A suspended wood floor in the entryway, typical of period houses, will normally already include some form of wood boarding. You will need to lay a ply base on top of this to achieve a level surface for laying tiles. Wood will need protecting with a lacquer, wax or oil. “The kind of maintenance [you’ll need to do] depends on the finish you’ve selected,” Hawkes says. He suggests lacquer provides better protection, but recommends oil, as it offers a more natural look and it’s easier to sand and reseal a small area if it’s damaged. “Make sure you deal with any gaps between the boards and underneath the baseboards to eliminate possible drafts,” “A variety of flexible fillers are available to address this.” Wood is durable and a lifelong product as long as it’s maintained. It’s relatively easy to install and it can have good sustainability credentials if it’s appropriately sourced, Oiled wood will be more susceptible to water seeping in and can also be damaged or scratched more easily than a lacquered finish. Wood will show wear patterns from foot traffic, so it’s best suited with a runner or a no-shoes policy,
Painting your risers and treads a fun color is another option. Here a vivid orange pops beneath a handsome carpet runner that provides comfort, safety and style. The runner also protects the paint from scuffs. If you don’t wear shoes in the house, exposed painted stairs should hold up well if you use professional-grade paint. Either way, it’s a good idea to keep some extra paint on hand to do touchups as needed.
landing zone at the top of the stairs. built-in piece
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