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Laminate Stair Treads

Wikipedia describes laminate as a material “constructed by uniting two or more layers of material together.”

Laminates are popular for flooring including stair treads and laminate flooring is a multi-layer synthetic flooring product which usually resembles hardwood although there are some types that simulate stone instead. Laminate flooring was first introduced by Pergo in 1977 although it was first marketed in the US in 1994. It became popular fairly quickly and I remember my parents installing a laminate floor in their kitchen and laminate stair treads shortly thereafter.

The main reason for laminate is expense; it’s cheaper. Laminate flooring and laminate stair treads are typically much cheaper than a top quality hardwood. Also laminate is easy to install for the do it yourselfer. For flooring they come as a set of tongue and grove planks. The same material can be used for stair treads or some manufacturers make special laminate for stairs. Installing on stairs is more difficult; be sure to follow the manufacturers directions as they vary between brands. You may need to combine flooring with special nosing pieces for the front of the steps.

Mahogany, Rosewood, Allegany oak, African Cherry, American Cherry, Norway Oak, Red Oak, Sugar Maple, Birch, Hickory, White Ash, and Tigerwood are but some of the options for laminate or “engineered wood” as some call it. Others somewhat derisively call it “fake wood.”

Laminate can be made of different materials but is commonly made of melamine resin which is made with formaldehyde. Some people worry about air releases of volatile organic compounds from formaldehyde based building components but recent thinking is that melamine is a minimal risk, at least compared to particleboard which also uses formaldehyde.

The North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA) claims that it is “much stronger, scratch-resistant, and longer-lasting than any hardwood, vinyl, or carpet flooring.” Not everyone agrees. For example, my parent’s chipped in several places and there are reported issues with liquids like water if they are not wiped up immediately. Many people are extremely happy with their laminate however, and it looks good certainly, but I prefer real wood. Now when you factor in the cost, I might choose it however!

The other advantages the NALFA lists are:

Laminate stair treads and flooring are wildly available including at many hardware stores, home improvement stores, and of course online. Most people that look at it (and I can't imagine ordering it without seeing it first) are quite impressed with its appearance.