Reliable monolithic staircase - an ideal solution for a private cottage

Modern cottages are built from various block materials, and internal stairs and porch steps are increasingly made using cement mortar. The specificity of concrete is that such structures require external protection.

Finishing a monolithic staircase not only performs a decorative function, but also strengthens it and increases its service life. It is important to take into account that monolithic entrance stairs for a house require different qualities from the finishing material than the steps of internal interfloor transitions.

Below we will look at the specifics of the most popular finishing materials, we will consider the advantages of individual cladding methods and describe the main points of do-it-yourself materials laying technologies.

Why is it the most in a cottage? good choice devices for interfloor passage or entrance group? Any steps are an area of ​​increased injury. In addition, the staircase, being a connecting link between floors, serves to enhance the strength of the building as a whole.

Monolithic structures with internal steel reinforcement fully meet increased requirements to physical and mechanical stress.

Advantages of monolithic steps

Let's take a closer look at the advantages of the monolith. As already mentioned, a monolithic staircase in a private house enhances the strength of the entire building.

But the advantages of a concrete staircase are not limited to this:

• Subject to construction technology concrete structure has a maximum service life compared to other materials.
• This material is absolutely non-flammable, which means it reduces the risk of fire.
• The plasticity of concrete allows you to create flights of stairs of complex geometric shapes.
• The reinforcing frame inside the monolith significantly strengthens it, allowing the structure to operate even under high loads and difficult climatic conditions.
• Concrete steps do not creak or bend.
• Cement-based mortar is compatible with almost any type of facing material.

The latter quality is most relevant in private development. Often, at the beginning of construction, cottage owners are not sure in what style they want to decorate the interior. The monolith allows you to work in all design styles and directions.

The need for decoration

If concrete is not treated properly, it will begin to delaminate and deteriorate over time. Untreated concrete quickly loses its strength qualities, which is due to its porous structure: unprotected concrete perfectly absorbs any liquid.

The danger of destroying a monolith also lies in the fact that the process occurs quite unnoticed, and the consequences will become visible at a very late stage. Besides, grey colour cement can hardly be called visually attractive.

So finishing monolithic stairs with decorative material performs several functions at once:

1. aesthetic- improves appearance steps, fitting the design into the interior;
2. protective- becoming a barrier between the porous structure of concrete and possible environmental influences;
3. practical— significantly increases the service life of the structure and reduces the level of costs for repair work.

Criteria for choosing finishing material

The cladding of a monolithic staircase must perform serious practical functions, so the choice decorative material should be approached thoughtfully.

In addition to the wishes of the home owners regarding style, there are several important indicators that must be taken into account when giving preference to one or another finishing method:

• Location of the structure. Internal and external stairs differ little in cladding technology, but have different requirements for the strength of the material and its frost resistance.
• Shape of steps. The healing steps will require certain skills in working with solid materials. In addition, when choosing a material with a geometric pattern for cladding round or winder steps, be prepared for the fact that you will end up with a large percentage of waste.
• Safety. The staircase is a high-risk area for injury, so the finishing material should be selected with an anti-slip coating or special pads should be used.
• Soundproofing. Any finishing material enhances or reduces the noise level. For internal steps, it is better to choose a sound-muffling finish: wood, laminate or. Tiles and natural stone, in turn, significantly enhance sound, so they are more suitable for areas that are located away from residents’ recreation areas.

Current materials for cladding steps

A monolithic staircase in a house can be decorated with any type of material.

In practice, cladding is most often performed in several ways:

• natural stone, often granite or marble;
• tiles with increased wear resistance, including porcelain stoneware;
• construction board of various types of wood;
• wear-resistant paint;
• linoleum and carpet.

At the same time, very often, when finishing stairs, materials are combined. For treads, a durable and abrasion-resistant material is selected.

While such requirements are not imposed on the material of the risers. Let's take a closer look at the pros and cons of each method of finishing a staircase for a monolithic house.

Natural stone

Monolithic entrance stairs are most often lined with natural stone. This finishing method is very practical and has a long service life.

