If you are thinking about hiring a general contractor, you should read my blog before you pick up the phone or send that email. I am not a general contractor myself, but I have just finished restoring my home. It was a big project that involved working with multiple contractors over an extended period of time. Although I am not a professional, I learnt an awful lot about how to get the most out of a team of contractors and how to keep a project on schedule and under budget. I also learnt a thing or two about the work they were carrying out.
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When in search of materials to construct your internal stairs, you will find two alternatives are creating a buzz in the flooring industry. Engineered timber stairs and laminate stairs have had their popularity steadily increase over the years, as they provide homeowners with the beauty of hardwood but still have the versatility of other inorganic materials. Moreover, they are more affordable when compared to hardwood materials, making them perfect for people looking to install new stairs on a modest budget. Below is a couple of comparisons that you could consider to help you make a decision between engineered timber vs laminate internal stairs.
Components in the materials
The materials used in the manufacture of engineered timber and laminate stairs are distinctly different. Engineered timber is partly made up of hardwood timber that has been mixed with resins and plastics to give it higher water resistance than natural wood. The engineered timber is then reinforced with multiple layers of soft wood to enhance its structural integrity. The finished product is quite sturdy and dense, making it suitable for the high-traffic areas around your home.
Laminate stairs, on the other hand, mainly constitute layers of HDF (High-Density Fiberboard). Once these layers are intact, the surface of the laminate is covered with a photographic layer. This layer typically has a picture of hardwood grain to make the laminate surface appear to be natural timber. The final steps in the manufacture of laminate stairs are coating the surface layer and sealing it to create a scratch-proof surface.
Moisture resistance
Both engineered timber stairs and laminate stairs have a degree of water resistance, but it should be noted that laminate is better suited for wet applications. Although the engineered timber does contain resins and plastics, the backing layers are made from natural softwood. Therefore, these types of internal stairs would not thrive in high-moisture environments. Nevertheless, it would handle exposure to minimal moisture (for instance, in high-humidity climates) better than solid hardwood, so you do not have to worry about taking extreme measures to protect it from moisture exposure.
Laminate, on the other hand, is highly water resistant. The water-resistant coating on these stairs makes them ideal for spaces that would be routinely exposed to moisture. Nonetheless, you should bear in mind that the joints between the boards of wood are not waterproof. Therefore, although the laminate stairs can withstand splashes, do not let the water sit on your stairs for long, or the boards will eventually start to warp and buckle.
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