Stair cladding in LVT and laminate
Stair cladding gives a staircase a hard-floor finish: each tread and riser is covered in LVT or laminate, with a matching stair nosing protecting and defining every edge. It suits hallways where a hard floor continues onto the flight, and households that want a wipe-clean surface instead of carpet. JT Flooring supplies and fits stair cladding across Kent and South East London, quoted in writing after a free site visit.
What stair cladding involves
Cladding a staircase means covering the existing treads and risers with a hard flooring product rather than carpet. Every tread and riser is measured, cut and fitted individually, because no two steps on a flight are exactly the same size. Winders on a turn, a half landing and open sides each change the cutting and the time involved.
The visible edge of every tread is finished with a stair nosing. The nosing defines the edge, protects it from knocks and gives the foot a clear line to land on. It is part of the installation, not an optional extra, and the profile is chosen to match the flooring being fitted.
LVT on stairs
LVT is a popular choice for stair cladding. It is glue-down, so each piece is bonded to a sound, prepared tread, and it cleans up completely, which suits a busy hall, stairs and landing where muddy boots and dog paws come through every day. Wood and stone effects are available, so the flight can match an LVT hallway or landing.
Fitted onto a sound, prepared tread, LVT wears far more slowly than carpet on a staircase. The points that matter are the bond and the nosing: the adhesive needs a flat, dry surface to hold, and the nosing takes the wear that would otherwise reach the edge of the tile. Our carpet versus LVT for stairs guide covers the trade-off against carpet honestly, including noise and underfoot feel.
Laminate on stairs
Laminate is an option for a dry staircase where a wood-look finish is wanted at a lower material cost. Boards are cut to each tread and riser and finished with a matching laminate stair nosing. As in a room, laminate suits dry spaces and should not be wet-mopped, so it is best where the entrance floor is not constantly wet.
The same preparation rules apply as for LVT: the treads underneath must be sound and flat before anything is bonded or fixed to them. Where the hallway is being done in laminate at the same time, the flight can be planned as part of the same job so the nosing and board colours match throughout.
Preparing the staircase first
A hard finish shows whatever is underneath it, so the treads are prepared before any cladding goes on. The old carpet, gripper rods and underlay are lifted and taken away, loose boards are screwed down and nail heads are punched below the surface so nothing squeaks or shows through later. Where the treads are uneven, a plywood overlay gives the flat base that glue-down products need.
This groundwork is the same discipline we apply before fitting any floor, and it is what separates a clad staircase that stays quiet and tight from one that creaks or lifts at the edges. The free survey checks the condition of the flight before anything is quoted.
Cost and how it compares with carpet
Our pricing page lists a guide figure for a hallway, stairs and landing of £900 to £1,250 in LVT against £480 to £780 in carpet, supplied and fitted. The shape of the flight matters as much as the material: straight flights are quicker, while winders, a half landing or open sides add labour because every tread and riser is cut and scribed individually.
Carpet remains the quieter and softer choice, and for many households it is still the right one; our stair carpet and runner service covers that option. Cladding earns its place where a wipe-clean surface, a matching hard-floor hallway or longer wear matters more. The written quote identifies the product, nosings, preparation and fitting so the comparison is between complete installations.
Recent work
Stair cladding questions
What is stair cladding?
Stair cladding covers the existing treads and risers of a staircase with a hard flooring product such as LVT or laminate, instead of carpet. Each step is cut and fitted individually, and every tread edge is finished with a matching stair nosing.
Can LVT be fitted on stairs?
Yes. LVT is glue-down, so each piece is bonded to a sound, prepared tread, and a matching stair nosing is fitted on every tread to define and protect the edge. The preparation of the treads underneath is what makes the installation last.
What affects the cost of stair cladding?
The product chosen and the shape of the flight. Straight flights are quicker; winders, half landings and open sides add labour because every tread and riser is cut individually. Our pricing page lists £900 to £1,250 for a hallway, stairs and landing in LVT, supplied and fitted.
Is stair cladding better than carpet on stairs?
It depends on the household. Cladding gives a wipe-clean surface that wears slowly and matches a hard-floor hallway; carpet is quieter, warmer and softer underfoot. Our carpet versus LVT for stairs guide compares the two honestly, and we fit both.