How Can I Protect Stairway Walls from Heavy Traffic?
Q: My husband and I have just purchased our first house, and we are very excited to finally have a space in our basement to dedicate to music. As a musician, he frequently brings guitars, amps, and other large equipment back and forth to gigs and rehearsals. In the past, he has rented practice spaces, which are always covered in gouges on the walls, corners, and doors—an inevitable cost of musicians constantly hauling large heavy things. I’d really like to keep my stairwell to the basement from this fate without having to constantly repair drywall…
My husband mentioned screwing sheets of plexiglass to the wall, which seems expensive and ugly. What can I use in my stairwell, and possibly near the door, to cover and protect the walls while still being budget friendly and inoffensive in appearance? Should I just resign myself to replacing the drywall when we eventually move, and repaint regularly in the meantime? -Sent by Colleen
Editor: Congratulations on your new home! Readers, any tips for how Colleen can protect the stairwell walls from the seemingly inevitable dings, gouges, and scrapes? Or do you recommend periodically touching up the paint and trying not to get upset by the damage? Thanks!
• Have a question for our community? Send us yours with a photo or two attached (questions with photos get answered first).