Like most parts of your home, your stairs will gradually wear out with time. Sometimes they may require a total replacement, but more often than not, they will merely need to be refinished. As they are sitting in your basement area, they are more susceptible to moisture than the rest of your house, so that rot can set in. It is important that you decide if they do need replacing, as there will be added expense if you refinish them, only to find out several months later you should have replaced them in the first instance. Before proceeding with finishing your basement steps, it is recommended that you read our guide on the best options available to you.

Painting And Staining

If you have just renovated your basement or are merely looking to refinish your stairs, you should note that some homeowners don’t like to cover their stairs up, preferring their natural look. If this is you, then you might think about painting or staining them. Not only is this extremely affordable, but it also can look superb if done correctly. If you choose to stain them, then make sure that you have sanded them down properly, so that when you stain them the results will look good and the effect will last for a while. If you feel that painting your steps is the better-looking option for your home, then make sure that you use a latex floor paint. This style of paint is very durable and will last for a considerable amount of time, but of course, it will wear down eventually. You merely top it up with another lick of paint to make it look good again. One more benefit over stain is that there are plenty of colors available if you are painting, while stain only has so many. Of course, if you paint over the wooden stairs you will lose the sight of the natural grain in the wood. If you want to retain the natural look, then stain is the way to go.

Carpet

Many homeowners like the look and feel of carpet on their stairs. It not only makes them look new, but it also makes the stairs far easier to walk on. However, with the problem of damp and moisture in certain basements, you will find that carpet will retain any moisture and become moldy. You don’t really want your pristine cream-colored carpet spotted with mold, so really think this option through.

Carpet Runner

Instead of going the whole hog and laying down a mass of carpet, a carpet runner may solve your refinishing issue. Carpet runner is merely a thinner carpet that is stapled in place. This can be a viable cheaper option to full carpeted stairs, and when coupled with the rest of the step being stained in varnish, they can look good.

Vinyl

Some homeowners are now using vinyl to refinish their staircases, and this is a good option as it is resilient to damp and mold while being easy to clean. Vinyl flooring merely requires metal strips to hold it down and is easy to replace. It is also a cheaper option that full carpeting or expensive varnishing and staining. If you decide that none of these options are viable due to rot and dampness, you should look at replacing your basement stairs.