Rubber stairs

[Wobert]

I was thinking about replacing my carpeted stairs at home with the rubber surface with round raised patterns that you often see in commercial settings. This is because I hate vacuuming carpeted stairs, and the carpet is also wearing out really fast. The rubber would be much easier to keep clean and also probably last longer. Ideally, I would like to have hardwood but my HOA doesn't allow it due to noise because I'm in a condo. Does anyone have experience with rubber or vinyl flooring on their stairs, and what are your thoughts?

 

[nyc to oc]

wow, I would feel like I'm in a school, prison or hospital, not at home. Maybe it could work if your decor is very modern/minimalist. Are you planning to resell anytime soon? I can't see how this would be popular with the typical Irvine buyer.

How about if you got wood stairs and put a carpet runner down the middle to comply with HOA rules?

 

[aquabliss]

This surface can easily get scuffs or scratches that won't come off.  Take your dress shoes and kick the surface with the side of your shoe.  You'll probably end up with a black scuff on the grey rubber that would be there forever.  I'd steer clear.

Just get the wood steps anyhow.  I lived in an HOA that wouldn't allow it and I know plenty of the neighbors did it anyway. 

 

[Roger]

This surface can easily get scuffs or scratches that won't come off.  Take your dress shoes and kick the surface with the side of your shoe.  You'll probably end up with a black scuff on the grey rubber that would be there forever.  I'd steer clear.

Just get the wood steps anyhow.  I lived in an HOA that wouldn't allow it and I know plenty of the neighbors did it anyway.

Wow your HOA won't allow you to install wood flooring on your stairway? How would they find out if you did anyways?

 

[nyc to oc]

This surface can easily get scuffs or scratches that won't come off.  Take your dress shoes and kick the surface with the side of your shoe.  You'll probably end up with a black scuff on the grey rubber that would be there forever.  I'd steer clear.

Just get the wood steps anyhow.  I lived in an HOA that wouldn't allow it and I know plenty of the neighbors did it anyway.

Wow your HOA won't allow you to install wood flooring on your stairway? How would they find out if you did anyways?

I don't know how it works here, but in NYC, which often has rules about having to carpet or put rugs over a minimum percentage of your floor space, if your downstairs neighbor complains about noisy footsteps, then they come and inspect your home. If they find you are in violation, then they force you to comply. So I guess if your neighbors complain about noisy clomping on stairs, maybe the HOA comes and inspects your home.

I suppose you could take a chance and put the wood stairs in and hope no one complains, but it seems to me that its an expensive risk to take if you put in wood stairs and end up having to rip them out.

 

[Roger]

This surface can easily get scuffs or scratches that won't come off.  Take your dress shoes and kick the surface with the side of your shoe.  You'll probably end up with a black scuff on the grey rubber that would be there forever.  I'd steer clear.

Just get the wood steps anyhow.  I lived in an HOA that wouldn't allow it and I know plenty of the neighbors did it anyway.

Wow your HOA won't allow you to install wood flooring on your stairway? How would they find out if you did anyways?

I don't know how it works here, but in NYC, which often has rules about having to carpet or put rugs over a minimum percentage of your floor space, if your downstairs neighbor complains about noisy footsteps, then they come and inspect your home. If they find you are in violation, then they force you to comply. So I guess if your neighbors complain about noisy clomping on stairs, maybe the HOA comes and inspects your home.

I suppose you could take a chance and put the wood stairs in and hope no one complains, but it seems to me that its an expensive risk to take if you put in wood stairs and end up having to rip them out.

Thanks.  It makes sense in the case of mid/high rise where residents have neighbor above or below.  My bad - AUQA stated "lived"...  not present sense cuz there is no way the HOA will enforce that kind of rule on an detached condo or SFR..

 

[socal78]

Hmm... if I was going to consider an alternative flooring material where sound insulation is key, I'd probably look into cork! It hits all the other marks as far as not needing vacuuming, durability, probably being HOA-compliant, etc. Notice I didn't say it's cute, though. There's a certain "fug factor" to it, imo, but not much worse than those rubber jailhouse steps.