warranty period. When calculating required quantity You should not forget about vertical surfaces and make a margin of 10–15%.

3. Tiles.

A fairly common method of cladding concrete steps is porcelain stoneware or clinker. They are distinguished by high abrasion rates and resistance to external aggressive factors. Many manufacturers offer special products with reinforced, rounded edges. For the street or home, the finishing of steps with tiles can be matte or glossy, multi-colored or plain, rough or smooth. In the latter case, additional anti-slip pads will be needed, this is especially true for outdoor use. Mosaics are popular for decorating vertical risers.

Among the advantages of this type of cladding for concrete stairs are: long term operation, reasonable cost, ease of maintenance, non-flammability. When used outdoors, low moisture absorption and frost resistance are important indicators. At the same time, the tiles are cold and do not absorb shock; strong blows may split. Some consumers note enough complex installation, since it requires cutting and adjusting to the dimensions of the concrete steps.

To finish staircase openings, choose tiles with an anti-slip effect. The hardness on the Mohs scale should be 5–6 units, and the abrasion class should be IV or V. To save some materials, it is permissible to combine them - decorate the risers with mosaics or tiles with lower values. Wood, cork or glass are also used to decorate parts.

4. Carpets and other coverings.

Anti-slip linoleum for cladding concrete is distinguished by its affordable price and practicality. flights of stairs. It contains quartz or carborundum chips, which contribute to roughness. A relief surface is also created. Finish applied to external concrete structures rubber coating, which stands out for its low cost, good sound insulation and anti-slip effect. Disadvantages: strength, wear and frost resistance are lower than that of a hard surface.

Indoors for various purposes Carpet is used for cladding. It is proposed wide range textures and colors, easy to install and repair. This finishing of concrete stairs provides warmth, noiselessness and pleasant tactile sensations when walking. Disadvantages include relatively low wear resistance and difficulty in maintenance.

Preference is given to polypropylene or polyamide carpeting with short pile. Felt ones absorb a lot of moisture, vinyl ones leave marks from heels, woolen ones are difficult to clean, and acrylic ones quickly fail. The special finishing for stairs is marked accordingly, it is additionally reinforced, and the elastic base adheres well to concrete. During installation, the seams should be located at the junctions of vertical and horizontal surfaces.

5. Natural stone.

In spacious rooms and outdoors, marble or granite processing of steps for concrete stairs is used. Options made from onyx, travertine and other similar materials are considered exclusive. The advantages include exceptional durability, absolute fire safety, and respectable appearance. Impregnants help improve dirt-repellent properties.

For external use, surface treatment will be required to reduce slipping or the purchase of special pads. To visually lighten the concrete structure, stone is combined with wood. All kinds decorative effects ensures the use different breeds. Disadvantages: noisy when walking, cold surface, relatively high cost.

In most cases, all parts of concrete stairs require finishing: Basic structure(stringers), risers and treads. The selection of material for cladding each of them is different, since they carry different functional loads. Horizontal surfaces should be characterized by low abrasion, treads should be resistant to possible impacts from shoe toes. The finishing of the stringer is least susceptible to mechanical stress, which is why the decorative effect is more significant for it.

The key selection criterion is user safety. For cladding concrete structures in houses where elderly people live or there are small children, it is better to use carpet, wood, laminate or other materials that can absorb shock as much as possible in the event of an accidental fall. In addition, this finish will provide sound insulation.

Natural stone, porcelain stoneware or tiles, on the contrary, help to amplify sounds. The surface of the tread should be tactilely pleasant and non-slip.

Selection by main parameters

When solving the problem of finishing, it is important to consider the location of the stairs:

• for outdoor steps great importance has frost resistance, immunity to temperature changes, wood and corrugated tiles are suitable;
• finishing of front concrete structures must comply general interior and implies the use expensive materials(wood, a natural stone and others);
• in utility rooms and basements, painting the steps with a composition with water-repellent properties or simple cladding is sufficient.

The selection also depends on design features. For stairs with straight steps made of concrete, almost any material can be used. Its installation will not cause any difficulties.

It is better not to use tiles and stone finishing on winder, screw, spiral concrete structures - their installation will require careful selection and trimming of elements and there will be a large cost overrun. If the work is done poorly, the cladding of the stairs may look sloppy.

Comments:

High-quality finishing of concrete stairs ensures them safe operation and a harmonious look in the interior. Concrete stairs can be found quite often in a house, because they will last as long as the house itself and do not have to be constantly repaired. in cottages they will not rot, will not creak and are completely fireproof. The only “but” is that they can only be filled during the construction of the house itself.