In addition, stone finishing has the following advantages:

• Easy to care and maintain. The stone is very easy to clean, but practically does not absorb dirt.
• This type of cladding is absolutely environmentally friendly and does not emit any harmful substances.
• Marble and granite go well with other materials. They look great with metal or wood railings. This allows you to implement interesting architectural solutions.
• Natural aesthetics. Natural stone has a unique texture and a rich color palette.

Monolithic stairs finished with natural stone immediately declare the status of the owners: marble or granite have a high price and are an excellent financial investment in real estate.

Some cons

No material is perfect, and natural stone is no exception. We have already mentioned that the price for this type of finishing is far from economical. This is not a whim of traders, since mining costs natural stone and its transportation are quite significant.

In addition, you will have to spend money on paying for cladding work. Working with stone requires specialists to have serious construction skills, and it is quite difficult to do it yourself. A cutting mistake can be quite costly.

Another disadvantage of the stone follows from its dignity. This staircase looks quite massive. For narrow interfloor passages, marble or borders are not suitable. Nature loves scale. Stone cladding looks best on wide entrance stairs or flights located in spacious halls.

On a note! You can somewhat soften the heaviness of a stone staircase by installing forged metal railings on it.

Tile or porcelain stoneware

If tiles are chosen for finishing the stairs in a monolithic building, then it is necessary to take into account the specifics of this material. Here the difficulty will lie in the fact that the design of the steps has many mating multidirectional surfaces, and the material itself has very specific dimensions and geometry. Additional problems are created by the small area of ​​the surfaces to be finished.

In order for the tiling to serve for a long time, a monolithic surface should be prepared. To do this, it is necessary to align the horizontal and vertical levels of the treads and risers.

This work can be done in several ways:

• A fresh monolith can be polished well. This way you can eliminate minor deviations in the level.
• Minor differences can be eliminated by thinly pouring self-leveling mixtures into the formwork.
• Defects and cracks can be easily eliminated with special mixtures for concrete screed. Such compositions have some elasticity even after drying.

Important! Before starting work on the steps, it is necessary to treat the concrete with a deep penetration primer. The type of primer should be selected based on the location of the stairs.

Tile or porcelain tiles have a fairly long service life, so when choosing a material, keep in mind that you will have to look at this staircase for many years.

Professionals advise:

• Give preference to plain, dim material with a simple texture. Such tiles will allow you to change the style of your interior without spending money on major renovations.
• You should not choose glossy tiles for steps. When in contact with shoes, the top layer will wear away, and over time the tile will look dirty.
• It is important to choose tiles with a high wear resistance coefficient.
• If a porch is being prepared for cladding, then the tiles must be frost-resistant.

Concrete flights, from which stairs are most often built, are characterized by increased strength and a very long service life. A significant reinforcement is the metal reinforcement inside the structures. Concrete does not crack, does not crumble, and is indifferent to moisture and atmospheric influences.

Two types of stairs are considered the most relevant - prefabricated, assembled from pre-cast fragments, and monolithic, which are made on site. Railings, fences and final finishing give the building a complete and presentable look.

There are many types of finishes - carpet, tiles, stone, wood. Wood looks very impressive, especially if the material is made of valuable species. Oak, larch, ash, beech are the most suitable varieties for these purposes.

The most common mistakes

1. Most people assume that the most expensive part of the job is the pouring. However, cladding a concrete staircase with wood will cost the most.

1. Do not fix solid wood directly to the steps. This finish won't last long.
2. Do not skimp on the thickness of the finishing material. Shields must be 30 mm and higher.
3. Before final cladding, it is necessary to level the surface and make veneer.
4. It is undesirable to use paint that completely hides the structure of the wood.. You will lose a lot in the appearance of the steps.
5. Before covering a concrete staircase with wood, be sure to thoroughly clean it of debris and dust, otherwise the adhesion to the glue will not be strong.
6. In addition to glue, be sure to use additional fasteners with dowels. Only in this case will the plywood hold firmly.
7. Do not skimp on varnish, buy a moisture-resistant analogue, and the steps should be coated at least three times with drying.

