Particle board or not?

[Boris33]

Hello!

I have started renovating the staircase at home, removed the plastic mat, and discovered that it wasn't wood as I thought. So now my question is: can anyone here confirm if the gray material in the pictures is particle board? We want to paint the staircase and hope it turns out well.

I took a piece of it and it burned like a piece of wood. Hope someone can identify what this might be.

Thank you very much, best regards, Boris.

 

[justusandersson]

It looks like linoleum. Particle board is not a suitable material for stairs. It's probably wood underneath.

 

[topmount]

Yes, but if you remove the carpet, there will be a gap because the nose is higher than the step.

 

[Boris33]

Thank you for your answers!

Justus, if it's linoleum do you know how I can paint and protect the steps? Wall paint + varnish/wax?
Topmount, the carpet has already been removed, the yellow is glue/wax that I can remove with heat. The gray material cannot be removed.

 

[justusandersson]

Linoleum is a mixture of linolja and cork. I don't remember how to maintain it, but google "underhålla linoleum" and you'll probably find many answers. It was terribly common a few decades ago.

 

[topmount]

Thank you for your answers!

Justus, if it's linoleum, do you know how I can paint and protect the steps? Wall paint+varnish/wax?
Topmount, the carpet is already removed, the yellow is glue/wax that I can remove with heat. The gray material cannot be removed.

The original carpet (the gray one) is recessed in the step. Some people place needle felt carpet in the step or replace it with a new linoleum mat, can you unscrew the stair nose?