In order for the staircase to have an attractive appearance and not spoil the entire interior of the room, it needs cladding.

How to choose finishing material

Before you start finishing concrete stairs, you need to completely decide what kind of material will be used for finishing. Decorative design concrete marches, and, if necessary, platforms should be well combined with the general interior decoration at home, to promote the formation comfortable conditions, have the most optimized performance characteristics.

In order not to make a mistake in choosing the material for covering concrete stairs, you must definitely take into account the location of the stairs in the house, the height of the steps, who will use it and for what and, of course, the personal preferences of the owners.

The most important and determining factors are the following:

Tile is excellent for finishing stairs, as it is very moisture resistant and can withstand heavy physical and mechanical loads.

1. Configuration. Modern technologies allow you to get away from boring linear marches. Most companies engaged in the manufacture of such concrete structures can offer elegant stairs with smooth bends and turns, creating the impression of lightness and airiness. However, if the finishing of concrete stairs with straight steps can be done with your own hands (if you have some experience), then decorating structures is more complex forms, it is better to contact specialists.
2. Soundproofing. For those who like silence in the house, it is better to give preference to materials with good soundproofing properties. For example, you can use carpet or laminate, which perfectly absorb all sounds. But tiles, porcelain tiles or natural stone will only increase the noise.
3. Exploitation. The location of the stairs is very important. If it is located outside the house, then, of course, you need to use moisture-resistant, durable materials - tiles, porcelain stoneware. They tolerate temperature changes well, are resistant to abrasion, and are easy to care for.

Inside the house you can use more delicate materials, from textile carpet to valuable species wood It is also recommended to take into account that in a house where elderly people or children live, it is better to use finishing steps are carpet, linoleum or laminate, which best absorb falls.

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Cheap and beautiful

Budget cladding of concrete stairs can have several options: painting, laminate and carpet. The cheapest of the above methods is considered simple painting concrete surface. Stairs to utility rooms household premises or the basement can easily be simply painted, which will significantly improve its appearance.

The modern paint and varnish market allows you to fully express your imagination by experimenting with color. The staircase can also be painted as an intermediate finish, and after some time it can be decorated with another material. The advantages of this finish are obvious:

• low cost;
• fast completion of work;
• opportunity simple update painting.

There are also disadvantages:

• the paint wears off very quickly, and the staircase loses its original appearance;
• the steps will be cold;
• no soundproofing.

A democratic replacement for expensive finishing concrete surfaces laminate will become an array of hardwood, especially if it is also used to cover the floor in the house. This material has quite a variety color scheme and texture imitating boards, parquet, stone. The main condition for this method is to reliably strengthen the corner of the step to protect it from intense wear. For this purpose, a metal corner matched to general style. This material has many arguments in its favor:

• performing work in short lines;
• affordable price of laminate;
• does not require additional finishing work (painting, varnishing, sanding);
• a special underlay will insulate the floor, provide sound insulation, and dampen the vibration that occurs when walking;
• great appearance.

Flaws:

• laminate is a fragile material;
• the steps experience quite large dynamic loads, so you need to choose a material with a high wear resistance class, which will affect the cost.

Finishing with carpet is the simplest and fairly cheap way. The advantages include:

• pleasant tactile sensations;
• easy repairs and installation of materials;
• a huge selection of textures and colors;
• low cost.

Flaws:

• carpet can quickly become dirty, which will lead to certain difficulties in care and cleaning;
• the material is subject to abrasion, which makes this finish short-lived.

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Expensive options for finishing stairs

Having decided to decorate the staircase with a material that will last for decades, you can make a choice between porcelain stoneware or ceramic tiles, hard wood or natural stone.

Most people prefer to use wood in their living spaces. It fits very organically into any interior due to its wide color choice: from almost white to deep black shades, and processing methods solid wood allow you to get a glossy, matte or semi-matte surface. In favor wood finishing Concrete stairs can be given the following arguments:

• warm steps will make you feel comfortable, even if you walk barefoot;
• low weight of wood;
• respectable appearance;
• Possibility of using absolutely any configuration for stairs.

Flaws:

• it is necessary to carefully level the concrete base;
• high cost of wood itself and finishing work.

The tiled staircase looks very nice. This material is good to use for entrance stairs, as the tiles are highly resistant to various external factors. Advantages of tiles:

• not afraid of frost, temperature changes, bright sun, precipitation and exposure to aggressive substances;
• very wide range floor tiles, allowing you to choose the color, size and texture of the surface;
• ensures long service life of tiles without loss of visual appeal.

Flaws:

• tiling requires a lot of experience, because in most cases it requires not just laying a whole tile, but its careful cutting and adjustment;
• penchant for mechanical damage when heavy objects fall onto the surface.

