Refreshing staircase with laminate and glass

tallac

Hi all. I'm having renovation work done and I'm wanting to refresh the ground floor stair case. The current stairs look like this:



A really nice design that I like is this:


My questions are:

1. Can I use laminate on for the front and top sides of the stairs? (this way I can have it match the flooring)
2. If laminate is not possible, what can I use instead?
3. The corner edge seems to have some kind of matching trim. Does anyone know where I can buy this from? I would need to find something that will match the colour of the laminate that I already have purchased.
4. With regards to a glass banister, is this a costly thing? Any recommended companies that can do this?

Doozergirl

I'm not sure that laminate is the appropriate price point when you're looking at a bespoke slab of very thick toughened glass that costs a small fortune.  

There are cheaper options using more traditional joinery and glass infill panels.
 https://www.stairbox.com/index.html

You can't do exactly those stairs with laminate, having full pieces; one solid piece for treads,
one for risers.  You'd need stair nosings to hide the cuts through the laminate boards.   Not a bad thing as stairs like that look lovely but they're a potential death trap if you're only wearing socks.  They're like an ice rink.  Stair nosings prevent the slip factor.
 

tallac

Doozergirl said:

I'm not sure that laminate is the appropriate price point when you're looking at a bespoke slab of very thick toughened glass that costs a small fortune.  

There are cheaper options using more traditional joinery and glass infill panels.
 https://www.stairbox.com/index.html

You can't do exactly those stairs with laminate, having full pieces; one solid piece for treads,
one for risers.  You'd need stair nosings to hide the cuts through the laminate boards.   Not a bad thing as stairs like that look lovely but they're a potential death trap if you're only wearing socks.  They're like an ice rink.  Stair nosings prevent the slip factor.
 

Thank you for this. Totally understand your point about the laminate not being at the same price point as the slab of glass but two things:

1. I'm using laminate for the flooring so the colour of the stairs will exactly match the flooring (which is what we want).
2. Budget is super tight so it feels like the laminate covering on the stairs will be relatively easy to change to something more fitting (if we choose to do that).

But it sounds like a glass banister like that is possible even with laminate? Yes, I'll have to get edging/nosings for the corners. Annoying, they don't do these where I purchased the laminate from so I'll have to source something that will either colour match or give a nice contrast.

The laminate I have has a click fit system on all 4 edges, does this mean that when using them on stairs, you just cut off the click fit bits so it's just a plain rectangular plank?

KeithSussex said:

Stair cladding kits are available in different price ranges. £=oak effect laminate. ££=-oak veneer. £££=solid oak  .

Bespoke framed or frameless glass balustrade is available,really need to contact a local company. 

The laminate I want to use is a wood effect one, so I think it'll work well.

Any idea how to find a local company that does stair refurbishment and/or that kind of banister. I've tried Google but I can only find companies that do complete stair replacements.

Hannimal

I will always remain baffled why some people think non-carpeted stairs are death traps and like ice rinks. Most of the world does not carpet their stairs

Ajmason42

Plenty of websites explain how to use laminate on stairs. Directfloors looks to have a good article.

fenwick458

Hannimal said:

I will always remain baffled why some people think non-carpeted stairs are death traps and like ice rinks. Most of the world does not carpet their stairs

probably because they have become accustomed to the extra grip on a carpets staircase, and when you try and descend a non carpeted staircase at the same speed, you'll probably fall over.

Emmia

tallac said:

Doozergirl said:

I'm not sure that laminate is the appropriate price point when you're looking at a bespoke slab of very thick toughened glass that costs a small fortune.  

There are cheaper options using more traditional joinery and glass infill panels.
 https://www.stairbox.com/index.html

You can't do exactly those stairs with laminate, having full pieces; one solid piece for treads,
one for risers.  You'd need stair nosings to hide the cuts through the laminate boards.   Not a bad thing as stairs like that look lovely but they're a potential death trap if you're only wearing socks.  They're like an ice rink.  Stair nosings prevent the slip factor.
 

Thank you for this. Totally understand your point about the laminate not being at the same price point as the slab of glass but two things:

1. I'm using laminate for the flooring so the colour of the stairs will exactly match the flooring (which is what we want).
2. Budget is super tight so it feels like the laminate covering on the stairs will be relatively easy to change to something more fitting (if we choose to do that).

But it sounds like a glass banister like that is possible even with laminate? Yes, I'll have to get edging/nosings for the corners. Annoying, they don't do these where I purchased the laminate from so I'll have to source something that will either colour match or give a nice contrast.

The laminate I have has a click fit system on all 4 edges, does this mean that when using them on stairs, you just cut off the click fit bits so it's just a plain rectangular plank?

KeithSussex said:

Stair cladding kits are available in different price ranges. £=oak effect laminate. ££=-oak veneer. £££=solid oak  .

Bespoke framed or frameless glass balustrade is available,really need to contact a local company. 

The laminate I want to use is a wood effect one, so I think it'll work well.

Any idea how to find a local company that does stair refurbishment and/or that kind of banister. I've tried Google but I can only find companies that do complete stair replacements.

Having that type of staircase installed (I see from photos you've got a more traditional style of bannister/balustrade at the moment) may mean it is actually a rebuild / new staircase, rather than an inexpensive "refresh". 

In anycase I'd probably contact companies that do the full install to see if they also do "refreshes" of existing staircases to make it the style you want.  The glass though will probably be spendy.

Doozergirl

Hannimal said:

I will always remain baffled why some people think non-carpeted stairs are death traps and like ice rinks. Most of the world does not carpet their stairs

Not specifically non-carpeted.  But polished like that without a nosing, yes, because our friends have a near identical staircase and it scares the bejesus out of me.   I can feel my feet slipping because there's no shoes worn in the house; and there's not a lot to cling to either. 

frogglet

A lot of countries have stone staircases which aren't as slippy. 
I Think you need to choose the laminate carefully. My friend has it and it really is a deathtrap.
Another option is to strip, sand and seal the stairs.
I couldn't stand having to constantly polish the glass.

fenwick458

I think it comes down to what people become used to. as we have gradually become accustomed to carpeted staircases and the extra grip they provide, so everyone thinks it's ok to just run down the stairs.
but if you lived in a country where all staircases are made from a hard surface that provides less grip, then you wouldn't bother trying to run down the stairs, because of the risk of slipping..
the bigger problem comes when you introduce a smooth staircase (from the rest of the world) into a county where everyone expects maximum grip wherever they go. maybe we should insist that if you wanted to install a none nosed smooth stair in this country you should have to put up big warning signs at the top and bottom warning people that there will be less grip available than they are used to?

tallac

Does anyone have any suggestions/practical experience as to what is possible as a staircase refresh to a more modern kind of design? I like the frameless glass banister but I can now see that it'll be very expensive so anything that is modern yet good value for money?

I'll try to find local companies to get some quotes in the meantime.