Often they refinish not just a newly built staircase, but an old one.

Note! Restoration work is undoubtedly a more labor-intensive process, but it will bring the expected effect, the steps will look like new. Doing it yourself is not as difficult as it might seem at first. First you need to prepare all the necessary tools.

Finishing work

First of all, you will need to take care of the availability of tools.

Tools

1. Electric drill.
2. Hammer.
3. Electric jigsaw.
4. Hacksaw.
5. Plumb and level.
6. Grinding machine.
7. Milling machine.
8. Screwdriver.

Of course, it is worth purchasing in advance the material that suits you, as well as plywood for the substrate, cement and sand for leveling the surface, glue, dowels with screws, as well as topcoat varnish or paint.

Installation procedure

1. Clean the steps from dust, dilute a solution of sand and cement. It is better to use the M150 brand.
2. Glue the steps by diluting a liquid mixture of PVA glue and sand. Allow the layer to dry for at least 3/5 hours.
3. Using a spatula, smooth out all cracks, potholes and uneven areas, filling everything with concrete mixture.
4. To make the staircase look like a single unit with the wall, mount narrow strips of 10 mm thick veneered plywood at the bottom.
5. While the solution dries, pay attention to the risers and treads. To make wood lining of a concrete staircase durable, use hardwood. The standard width for treads is 27/32 cm, and risers are 15/18 cm. Depending on the characteristics of the flight of stairs, manufacture and install these elements.

1. Using self-tapping screws, attach the risers and treads as follows. Make a groove in advance with a router, then attach the riser to the tread with the bottom edge flush to the bottom. Drive the top edge of the tread into the groove from the back. It is convenient to make the groove 2.5 cm wide and 1.4 cm deep.
2. You will speed up the process if you assemble several risers with treads into a single structure. Use a metal corner, attaching it to the side of the tread.
3. It would be a good idea to make additional insulation. Polyethylene foam 3 mm thick is perfect for this. It will protect concrete and wood from harmful influences and create additional sound insulation. The steps will be almost inaudible.
4. The cladding of concrete stairs with wood begins from the bottom riser. Each workpiece is marked and then holes are drilled, two on each side. Each subsequent part is installed in the groove made, and its even position is controlled.
5. It is not recommended to screw the screws in completely until the entire structure is installed. Only after finally checking the quality of the assembly can you screw in the screws all the way.
6. At the very end, the last riser is installed. You can use metal corner or a board.

1. Next, you can begin finishing the railings, if planned. Finishing a concrete staircase with wood from prestigious species implies a harmonious combination, where the fencing is also decorated with the same type. The easiest thing is the installation of straight sections, and the most painstaking is the design of “snails”, turns and kinks in the line.
2. Turns are made by sawing sections at certain angles, gluing them together and screwing them to the base with screws. To ensure an even cut, it is better to use a hacksaw with fine teeth. At the end of the work, the joints are puttied and then carefully sanded. The color of the putty is matched to the color of the wood.
3. The final stage is sanding the steps and varnishing.

Note! Buy a special varnish and carefully read what the instructions for its use recommend. It is advisable to cover in three layers, with intermediate drying.

Try to choose a varnish that favorably emphasizes the structure of the wood. This will give the staircase additional attractiveness and impressive appearance.

What type of wood to choose

Modern wooden stairs on a concrete base must meet all requirements not only from an aesthetic, but also from a practical point of view. Each owner is free to choose the color, shade and type of wood according to his taste and capabilities.

Quite rare, even exotic breeds trees brought from afar.

But it’s not difficult to choose good-quality, beautiful and practical wood in your region.

1. Oak. It can be called a favorite among finishing materials. It is affordable, incredibly durable, has pleasant shades and a pronounced pattern on the surface. Anyone who wants to get a respectable look for their staircase and long, impeccable service will choose it.
2. Larch. There will be no problems purchasing it, and the price will pleasantly surprise you, because it is almost two times cheaper than oak, however, it is not inferior to it in quality and appearance. Durable and reliable material that will last a surprisingly long time.
3. Ash. It is also cheaper than oak, but at the same time even stronger. Beautiful pattern on the surface, pleasant range of colors with variations in shades in the dark and light side. Given the availability of ash, you will not have problems choosing it.
4. Beech. Another worthy contender in the line of leading materials. Uniform structure, pleasant color, affordable cost and high quality indicators.