Concrete stairs are a common and reliable design, the disadvantage of which is its terrible appearance. It is possible to save the interior of the house from the concrete monster by decorating the concrete steps. Wood finishing allows you to hide all the unevenness, make your step more pleasant and soft, while decorating the interior of the house.

This cladding technique is one of the most labor-intensive and complex processes, as it requires a lot of time and materials.

Finishing a concrete staircase with wood with your own hands is a task that is solvable and feasible, provided that the main stages of the work described below are correctly completed.

Preparatory work

• Clear the stairs of debris.
• Take measurements of the steps, noting all the obtained dimensions on the sketch. The requirements of the regulatory documentation speak of the mandatory observance of a uniform step between steps and maintaining all steps at the same size.

Note! A prerequisite for laying wooden boards on concrete is a leveled step.

• In order to subsequently level the surface, it is necessary to calculate the difference between the measurements. Determining the greatest difference between the heights of the steps is necessary to align the step along the entire staircase. It is to this difference that the steps of the entire structure will be adjusted.
• Leveling is carried out using concrete pouring; in cases where the difference exceeds 9mm, it is necessary to perform plywood formwork and additional reinforcement. Before pouring the mixture, the step must be primed. The fill must dry.

• After the fill has dried, the surface must be primed.

There are several ways to prepare the surface for laying boards:

I. Laying waterproofing, followed by installation of boards.

• Plywood will be used as a waterproofing material. Sheets must be carefully measured and cut. The cut sheets of plywood serve as a template for the finishing wooden step. Plywood with a thickness of 10÷15 mm is used.

Measurements must be taken of the steps and risers themselves.

• Apply a special adhesive mastic on top of the primed base and install plywood sheets, leveling them.
• Secure the sheets using dowels. Install two dowels on each side of the step.

II. Laying wooden logs. This method is not suitable for every master. Requires good experience, skill and accuracy. All work must be performed with constant monitoring of horizontal and vertical levels. Differences in the surface are leveled with compensation bars or chips.

Installation of wood flooring

Materials:

• A board with a thickness of 40mm is used. Since the steps will be constantly subjected to mechanical loads, preferably as source material use durum varieties tree.
• Platbands installed at the end of the stairs along the wall.
• Fencing and railings.

Installation wooden covering is performed in several stages:

I.Trying on wooden steps. The steps are laid and adjusted to size. If desired, you can round the sharp edges of the steps for a more comfortable climb.

II.After fitting, all material is sent for processing:

• The boards must be carefully sanded with a special grinder using sandpaper of various grain sizes.
• After sanding, it is necessary to apply a layer of protective impregnation.

Application can be done with a brush, a special sprayer or sponge. The main task of impregnation is to penetrate the wood and protect it by forming protective film on a surface.

• After impregnation, it is necessary to apply a primer and paint or varnish. When choosing coloring material, you need to pay attention to the composition and scope of application. For the floor, it is recommended to use paints, varnishes or enamels with a stable structure that form a reliable film that protects the wood from scratches and water. It is necessary to apply at least 2 layers.
• The painted material must be thoroughly dried.

III.Before installation wooden board Apply an adhesive composition to the plywood; the most effective would be to use “liquid nails.” An adhesive and sealant are also applied to the joists.

IV.Then install the first riser, securing it securely to the floor with studs or bolts. Having previously noted in concrete floor, where the bolts are installed, drill a hole and fill in the resin in which the bolt will be fixed.

V.Next are the boards, steps, and so on. In the board that is installed on top of the step, make a groove for the riser. Secure the risers to the surface of the step using self-tapping screws.

VI.Install the railings.

Important! Work is carried out from the bottom stage to the top.

Learn more about how to decorate a concrete staircase with wood with your own hands in the video:

Covering a concrete staircase with wood is not an easy, but completely justifiable task, which will not only decorate the interior of the house, but also gain many useful skills in working with wood.

Spiral, marching, half-turn or extension staircases are often cast from concrete. High-quality steel reinforcement and high grades of concrete ensure the strength characteristics of the product. Thanks to reinforced concrete, the structure is not affected by moisture content in the air or various atmospheric influences. But the appearance of concrete stairs is not aesthetic, so additional measures are carried out Finishing work. As facing material choose natural wood.

