News — wood stairs

This Year's Best Staircase Trends

Every year new trends emerge in the stair parts marketplace. It usually takes a few years for them to pick up steam, but once they do, you'll see it in stair remodels everywhere. Whether you prefer a classic stair design or a more modern staircase, the trends of of the year have a unique combination of the two.

Unique Iron Balusters

Iron balusters have been trending for years, but these unique designs have started to show up in stair parts shops all over the country. You can now find iron balusters with geometric shapes, arches, and various other lovely designs.

Dark Treads

Wood stairs are as classic as you can get, so it's not surprising that a new spin on this classic preference has come to the light. Designers are beginning to use darker stains and woods to give treads a striking elegance.

Natural, Eco-Friendly Wood Stairs

Going green seems to be the trendy thing to do in 2016, and staircase design is no exception. Designers have started to source wood stairs that are free of chemicals from local distributors for a more eco-friendly approach.

Minimal Staircases

The Tiny Home Movement has sparked the consumer's desire for less in their homes. And with less square footage, the more minimal the staircase, the better. Spiral staircases, staircases with stair railings, and other variations are very trendy right now.

How to Make Your Wood Stairs Less Slippery

Everyone loves a classic, wooden staircase. Not only do wood stairs give a timeless look to a stair remodel, but they're easy to keep clean. Unfortunately, installing wood treads can come at a price: a slippery staircase. The good news is that there are things you can do to prevent this from being the case.

The first option for slippery wood stairs is carpeting. 

Runners are good for adding a bit of luxury to any staircase, but keep in mind that if your treads are narrow, the carpeting might end up causing an even bigger hazard. Unsupported carpet at the edge of each tread could cause someone to slip. If this is the case on your wood stairs, you can also buy individual carpeting for each stair.

A coat of anti-slip paint is also an option.

You probably had no idea that you could add a layer of non-slip paint to each tread to prevent slips. This kind of paint can be found in hardware stores or online. It can be purchased in a variety of colors or as a clear coat, whichever you prefer for your staircase.

You can install a No-Slip strip.

There are a variety of adhesive strips that you can apply to your staircase to make it less slippery. The No-Slip Strip is a great option that's easy to install. They're comfortable on your feet and durable so that they can last for years to come.

Before you decide on any of the options above, be sure to check the level on each of your individual treads to make sure that none of them are slanting forward. This is a common issue that causes wood stairs to be more slippery, so if your stairs are slanting forward, you might have to consider installing new ones. You can find stair parts and everything you need for a stair remodel or project on our website. Be sure and connect with us on Google Plus.

How to Keep Your Staircase Clean for the Holiday Season

The holiday season is upon us, and we find ourselves asking where has this year gone? Whether you're ready for the holidays or not, we are less than two weeks away from Thanksgiving and a little less than six weeks away from Christmas. One of the inevitable things that happens during the holiday season is an influx of foot traffic in your home. This increased traffic affects every part of your home, especially your staircase.

Keeping a clean staircase can be challenging during the holidays. Stair railings are touched by new (sometimes dirty) hands, iron balusters are grabbed and knocked, and new stair parts added this year will begin seeing some wear and tear. Remember, every part of your staircase will begin seeing some wear and tear after the holiday season, but that doesn't mean that keeping your staircase clean will be an impossible task.

Here are our top tips for keeping your staircase clean for the holiday season.

Keep your staircase clear of random objects. Occasionally you'll decorate your staircase with garland, presents, or even ornaments for the holidays, so keeping an uncluttered staircase becomes an even bigger task. Make it a family effort to keep laundry, toys and various other things off of the staircase during the holiday season. This is not only going to make for a safer environment for your visitors, but it's also going to create a clutter-free look on one of the highest traffic areas in your home.

Sweep and/or vacuum stairs. If you have a carpeted staircase, you will want to use a vacuum to pick up unwanted dirt. You may need to use your vacuum attachments to get tight corners or cracks. If you have wood stairs, you will want to use a broom to sweep dirt and debris starting on the top step. Sweep dirt from the top step down to the next step, and so on. This way, you can pick up the dirt from all of your stairs on the floor at the bottom of your staircase. If you have a combination of carpet and wood on your staircase, you will have to use both a vacuum and a broom to clean it.

Dust your treads and balusters. Keeping your stair parts dust-free adds a clean feeling to your staircase that your guests will admire. Dust accumulates on wood stairs, wood balusters, newel posts and in a variety of other places depending on your stair design. Don't forget to check the nooks and crannies that you may forget about in a routine dusting. Also, you may need to use a rag to pick up the tough dirt that's accumulated on the treads. You'll see a huge difference in the look of your staircase after you give it a good dusting.