Note! If you are attracted to wood with beautiful color and texture, but soft structure, refuse to purchase. Linden, pine and similar materials are easy to process, but do not last long. Such a wooden staircase on a concrete base will be inexpensive, but will quickly lose its attractive appearance and lose its functions.

1. Pay attention to compliance color range floor and steps. One should be combined with the other, both in shade and style.
2. The strength of the staircase should not be inferior to the flooring. The ideal solution would be to use the same type of wood in both cases.
3. The thickness of the finish should be at least 3 cm; if it is thinner, the coating will not last long.
4. The final finishing of concrete stairs with wood should be done only after the surface has been completely leveled and cleaned.
5. The gap between the handrails and the marches is about 15 cm, however, you should not make it less than 7.5 cm, this is the construction limit. According to fire safety regulations, a gap of smaller width is unacceptable, since a fire hose must pass through it.
6. You should not build steps with different heights. It is very difficult to level such a structure, and the use of adhesives and putties for these purposes is not recommended. Deviations in riser and tread heights of up to 1 cm are considered acceptable. To level the heights, it is advisable to use concrete mixtures with additional reinforcement of steps.
7. Even beautiful wooden stairs on low-quality concrete will not last long. The cement will begin to deteriorate under the coating, which will render the entire structure unusable.

1. Stairs trimmed with wood look very nice combined with wrought iron railings, as well as glass and chrome elements. It is advisable to make the crossbars, balusters, steps and railings in the same style and color.
2. It is advisable to carry out finishing work after the main repairs have been completed. In general, covering concrete stairs with wood will not create a lot of dirt; if the work is done correctly, there will be a minimum of debris.
3. If possible, use the services of specialists. At the very least, the designer’s advice will be of benefit to you; he will recommend a competent solution specifically for your interior. Involved workers with skills and necessary tools, will do the cladding much faster than non-professionals.

Conclusion

If you know how to properly cover a concrete staircase with wood, you will be able to decorate your interior yourself. But if you have the slightest uncertainty or busyness, do not take up the job; it is better to carve out some funds from your budget, and let competent specialists please you with the result.

In the video presented in this article you will find additional information on this topic.

Concrete stairs are strong, durable and reliable. They are not exposed to cold and moisture, and are fire resistant. Their only drawback is that they are not very attractive appearance. To fix it, the concrete stairs are finished.

Staircase cladding can be done with the following materials:

• tree;
• laminate;
• tiles (mosaic, porcelain tiles);
• natural stone (marble);

Most popular in residential buildings is wood paneling. Such a coating can last for decades, provided that all manufacturing standards are met.

But don’t think that finishing concrete stairs with wood is cheaper than making a product from scratch from solid wood. In practice, it is possible to save only on the thickness of the steps, which in this case You can make it a centimeter thinner. As a rule, the price of such cladding will be higher and much more time will be spent. This is explained by the fact that concrete steps cannot be made perfectly level and exactly the same, no matter how carefully the formwork is carried out. Therefore, facing steps is an extremely labor-intensive process, especially if you do everything yourself.

You also need to remember that the concrete staircase must dry well enough for at least three months, and preferably one heating season. If this requirement is not met, then over time the steps will deform and the concrete itself will begin to crumble.

If in the future the stairs will be finished with marble, wood or other material, then this must be taken into account at the design stage, which should be carried out with the expectation that the covering of the steps also has its own thickness.

A fairly common mistake when making concrete stairs is the lack of a gap between the flights. This creates additional difficulties when installing railings. The distance between marches must be at least 75 cm.

The formwork for a concrete staircase should be as precise as possible. The difference in the height of the steps should not exceed 9.5 mm, otherwise it will be very difficult to eliminate in the future. To make the surface as smooth as possible, moisture-resistant plywood with a smooth surface is used for formwork.