Common mistakes when working

Many people believe that pouring concrete is the most expensive process when arranging a flight of stairs. However, using wood trim is even more expensive. Flaws in cladding masonry technology can increase costs. To avoid this, you should familiarize yourself with the main mistakes made when arranging cladding materials on concrete stairs:

1. You cannot lay solid wood directly on it, as this will shorten the service life of the cladding.
2. Minimum thickness wooden shields- 3 cm. It’s not worth saving - it will reduce strength.
3. Before finishing finishing, the surface must be leveled and veneered.
4. In order not to lose aesthetics in the appearance of the staircase, the wood does not need to be painted.
5. Before covering the stairs with wood, it must be cleaned of dust and debris. This will increase the adhesion of the adhesive layer between the concrete and the finish.
6. To hold the plywood more firmly, it is recommended to use not only glue, but also fastening dowels.
7. You should not skimp on varnish. It must be moisture resistant. You need at least three layers of varnish with drying between each ball.

How to choose wood for finishing?

Concrete spiral staircase finished in oak - a favorite finish.

Wooden stairs on a concrete base must be durable and have an aesthetic appearance. The choice of wood material can be made according to grade, shade and economic considerations. Today we offer regular and exotic species. The most common are four varieties. But others also use:

1. Oak is considered a favorite. Features of the material: strength, interesting texture, pleasant shade and pattern, accessibility. Oak is chosen to provide a respectable appearance. Oak stairs will last a long time without losing their appearance.
2. Beech has a homogeneous structure, high quality, a pleasant shade and a more affordable price than the first position.
3. Larch is the most affordable and popular material. At the same time, the quality and reliability of products made from this wood are as high as those of oak.
4. Ash has the highest strength among the listed varieties. Him beautiful drawing, wide choose shades from dark to light.
5. Elite wood species are distinguished by higher cost, but also good strength characteristics. These include wenge, badi, dussie, yaroko, jatobo.
6. It is possible to finish the concrete staircase with a cheaper material, such as linden or pine. These varieties are different light colors, which can visually reduce the bulkiness of the structure. However, they are significantly inferior in strength indicators, therefore, such a finish will last less and will quickly lose its attractive appearance.

When choosing wood finishing material You should pay attention to the main characteristics, not the cost. It is important to consider operational requirements, presented to a flight of stairs. Another, no less important, selection criterion is the degree of drying of the wood plywood. Its optimal value is 8%. There must be no defects such as:

• cracks;
• knotiness;
• pigmentation;
• voids and holes.

Calculations

To determine the quantity required material To arrange a concrete-based staircase, it is necessary to carry out calculations. To do this you will need the following parameters:

• dimensions of one step: thickness, width, depth;
• dimensions of risers;
• number of steps and risers.

To design step overlays, you need to use wood material up to 1.5 cm thick. Protrusions can be compensated for by roundings and overhangs. To arrange risers, more than thin plywood, since the load in this zone is minimal.

It is convenient to walk on the steps if the step width is 60-65 cm. The step can be increased by overhanging the material in the finishing. The overall width of the stairs must be sufficient for stable movement. Due to reinforcement, it becomes possible to expand the flight of stairs without loss of stability.

Installation procedure

Finishing a concrete staircase with wood starts from the bottom.

Installation of facing wooden material on a concrete staircase - a labor-intensive process:

1. Preparation. The height of each step is measured, then leveled to the highest one. For this purpose, self-leveling floor mixtures are used. If the difference in height is insignificant, a thin layer of the mixture smooths out unevenness in the concrete. If there is a high variation in the size of the steps, plywood formwork is made to the required height. It is attached to dowels.
2. Primer. After leveling, the surface is cleared of debris and dust. Then a layer of primer is applied, which increases adhesion between finishing materials. The mixture should be applied after the primer has completely dried.
3. Waterproofing. In order to protect it from moisture, plywood sheets 10-15 cm thick are attached to the concrete. This layer is treated with a primer.
4. Wood cladding. steps from natural wood you can do it yourself, pick it up finished goods, order individual uniform. For fastening, three bolts with a diameter of 0.6 cm are used. They are screwed into the lower part of the riser so that their heads protrude slightly. Then the caps are cut off, and the risers are aligned with the steps. Holes are drilled along the marks made, then filled epoxy resin. Liquid nails are applied to the plywood, and the cladding is attached on top. Holes are made in the abutting riser for attachment to the second riser. The next plywood layer and holes are treated with glue. At this stage on concrete base the first wooden step is laid. You can measure the correctness of the masonry building level. This is how the entire staircase is finished.

If, after facing work, gaps have formed between one step and the second, as well as on the sides, they are treated with putty or foam.

The concrete staircase is durable and durable product, however, her appearance can hardly be called attractive. Of course, if such a structure is located outside the residential premises, then this is not critical, but if it is located in the house, then it must be finished. There are quite a lot of options for how to do this - finishing a concrete staircase with laminate, wood, carpet, etc.