Keeping your staircase clean during the holiday season doesn't have to be an impossible task. If you stay on top of these three things, your staircase will be safe and inviting for all of your holiday guests.

Add Color and Character to Your Stair Remodel with Paint

Your staircase might fall on one end of this spectrum or somewhere in between: is it a beautiful focal point or a boring necessity in your home? If your staircase needs some love, we have great news for you. It's easy to do a quick stair remodel with a few cheap stair parts and a fresh coat of paint.

There are a few things you need to remember if you're going to use a splash of paint to revamp your boring staircase.

If your staircase is carpeted, be sure and rip up the carpet to get the most out of your stair remodel paint job. Odds are, your staircase has some lovely wood stairs waiting for your underneath that carpeting. The wood treads are probably also pretty dirty from spending years under a carpet, so be sure and give them a good clean before you begin painting.

You will need to sweep, vacuum and even scrub them with soap in order to ensure a clean surface for the paint.

Also, be sure to use masking tape to prevent paint from getting in areas you don't want it to be.

After you've selected your paint color of choice and decided where you want it to be, paint over the area with a base color like a white gloss. You'll need to wait for this base color to dry completely, which can be difficult in a high traffic area like your staircase, so plan accordingly.

Your options are endless when it comes to design and color, so get creative and try your best to match the feel of your home. Remember, you can always replace the wood treads you find under your carpeted staircase if they're ugly or in bad condition. You might also consider replacing your balusters to match your new paint job, and you can use our stair design tool to help you make that decision.

Good luck on your next stair remodel or project. Feel free to check out our FAQ section or reach out to us with any questions you might have. 

Best Practices for Storing Your Stair Parts

So you've decided to begin a stair remodel or new staircase project, and the first step is figuring out exactly what you need to get started for your new stair design. After you've figured this part out, it's time to place your stair parts order. Once your order arrives, it probably contains stair railings, iron balusters, and maybe even some newel posts. But what's your next step after they arrive?

It's time to store them until you're able to begin your stair remodel or project.

1. You always want to store your wooden stair parts, like your wood stairs or wood balusters, in a place that's free of moisture. Moisture isn't good for wooden parts, and it should be avoided at all costs. The wood itself can be damaged by coming in contact with moisture whether it's on the concrete floors in your basement or near the ventilation on your AC Unit.
2. Never store your stair parts in a dusty or dirty place. Not only can the dirt damage the finishes on your new stair parts, but it can create an unnecessary cleaning task for you before you begin you stair remodel or project. We recommend that you keep your stair parts in their shipping boxes in a moisture-free closet.
3. Whether you purchased cheap stair parts or stair parts that are top of the line, it's important that you keep them out of direct sunlight. Additionally, if the storage area for your stair parts is too warm, it can also damage the wood by causing it to dry out and crack. Our recommended storage temperature is around 70 degrees.

If you have any questions about storing your stair parts order, please reach out to us on our Contact page.

Modern Staircase Design Tips

Modern staircases are becoming more popular in the interior design world, forcing homebuilders and remodelers alike to pay attention to the trends. Staircase design is one of the most challenging parts of an architect's job when designing a new home, and with all of the advances in staircase architecture, it's only getting more complicated. 

So if you're about to embark on a stair remodel or project, here are a few helpful tips to know about modern staircase design.

**Remember, staircase design must abide by your region's building code. Certain dimensions are required in many areas, as well as certain elements like guardrails.

1. The materials you choose will play a big role in creating the perfect modern staircase.

Whether you decide to incorporate glass or wide oak treads, your the options are endless for your modern stair remodel. Just be sure to keep in mind that glass treads, although beautiful, become very slippery with only a drop of water. Plus, there's a privacy issue because they're see through.

2. Incorporate modern design elements.

Thin iron balusters, wide treads, and "open" staircases are all very on trend in the modern staircase world. Finding stair parts can be more difficult for this type of stair remodel, so be sure to check out our online store for everything you need.

3. Make your staircase a design focal point in your home.

Your staircase is one of the most high traffic areas in your home, so why not make it a stunning, modern centerpiece? If you're building a new home, you have more control over the location of your new staircase, but if you're embarking on a stair remodel, you might have to work a little harder to make this happen.

If you want to try out a staircase design before making your purchase, be sure and check out our Stair Design Tool. Keep in mind that you can find all of the stair parts you need on our website. From your friends at Direct Stair Parts, good luck with your modern staircase design project!