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Hardwood Stairs in Los Angeles, CA
Hardwood stairs add an ageless combination of character and resilience to any home. That’s what makes them such a sought after option for residential and commercial properties in Los Angeles. Hardwood stairs are valued for their durability and aesthetics.
Used properly, they can add to the aesthetics of any environment, while standing the test of time. Homeowners in Los Angeles prefer materials such as oak, maple and walnut. These remarkably durable and beautiful woods are perfect for both contemporary and classic interior environments.
Hardwood stairs are low-maintenance, too, with plenty of finish choices that provide long-lasting protection and beauty. Renovating your existing home, or building a new one from scratch? Hardwood stairs add a touch of utility to the visual, creating an artistic vision that suits perfectly with the rich architecture that LA holds.
With the right maintenance, they can last generations, making them a sound investment for years to come.
What Are Hardwood Stairs
Hardwood stairs meet the need for durability and beauty while enhancing any home’s decor with classic style and elegance. These durable stairs are often used to connect different levels in multifamily residences, such as condos and apartments. Plus, they add a touch of beauty to your home!
Read on to learn more about their function and significance.
Definition and Purpose of Hardwood Stairs
Hardwood stairs are constructed of 100% hardwood. The treads usually have bullnose wood that is 1-in. Thick and 12-in. Wide, with an unfinished bullnose edge. Each tread is precision-cut to fit your stairs perfectly, guaranteeing a custom look.
Aside from their unmistakable aesthetic value, hardwood stairs have long been a trusted and beautiful means of ascent and descent within a home. They are easily customized to match existing hardwood floors, so they are perfect for any interior, traditional or contemporary.
This flexibility, paired with their aesthetic allure, is what makes them a favorite option among homeowners year after year.
Importance of Hardwood Stairs in Homes
Hardwood stairs are magnificent for their durability. They definitely outlive carpeting, which typically needs to be replaced every 10 to 12 years. Hardwood stairs can potentially last a lifetime with the right care, delivering tremendous value for the money spent.
Their durability is paired with their capacity to keep a classic, stunning appearance for years to come. Most importantly, installing new stairs isn’t a long, drawn-out process—it typically only takes three to five days.
Recoating services are even quicker, sometimes completing the work in a day to minimize interruptions. These stairs will enhance the beauty of any home while providing years of hardworking, trouble-free performance.
Benefits of Hardwood Stairs
As a practical and stylish option with long-term benefits, hardwood stairs continue to be a go-to choice for Los Angeles homeowners looking to enhance their space. Their benefits extend past aesthetics, providing both beauty and practicality in any setting.
Enhance Home Aesthetics
Hardwood stairs add beauty and value to your home. Their elegant simplicity and organic textures impart an ageless warmth that enhances both contemporary and classic aesthetics.
Whether used alongside modern metal railings or decorative wooden balusters, hardwood stairs make an impressive statement in any home. For example, oak or maple stairs can warm things up and keep things classy, easily matching the rest of your decor.
Increase Property Value
Investing in hardwood stairs brings tangible value to your property. In fact, studies have found that homes with hardwood additions, even just hardwood stairs, average a 3-5% increase in resale value.
Close to 50% of all homebuyers want hardwood, giving it the highest demand for a feature. This aesthetic draw can help your home stand out in an intensely competitive real estate arena, like Los Angeles.
Durability and Longevity
Hardwood stairs are an investment — they’re made to stand the test of time. Plus, they can withstand the daily rigors of foot traffic, even in the busiest of homes, without showing signs of wear.
Unlike carpeted stairs, which are susceptible to fraying and staining, hardwood continues to look beautiful and wear well for decades. Both hickory and walnut are extremely tough woods, making them ideal for families or rental homes that require wear.
Easy Maintenance and Cleaning
Caring for hardwood stairs is as easy as cleaning them. Routine maintenance is largely limited to sweeping and the occasional buffing.
This is significantly easier than the thorough clean required for carpets. Water, spills, and dirt can be wiped away with a damp cloth, keeping your stairs looking like new for years to come.
This low-maintenance feature is great for households with children or anyone with a busy lifestyle.
Components of Hardwood Stairs
Hardwood stairs can be a work of art. They are a combination of essential components that work together to ensure safety, durability, and aesthetic appeal. Each component of a hardwood staircase plays an important role. Getting to know these components will help you better appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into creating them.
Treads and Risers
Treads are the flat, horizontal pieces that you step on, and risers are the vertical components that go in between the treads. For safety, make the depth of the treads and the height of the risers uniform. Variation in tread depth must not exceed 1/4 inch over the run of the stair.
Hardwood treads require some aggressive sanding, particularly in corners and edges. In reality, you need to do this by hand to get the necessary level of precision. Specialty sanders take care of the majority of the wood, but hand scraping is what guarantees the perfect finish.
Stringers and Nosing
Stringers are the components of hardwood stairs that give the structural support, spanning the length of each side of the staircase. Nosing, the rounded edge that hangs over the tread a bit, provides extra safety by decreasing falls and provides a more polished appearance.