Compliance with these rules will make it easier for you to further work with a monolithic staircase built of concrete .

Cladding a concrete staircase with your own hands - step-by-step instructions

Finishing the steps - preparatory stage

As mentioned above, a perfectly level concrete staircase with exactly the same steps is a practically unattainable goal. Therefore, first all steps are measured and the highest one is selected. And then all the others are adjusted to its size using a self-leveling floor mixture.

If the difference is small, then the mixture is simply applied to the surface of the step. Even if they are all approximately the same in height, the surface of the concrete still needs to be leveled as much as possible.

If the difference in height is more than a centimeter, it is necessary to make formwork for the step from plywood 4 mm thick, which is secured with dowels so that its upper edge coincides with the required level.

Before pouring the leveling mixture, the steps must be cleared of debris and primed to improve adhesion. Only after the primer has dried is the filling done.

Cladding stair steps - laying plywood

After the surface has dried well, you can begin the second stage of lining the steps of the concrete staircase, which consists of attaching plywood. The plywood will act as a moisture-proofing layer and will not allow the wooden linings to gain excess moisture.

1. Prime the surface again and let the primer dry.
2. According to the size of the steps, we cut blanks from a sheet of plywood 10 - 15 mm thick.
3. We apply adhesive mastic to the surface of the concrete step, put plywood on top and secure it with a dowel. The plywood is laid out level.

Covering a concrete staircase with wood - solid wood steps

First of all, you need to do it yourself, or order the steps themselves from the workshop. For treads of complex shape, it is better to first prepare a template from plywood or thick cardboard, which will make it much easier later.

The actual finishing of the concrete staircase with wood begins from the bottom, as shown in the photo. We screw 3 bolts with a diameter of 6 mm into the lower end of the riser so that they protrude from it by about 6 - 8 cm. We cut off the caps and, aligning the wooden riser with the concrete one, mark the places in the floor where these bolts will go. We drill holes there of the appropriate diameter. We fill the holes with epoxy resin. We coat the plywood with glue, for which we use “liquid nails”, and install the facing board.

In the step, at the place where the riser will rest against it, we cut out a groove of the required depth. Using self-tapping screws, we attach the second riser to the step. We coat the surface of the plywood and the groove with glue and install the first step. We check its level and adjust it slightly if necessary. So we move up to the end of the stairs.

No matter how carefully you do the wood cladding, there will be a gap left on the side of the step. It can be sealed with polyurethane foam, which is subsequently masked with putty.

If the staircase is located near a wall, it is advisable to make a shoe (boot) from the same wood as the steps.

Finishing the stairs with laminate is an interesting alternative

Although laminate is popular floor covering, but it is not intended for covering stairs. The small area of ​​the step does not allow it to be laid in a floating manner in compliance with all the rules of technology. The thickness of the laminate board is too thin, so it is not possible to secure it in the same way as wood. In addition, the covering for the steps is too smooth, and the foot can slide on it.

However, finishing stairs with laminate is much cheaper than wood, so some craftsmen go for it.

Video: cladding stairs with laminate

The surface should be as leveled as possible and cleaned of debris and dust. For better adhesion to the concrete surface, the bottom layer of the laminate board is removed, which is also not very good. This is a stabilizing layer that protects against dampness coming from below and deformation.

Next, the surface is coated with glue and covered with a laminate cut to the size of the concrete steps. The end edges and the junction of the tread and riser are decorated with metal or plastic corners of the appropriate configuration.

Finishing concrete stairs with tiles

Ceramic steps for stairs

Often, to cover stairs they use ordinary floor tiles, which is categorically false. The problem is that stair steps experience increased loads, so tiles must be selected for hardness and abrasion resistance.

Tiles for facing steps must correspond to class 5-6 on the Mohs scale and have abrasion resistance that corresponds to category 5.

Covering the stairs with ordinary ceramics leads to the fact that individual vertical tiles fall off, unable to withstand the load, and those laid horizontally break off along the edge. Based on this, it is much more profitable to buy time-tested clinker steps for stairs.