Finish options

Today there is a large selection building materials, which can be used to design concrete staircase structures. Therefore, after installing the product, the owners are primarily interested in how to finish the concrete staircase in the house?

Here are the most popular options:

• Laminate;
• Tile or natural stone;
• Wood;
• Carpet covering;
• Painting.

Now let's take a closer look at the features of each material.

Laminate

Laminate is a rather interesting alternative to wood. Its main advantage is its low price and attractive appearance, imitating natural wood. Therefore, it is very popular when covering staircase structures.

Its disadvantages include the fact that the small area of ​​the steps does not allow installation in a floating manner without disrupting the technology. At the same time, the thickness of laminate panels is not enough for fastening in a manner similar to wood. In addition, the laminate has smooth surface, so walking on such stairs can be slippery.

Tile or stone

Tile, stone, mosaic, granite or marble - all these finishing options performance characteristics They are similar to each other, so the choice is up to you. The differences between them will be in cost and appearance of the finish.

When giving preference to one of the above options, you should keep in mind that the structure may turn out to be quite slippery.

Separately, it should be said about such a material as clinker tiles, which are produced specifically for finishing stairs. It even has rounded edges, especially for risers. This finishing option is reliable, durable, and at the same time quite safe.

It should also be noted that clinker tiles have a very attractive appearance. Therefore, the staircase, finished In a similar way, will look quite presentable.

Tree

Perhaps the most popular design option for concrete stairs is wood trim. This cladding looks attractive, brings comfort to the interior and can last a long time if you follow certain rules of operation and maintenance of the structure.

In the photo - carpet finishing

Carpet covering

Carpeting has a number of advantages, in particular, such a staircase is absolutely silent. In addition, installing the coating is not difficult to do yourself. The material is usually secured with wooden or plastic baseboards, as well as brass rods that are fixed in the treads.

The only drawback is the difficulty of caring for carpet, as it is difficult to clean compared to other coverings.

Note!
Before finishing concrete structure needs to be dried well.
This may take two to three months.

Dye

If the presentability of the staircase does not play a special role, for example, if the structure leads to the basement, then painting is an excellent finishing option. It will not take much time and effort, but at the same time it will protect the concrete from negative impact environment, and will also make the product more attractive.

Decorating the stairs with wood

As an example, let's look at how to trim a concrete staircase with wood, since this option is one of the most common and at the same time complex. Of course, you should start with the choice of material.

The most durable and suitable varieties wood are:

• Larch.

However, this wood is the most expensive, so if you can’t afford it, then you can easily use cheaper pine.

So, the sheathing instructions look like this:

• First of all, you need to make sure that all the steps are the same height. If this indicator is different, then the deficiency must be eliminated, otherwise the stairs will be unsafe. You can level the height of the steps using a self-leveling mixture.
• The next step is to install the plywood, which will serve as a moisture-proofing layer. Thickness plywood sheets should be at least 10-15 mm.
  In accordance with the size of the treads, blanks should be cut out of plywood and secured with dowels and adhesive mastic. In this case, it is necessary to check the position of the panels with a level.
  Next, steps and risers are made. You can make them yourself or order them from a workshop. In any case, you must first make a template that will allow you to accurately produce steps of the required size.
• Finishing concrete stairs starts from the bottom. First of all, a wooden riser is installed. To do this, bolts are screwed into its lower end so that they protrude from it, after which their heads are cut off.
• Then the locations of the riser bolts are marked in the concrete and holes are drilled for them, which are subsequently filled with epoxy glue.
• Next, a groove is cut into the tread for the riser to rest against it..
• Before installing the step, the second riser is attached to it with self-tapping screws.
• Then the plywood is coated with " liquid nails"and the stage is set.Its position must be checked with a level and, if necessary, adjusted.
• All other steps are mounted in the same way..
• Next is the installation. This procedure depends on their design. Most often, balusters are secured using anchor bolts.
• The final step is to install side panels that will hide the gaps between. Installation of panels is carried out using self-tapping screws

Advice!
Before finishing the stairs, you may need to mechanical restoration, especially if the filling was done carelessly.
In this case, a tool with diamond attachments is used; in particular, it may be necessary to cut reinforced concrete with diamond wheels or diamond drilling holes in concrete.

This completes the casing of the stairs.

Conclusion

The choice of type of finishing depends primarily on the personal preferences and financial capabilities of the owners. In addition, it is desirable that the cladding be practical.

As for installation, as we found out, even such a relatively complex procedure as covering a structure with wood can be done independently. True, for this you need to have some experience working with wood.

You can get more information on this topic from the video in this article.