White Stair Risers
Keep white stair risers scuff-free with this helpful trick.
Several years ago, I decided to upgrade my carpeted stairs to wood to match the rest of my flooring. I wanted white risers but didn’t want to deal with keeping them nice-looking over time. I certainly didn’t want to be repainting scuff marks from shoes every year.
So, to prevent this, I took a piece of 5/8-in. plywood and glued a 4×8 sheet of dry-erase board onto it (drawing left). Then I cut out my riser lengths and heights the next day for installation. Ten years later, they still look brand-new.
— Steve Menez; Folsom, Calif.
From Fine Homebuilding #262
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Source for 1/16" dry erase board? Did an internet search and only found premade boards ready to use.
Great idea!
https://everase.com/products/dry-erase-resurfacing-solutions/everase-dry-erase-116-non-magnetic-panel/
White melamine may work just as good. It's good enough for cabinets. Both wash clean with 'once a day' shower spray cleaners. This cleaner takes off anything including permanent markers like sharpies.
...A solution to a non-existent problem. Had white risers in my last house for 12 years and there were no scuff marks on the them. I've had them in my current house for 2 years now and they still look like new.
People do not place their entire shoe on that 11 inch tread but instead step on the leading edge of the tread with only half of their shoe actually making contact. Unless someone stumbles there shouldn't be any contact with the riser.
I've done some white risers but never thought of anything but painting. The idea of using a white material that doesn't scuff or is easily replaced seems like something worth trying. However, I wouldn't want to subtract 5/8" from tread lengths. What I'd try would be 3 mm thick white melamine and attach it with a releasable glue like what I have for my Black Diamond climbing skins (for my skis).
That said, we once rented a house with a a white riser stair to a young couple with two small children for a few years. Scuffed risers was not among the many issues when they moved out.
Nice idea to use the dry erase board but this article is dated and there is a easier and cheaper alternative that has come out since the original publication. Benjamin Moore has come out with "Scuff-X" paint. It is a scuff resistant paint that is ideal for stair risers and any areas that get beat up. The stuff works. It's a water based paint, low odor and when cured has the characteristics of an epoxy type paint.
Seriously?
Handy to leave reminder notes to your kids too, e.g.
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