Clinker tiles for steps

Ceramic clinker steps are tiles for stairs with an edge rounded to fit the riser. Only this option provides both safety, strength, and attractive appearance.

Clinker tiles are made in several ways, but the extrusion method is most often used. Using a special device - an extruder, a viscous clay-based mixture is squeezed out through a shaping hole, the configuration of which corresponds to the size of the product.

The production of clinker steps by pressing is not much different from the production of ordinary ceramic tiles and does not require additional explanation. Both technologies allow you to obtain high-quality facing material, but products obtained by extrusion are superior in their characteristics to “pressed” ceramics.

Advantages of extrusion clinker:

• products made using extrusion have a high material density and, as a result, resistance to temperature changes, which is extremely important in our climate zone;
• the technological process allows us to obtain models of the most complex shapes and use them in decorating stairs, cladding steps of irregular configuration, including round shapes;
• Extruded ceramics are known for their anti-slip surface. It has a relief or rough texture that prevents slipping. The exception is ceramic steps that imitate natural materials, for example, wood;
• the strength of such products is practically similar to porcelain stoneware. This determines the advantage of laying clinker steps in places with high traffic and other difficult operating conditions.

Cladding steps with ceramic tiles - how to lay them correctly

Laying clinker steps begins with preparatory stage, approximately the same as when working with wood. It is better to immediately adjust the size of the steps to the dimensions of the tile, otherwise it will have to be cut.

First remove the tiles from different packages and mix. Be sure to follow the seam width recommendations. To ensure smooth seam lines, lay the tiles, focusing on the direction of the grooves on the back side. Before you start installing clinker steps, compare the markings and color of the tiles indicated on the packaging.

Staircase cladding: 1 – laying edge tiles; 2 – horizontal; 3 – vertical tiles and sealing of joints.

First, horizontal elements are laid, starting from the top of the flight of stairs, then vertical ones. The corner of the step can be treated with a metal or plastic corner. When the tiles are laid, the seams are cleaned and filled with a special grout.

1). The vertical tile must extend beyond the ledge of the step;
2). For ideal water drainage, it is recommended to lay the tiles at a slope of 1-2%;
3). We recommend installing clinker steps taking into account an air gap of 3-4 mm.

Video: installation of clinker steps - laying tiles on the stairs

Cladding stairs with stone, mosaic, marble, granite or other coatings is no different from the methods described above. And it has no cardinal advantages. Therefore, let the choice of staircase finishing option be based only on your aesthetic preferences.

The cost of cladding a concrete staircase with wood starts from 150 thousand rubles and depends on the following parameters:

• Price for material for steps.
• Difficulties in manufacturing elements.
• Type and configuration of fencing.
• Costs for assembly and installation work.

The exact price of cladding a concrete staircase with wood is calculated by our specialists individually for each product after taking the necessary measurements, choosing the design of the structure and the material for the cladding by the customer.

Material	Price for 1 lift
Pine without knots category A	from 25,000 rub.
Larch Extra	from 34,000 rub.
Oak Extra	from 40,000 rub.
Ash Extra	from 37,000 rub.
Beech Extra	from 35,000 rub.

Choosing wood for finishing concrete stairs

Both coniferous and hardwood types of wood can be used for cladding concrete stairs. When choosing material for cladding, you should take into account your financial capabilities and operating conditions of the structure.

Steps made from inexpensive softwood - larch and pine - are perfect for finishing concrete stairs in country houses and in country houses seasonal accommodation. It is advisable to use elements made of hard wood (beech, oak and ash) for cladding structures installed in the main housing and subject to intensive use.

Choosing railings for stairs

The type, shape and configuration of the fence is selected depending on the operating conditions (indoors or outdoors) and design features stairs (straight, marching or spiral). In the company Master-Lestnits.rf you will find big choice fencing made of wood of various shapes, colors and methods of fastening. All components for the stairs can be selected separately, taking into account general design structure and surrounding interior. Production possible forged fences, railing from of stainless steel and exclusive products according to the customer’s sketch.

