Can You Use Vinyl on Staircases?

Use of Untextured Vinyl

• The use of vinyl as a finishing process is forgiving of substrates; unlike paint or varnish, vinyl can be used over particle board and other low-end materials. However, using untextured vinyl on stairs is strongly discouraged. Material such as linoleum is smooth and, to facilitate cleaning, becomes very slippery when wet. Slippery stair treads are extremely dangerous.

Stair Tread Material

• Proprietary stair treads material is manufactured from vinyl for the express purpose of use on stairs. Vinyl stair treads are made with many tiny ribs molded into the upper surface; the ribs run lengthways from one side of the stair to the other, opposite to both upward and downward directions of travel. This layout gives traction and is very resistant to skidding. Stair treads are manufactured in numerous colors and patterns, so matching or contrasting the decor of the stairwell is easy.

Maintenance of Vinyl Stair Treads

• Loose material on stairs is dangerous. If stair treads are glued into place -- as is normal -- they must be inspected periodically to ensure the adhesive remains strong and that corners are not starting to lift. Glue that is not resistant to extremes of temperature is particularly susceptible to disintegration during hot summer weather.

  Waxing, the normal method of preventing color fade and loss of sheen in vinyl, is strongly discouraged on stairs.

Where Vinyl Stair Treads May Not Be Appropriate

• Because the heavy-duty adhesive recommended for vinyl stair treads is extremely difficult to remove, considerable forethought should be given to fitting them onto stairs made from solid wood. It may prove difficult -- if not impossible -- to clean the glue off at a later date. Even if the glue can be removed with chemicals, those same chemicals could cause irreversible damage to the treatments originally used to best present the solid wood. At best, a great deal of sanding and retreating will be required to bring the stairs back to their original state.