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I am thinking about remodeling the second floor.
We have carpet for stairs currently, but I would like wood instead. The contractors repeatedly mention wood is somewhat slippery, and we can fall.
Is that a real problem, or just an opinion?
We built alternating steps due to space limitations. Each individual step is 8" X 8". I was concerned about the slip factor so I glued a rough surface strip down on each step. Problem solved!
Personally I would tell the contractors it is none of their business. Depending on how many times they have said this, I might use some "pungent" language.
Dogs can have the devil of a time getting up and down wooden stairs, though.
I agree that wood is more slippery. How significant this is depends on what you usually wear on your feet. Socks only or slippers with smooth bottoms would be a particular problem.
The contractor is doing the right thing by pointing out something you might not think of (and possibly something that has required fixes in his past experience). It's your choice what to do (subject to codes, insurance issues, etc.).
I had a house with beautiful wooden stairs. It would be a shame to cover them up. Over 12 years I slipped once going down with the dogs, two friends each slipped once going up. All wearing shoes. No lasting damage. If that's an acceptable ratio to go by.
Coincidentally, a couple of us were sitting around lately thinking about those stairs. We still couldn't decide if we should have put a runner up the middle or not since they were so beautiful.
I will say some polishes are much more slippery than others.
Also...some carpet can create a ski slope on step edges just as easily.
As an athletic teenager and twenty-something, I slipped and fell on my tailbone more times than I can remember coming down our wood steps is socked feet. They did look nice, though.
In your situation, if the steps were an attractive hardwood under the carpet, I'd probably refinish them using a flat finish or possibly install a runner. If not, I'd just recarpet them.
I had a stair mishap involving carpeted stairs with no hand rail, padded carpet and unusually rounded nose was a contributing factor. My legs barely work now.
You could install a runner. I personally wouldn't like going up or down hard wooden stairs. I'm 42, with arthritic knees go figure. I also have kids and appreciate the traction of carpet.
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