Painting and varnishing stairs

The staircase experiences various mechanical loads throughout its entire lifespan. Therefore, the wooden parts of the structure, which are especially susceptible to external influences, we paint or varnish from leading manufacturers - Akzo Nobel, Remmers, etc. The resulting film perfectly protects the wood from moisture, abrasion and minor damage.

We also use paints and varnishes in cases where it is necessary to give expressiveness to the natural texture of wood or to tint elements in different colors and shades. The cost of painting varies from 35,000 to 70,000 rubles, depending on the type of coating chosen and the size of the structure.

Stages of work on cladding concrete stairs with wood

The durability and aesthetic appeal of the staircase largely depends on the quality of the cladding. Therefore, our craftsmen carry out all work on staircase cladding strictly in accordance with time-tested technology. The following sequence of actions is observed:

• Preparatory work. The concrete base is usually unsuitable for cladding, so significant unevenness is first removed from the steps; in some cases, it is necessary to set up the formwork and pour in a self-leveling mixture. Using moisture-resistant plywood 10-12 mm thick, attached to the base with parquet glue and dowels, minor flaws and defects are eliminated, and the steps are given the correct geometric shape.
• Manufacturing of parts. Remove from the prepared base required dimensions, on the basis of which wooden elements are produced that exactly match the dimensions of the stairs. All parts are sanded, primed, painted or varnished.
• Facing. The manufactured elements are attached to concrete base using parquet glue. Fencing is installed - support posts, balusters and handrails. At the client's request, the necessary grooves and holes are made for the lighting elements of the steps.

Reinforced concrete is often used for the construction of stairs. It has excellent strength characteristics and a long service life. The only drawback is its unattractive appearance. In addition, during operation the surface wears out and dust is released. To protect against mechanical influences, the steps are covered with some kind of building material, for example, wood. It will not only protect them, but will also radically change the appearance of the interior.

Advantages of finishing concrete stairs with wood:

• aesthetic appearance;
• environmentally friendly and safe material;
• wide range of colors, breeds and shapes;
• noise reduction;
• long service life;
• concrete protection;
• hiding defects;
• warm and comfortable cover.

Disadvantages include the complex varnish processing process. You can do it yourself, but for this you will need to strictly follow the technology. Also, you will be able to make them yourself only if the diagram and design of the stairs are simple and do not have complex decorative elements.

Which wood is better to choose?

tree for concrete steps must be practical and aesthetic. Almost all breeds fall into this category, but in order for the structure to last longer, it is better to choose cladding made from durable material. The most suitable boards are made from oak, larch, beech and ash. More expensive types are also selected - wenge, rosewood, merbau and so on. They are selected depending on the interior of the room. Oak is often used for chalet style, while ash and beech give the room lightness.

Characteristics of the most popular trees used for finishing concrete surfaces:

1. Larch. It has almost the same strength as oak. It has a beautiful light texture. Compared to others, it is more resistant to water and does not rot, so larch is excellent for monolithic stairs in humid climatic zones. You can change its shade with your own hands and imitate more expensive breeds. But it is not recommended to use larch boards for cladding structures subject to heavy loads. If you decorate an office, then shoes may leave dents on it, especially from heels.

2. Oak. This wood is one of the most expensive; compared to larch, the cost differs by 2.5 times. But it is one of the most popular materials for cladding concrete stairs, as it has a beautiful appearance, excellent strength, resistance to rotting and a long service life. It also withstands minor mechanical damage. If a heavy object falls on it, no dents or cracks will appear on the surface. Over time it darkens, giving an even more noble appearance; if necessary, use stain and change the shade.

3. Ash. It is comparable in hardness and strength to oak. Has the best resistance to deformation. Concrete stairs finished with it will last as long as possible and will require a minimum amount of cosmetic repairs, besides, it has a rich color and rich texture. The shade will suit any interior.

4. Beech. Has an attractive appearance, long service life and a large number of colors Beech steps are somewhat inferior in appearance to oak, but the cost is much lower. The shade can be changed, including walnut or mahogany.

