How to cover wood stairs

[festooltim]

I was wondering what is a good way to cover a customers hardwood stairs for a couple months it might take to do a remodel job on the second floor of a customers home. Most of the time the stairs are covered  in carpet and we just put the sticky carpet cover over it and it holds up well. But sometimes we get a job where the stairs are hardwood and they need to be protected from all the trades people going up and down carrying material and tools. Looking for good protection and to be safe so no one falls.

 

[MahalaHomecraft]

I usually use Masonite.  If you can get the uncoated 4x8 sheets they won't be slippery.  Cut it into pieces that are 1" too small front to back and 2" too small side to side, and use 2" blue tape to hold them down.  If you can only get the coated stuff (white on one side), it'll still be okay with the white side down, but as there's very little natural friction on that white side the tape won't hold up as long.

 

[BBuild]

I use Masonite for long term protection and Ramboard for short term. If you leave the tape down for too long you have to be very careful pulling it up so you don't pull off the finish. I fold it back on its self and go very slow. Most times I'll tape the back edge to the riser instead of the tread.

 

[festooltim]

Thanks for the replies I was thinking maybe some kind of plywood but your right Masonite would be much better and I'am thinking that it is thin enough for the painters tape should hold it in place well. And a sheet should be enough for a set of stairs then I also could reuse it.

 

[w802h]

I've had more problems with paint peeling off risers than treads on stairs I've protected.  I suspect that in two cases there was poly or varnish under the paint and the prep work was poor and the bond poor.