Staircase renovation PVC

A staircase renovation with PVC brings many advantages. PVC is a durable material, low-maintenance and sound-absorbing. In addition, it is available in various colours and styles. This allows you to create a concrete or wood look with PVC, for example. In this article we will discuss the costs and possibilities of covering your stairs with PVC.

What does a staircase renovation with PVC cost?

A staircase renovation with PVC costs on average £125 per step for an open staircase and £190 per step for a closed staircase. The difference in price is because more time and materials are required when installing a closed staircase. Check out the average prices of covering a staircase with PVC below.

What is PVC?

PVC stands for polyvinyl chloride and is a type of plastic used for various products including stair treads and flooring. It is available in various prints allowing you to recreate a wood or concrete look with PVC, for example.

PVC is sometimes confused with other materials such as laminate or vinyl. Check out the main differences between these materials below.

What is the difference between covering your stairs with PVC or vinyl?

Vinyl and PVC are very similar, but have some differences. Both are made of plastic, but the difference is in the underlay. In fact, vinyl is a lot softer and has a foamed backing. PVC is a firmer material, but therefore also a lot harder.

What is the difference between covering your stairs with PVC or laminate?

Laminate consists of a number of layers glued together. The top layer is plastic and below it the decor layer which contains printed paper. Laminate is therefore often thicker. PVC is more resistant to water and more soundproof. Laminate, on the other hand, is slightly cheaper.

What are the pros and cons of stair renovation with PVC?

PVC, like other materials, has various pros and cons. Check them out below and decide whether PVC is suitable for your staircase renovation.

Advantages

• Sustainable
• Bump-free and scratch-free
• Low-maintenance
• Fire retardant
• Easy to clean
• Recyclable
• Multiple colours possible
• Multiple styles possible

Disadvantages

• Less sound dampening than carpet or vinyl
• Can be slippery and cold to the touch
• Less natural look
• More expensive than laminate and carpet

What factors affect the staircase renovation price?

There are a number of factors that affect the price of your staircase renovation. Check out which factors they are below.

1. Number of steps

As a general rule, the more steps you want to have covered, the higher the price becomes. This is because it requires more material and takes more time to fit. If you want to cover a staircase with PVC, you pay on average £ 125 per step for an open staircase and £ 190 per step for a closed staircase, including installation costs. The average staircase has 13 steps. You will then pay around £1,625 for an open staircase and £2,470 for a closed staircase.

2. Open or closed stairs

Covering an open staircase is cheaper than covering a closed staircase, because there are no risers and therefore no materials are needed. Would you like to renovate an open staircase? Then you will pay an average of £125 per step. For a closed staircase, this works out at around £190 per step.

3. Do it yourself or outsource?

You can choose to cover your stairs with PVC yourself, but this can sometimes be a tricky job. In most cases, we recommend outsourcing a staircase renovation with PVC to a specialist. On average, you will pay around £45 per step in installation costs.

How to renovate stairs with PVC?

When renovating stairs with PVC, you or the specialist generally go through the following steps:

Step 1: clean the stairs

First of all, it is important that the stairs are clean. Remove the old glue and paint residues and sand the stairs completely smooth. To ensure that the PVC adheres well you can apply a primer. Do this one step at a time and work from top to bottom.

Step 2: make the moulds with model tape

Next you can make the moulds with model tape. These templates will help you cut the right sizes out of the PVC in a moment. Stick several layers of model tape along the edges of each step. Then carefully pull off the mould and stick it onto a strip of PVC. If the mould is larger than the strip of PVC, you can place two strips of PVC against each other and stick the mould onto them.

Step 3: Cut the floorboards to size

Use a hobby knife to cut out the contours of the template in the PVC. You only need to cut the contours after which you can cut them off. After this, you can remove the model tape.

Step 4: attach the floorboards to the stairs

Now it’s time to glue the floorboards onto the stair treads. At the bottom of the boards there is a film layer that you can pull off. After you have removed this foil you can glue the floor boards onto the corresponding step.

Step 5: make the stair profiles

Now finish the stair steps with a stair profile. A stair profile is an edge that is attached to each stair step. A stair tread is essential for protecting your stairs from wear and tear. To fit it, measure the length of each step then cut the profile with a hacksaw and screw it to the front of the step. Then cut a piece of PVC the length and height of the profile and glue it to it.

Step 6: Apply the risers

Finally, you install the risers. These are the boards that sit between the steps to seal your staircase. This ensures higher soundproofing and less heat loss. Measure the length and width and cut the risers from the same PVC as the stair treads or choose a different colour. Then glue them properly with a special glue.

After laying, the floor is immediately walkable.

Frequently asked questions