In addition, installing stairs properly prevents them from exceeding the recommended 30-50 degree angle, which lowers the risk of falling and improves comfort.
Stair Skirts and Landings
Stair skirts are the trim boards that run parallel to the wall, covering up gaps and providing a nice visual continuity. Landings, the flat spaces between flights, give a resting spot for tired walkers and add more versatility to the staircase.
These components can make or break a hardwood staircase, making sure elements of usability and elegance are not only included but interwoven.
Types of Hardwood Stair Designs
Hardwood stairs can bring additional beauty, warmth, and durability to any property. That’s one reason why homeowners across Los Angeles enjoy opting for them. Each design provides a unique aesthetic and functional benefits. These various hardwood stair designs offer you the opportunity to create an entrance that fits your home like a glove.
Straight Staircases
Straight staircases are the most basic and most common design. They’re linear and efficient, making them ideal for homes with a lack of room to spare. It’s pretty simple and the design allows for a fast, easy installation process.
When you collaborate with experts such as EKO Flooring, it often only requires days to weeks. Available in custom finishing options, these stairs can be matched to your hardwood floors to create a continuous, cohesive look throughout your home.
Curved Staircases
Whether big or small, curved staircases bring an extra level of elegance and sophistication to any design. They take some masterful joinery, as well, to get their flowing, smooth, banked curves just right.
EKO Flooring is a master at custom cutting and staining. We specialize in designs that work harmoniously with one-of-a-kind architectural residences.
Spiral Staircases
Spiral staircases take up less space, making a big architectural impact in tighter quarters or open spaces that need a statement piece. These stairs can be made with all hardwood types to complement your home’s design.
With EKO Flooring’s expertise, you can be sure your installation is perfect, transforming your home’s look and function.
Floating Staircases
Floating staircases have a contemporary, airy appearance thanks to their clean, simple lines. They all tend to need bespoke answers, such as precision-milled treads and concealed supports.
EKO Flooring’s years of experience in custom projects will guarantee these stairs are not only aesthetically cool but structurally sound.
Stairs with Landings
For multi-level, divided homes, stairs with landings offer both functionality and comfort, making the ascent or descent easy. Besides breaking up long flights, they provide a comfortable resting point along the way.
These designs are complemented beautifully with their corresponding hardwood finishes, bringing rich warmth and design continuity to your interior.
Customization Options for Hardwood Stairs
Hardwood stairs combine a natural aesthetic beauty with the strength to resist wear. Their real worth is in how completely customizable they are, so they fit your home's individual style and layout like a glove. From selecting the right wood species to adding decorative elements, the range of options ensures that every staircase becomes a centerpiece.
Wood Species and Finishes
The wood species you choose plays a big role in the appearance and durability of your stairs. Species such as oak, maple, and walnut are common for their durability and classic look. Each tread, usually made from 1-inch thick bullnose hardwood, is custom-cut to meet your stairs exactly.
The final touches are all customized, from staining to sanding, to blend seamlessly with your existing wood floors to create a beautiful flow. Specialty sanders are best for flat areas. Complex edges and turns need more time-consuming hand scraping — revealing the artisan like beauty in each feature.
Decorative Inlays and Patterns
For those homeowners looking for a little more character, decorative inlays and patterns take the design a step further. Geometric or curved configurations can transform basic stairs into breathtaking masterpieces.
Or mix wood tones and add metal inserts for an even more dramatic effect! Such customizations not only improve the visual quality, but provide a sense of self, making the staircase truly yours.
Why Choose Hardwood Stairs in Los Angeles
Hardwood stairs provide a classic touch and functionality to your home. That’s exactly why so many homeowners in Los Angeles have them. Durable, unique aesthetic appeal, and versatile, hardwood stairs perfectly match the diverse architectural styles that can be found throughout the city.
Here, we take a closer look at the various reasons hardwood stairs continue to be the most popular choice.
Suitable for Los Angeles Home Styles
Los Angeles is home to one of the richest architectural tapestries. Whether you’re a fan of the mid-century modern movement, Spanish Revival or Craftsman style, Los Angeles has it all.
Hardwood stairs easily adjust to these changes, adding a touch of elegance to the design without appearing jarring or mismatched. Their natural grain patterns and warm tones create a welcoming atmosphere that aligns perfectly with the indoor-outdoor living commonly sought in this region.
Oak stairs with a light finish pair beautifully with open-concept layouts. At the same time, darker woods such as walnut add richness and refinement to period-style homes.
Perfect for Both Modern and Classic Homes
Because of its versatility, wood is at home in contemporary or traditional homes. In contemporary interiors, simple hardwood stairs with a natural or ebony finish offer a modest aesthetic.
At the same time, in historic or classic homes, wood can inspire a feeling of history and fine craftsmanship. Hand-carved balusters and curved banisters bring a bit of old-world charm to a home.
They conjure up the beauty of those grand residences that once lined our streets and had impressive wooden stairwells. This versatility is what makes hardwood stairs a timeless and modern option for any Los Angeles homeowner.