It is not recommended to use species such as linden and pine for concrete structures. They may have an affordable price and beautiful appearance, but their service life is extremely short. After just a couple of years, some steps may crack, sag and become unattractive. If it is worth taking them, then only for finishing stairs in country and country houses, which are not frequently visited.

The material for cladding is selected in such a way that its strength is not inferior to other building materials used in the room. It is best when one breed is used.

Finishing technology step by step

There are many ways to lay boards on steps. One of the simplest is to use polyurethane foam. It is distributed evenly throughout concrete surface, after which the wood is placed and pressed down with a heavy load. This method should be selected only for lightly loaded structures, for example, in small country houses, and when fastening cheap species.

Another option is with plumbing studs and chemical anchor. Holes are drilled in the concrete and a coating is applied to its surface. polyurethane foam. Make 4 holes in the wood and screw the pins into them. The previously made holes in the structure are filled with a chemical anchor and a step is inserted. Place a bag of cement or other heavy weight on top.

The thickness of the finishing boards must be at least 3 cm, otherwise they will be weak and quickly become unusable. It is necessary to do the cladding only after all construction work, since debris and dirt can damage the plane of the staircase, and it will lose its attractive appearance. During the installation of steps according to any scheme, it is necessary to constantly check their evenness with a building level. Even a slight slope can cause a person to fall due to slipping or tripping.

Step-by-step instruction:

• Before laying wood, concrete must be carefully prepared. The stairs are cleaned of dirt and dust, after which they are treated with a deep penetration primer and wait until it dries.
• Determine the highest level. Its height is accepted as optimal, and the rest are aligned according to it. Large differences from 1 cm are eliminated using cement-sand mortar. To ensure that the mixture is firmly fixed on the surface, a fiberglass mesh is embedded in it for reinforcement. If this is not done, the applied layer may fall off due to insufficient fastening. The dried concrete is again treated with a primer. It will increase the degree of adhesion with the adhesive.
• You cannot lay cladding on the bare surface of the stairs. You always need to add a layer. Plywood with a thickness of 1-1.5 cm is excellent for this purpose. It is glued with mastic and additionally secured with dowels. If nothing is laid, the wooden steps will quickly begin to creak and deform.
• As soon as the mastic has set, the plywood is treated with a primer and waited for it to dry. After this, they begin to install the boards using an adhesive (liquid nails). No underlay is used for risers, as they are not subject to loads.

They begin to trim from the very bottom and move upward. The risers are installed using grooves made in them, which are also coated with glue. If fasteners are used somewhere, then they must be recessed into the wood and covered on top with special caps that match the color. At the end, the stairs are covered with stain or varnish.

The prices for finishing steps with wood depend on the size of the structure, species and thickness of the boards. Beech, ash, maple and oak will cost 20-70% more than pine, spruce or fir, as they are stronger and more durable, and are also more difficult to process. The grade also influences it; small-grade wood is cheaper, but this means that it contains knots and other minor defects, due to which the step may subsequently break.

The cost also varies depending on the form. This factor should be taken into account at the design stage. Straight structures are cheaper to clad than round ones. Prices increase with the addition of decorative elements, such as carvings. The quality of the varnish coating also affects prices. Its price starts from 15,000 rubles or more, it all depends on the wishes of the customer.

To make a simple staircase from pine, you will have to pay from 3,000 rubles for one step, from beech - 5,500, from ash - 7,000. A U-shaped one from oak will cost 280,000 rubles, from ash - 180,000, from pine - 140,000. This cost includes fencing and 3D visualization.

If you need to reduce the cost of cladding concrete flights with wood, then to decorate risers with your own hands, use cheaper wood species, for example, pine. So that it does not stand out relative to the steps, the boards are treated with a stain that matches the color. The same is done with other elements (handrails, stringers).

It is not necessary to completely cover a staircase made of concrete with wood. You can install boards only on the steps themselves, and finish the remaining elements with another material, the main thing is that it matches the style of the room (walls, floors and furniture).