PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, is one of the most commonly used plastics. Because PVC is inexpensive and easy to work with, it is often used as a material for staircase renovations. But is PVC really a good choice for a staircase renovation? Read on to find out!
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is a type of plastic used as the basis for many different kinds of products, including flooring and stair renovations, due to its scratch-resistant and sound-absorbing properties. It is available in various patterns, such as wood-effect or marble-effect finishes. Furthermore, the material is easy to maintain and fairly durable. For many people, these are therefore good reasons to opt for a PVC staircase renovation. What many people do not realise, however, is that there are also a number of crucial drawbacks to this product, which make it unsuitable for a staircase renovation.
Many stair renovation companies use PVC, with an aluminium frame fitted to the front of the step. This system has a number of drawbacks:
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- PVC must be properly glued down if you are using it for a staircase renovation. If you do not do this, the floorboards will shift and the steps will start to squeak and creak.
- Adhesive can only be applied to a level subfloor. Particularly with older staircases, you will first need to ensure that your steps are levelled. So, if you are removing your old stair covering, you must ensure that the staircase is completely level before you can apply the PVC. So, although covering your stairs with PVC may seem like a good idea, levelling the subfloor often takes a lot of time (and money) before you can start the staircase renovation.
- Be very careful with water! A PVC staircase is only water-resistant if a water-resistant adhesive is used. If you don’t use one, the adhesive may come loose if it comes into contact with water. And if the adhesive comes loose, the floor panels may start to shift, resulting in loose steps!
- PVC expands in the heat. Is your staircase in a room with significant temperature fluctuations? If so, the PVC may expand, causing the stair covering to lift. This can be very dangerous.
- PVC is more prone to scratches from small stones or sand. Especially if you walk around indoors in shoes a lot, there is a high chance that this will damage your PVC stair covering. PVC also does not cope well with rubber. Rubber leaves marks that are difficult to remove and causes the material to wear. And that just happens to be the material many shoe soles are made of.
Upstairs has been in business for over 25 years and has served more than 80,000 satisfied customers. Upstairs’ stair tread covers are finished with the Upstairs Original Top Coat, which ensures your stairs will last for years without wear and tear or major maintenance. This means you only need to renovate your stairs once – and never again. A sustainable alternative, in other words. What’s more, an Upstairs staircase renovation truly enhances your home. The staircase is often the first thing you see when you enter, so we believe it’s important to invest in that first impression with a stunning eye-catcher. What’s more, you increase the value of your home with such a beautifully finished staircase that requires no major maintenance. Thanks to our extensive collection, there are various colours and materials to choose from for your staircase. Will you go for a concrete look, wood texture or stone look? Or will you opt for exclusive leather or blue steel on your staircase? Anything is possible with Upstairs Staircase Renovation.
Are you still unsure about the difference in quality between PVC and our high-quality Upstairs stair treads? Then why not pop into one of our showrooms? There, you can feel for yourself just how sturdy, durable and stylish our materials really are. Our advisors will be happy to show you why a staircase renovation with Upstairs is a sustainable choice that will give you years of enjoyment.