Key Considerations for Custom Stair Treads

From mass transit stairways to rugged industrial catwalks, stair treads are a critical component of modern building. Literally underfoot, these essential installations come in materials, colors, and assemblies to fit any and every environment.

But not all stairs are created equal: in fact, depending upon a building, city, or region’s requirements, it’s key to consider every element of a stair tread’s design, including proportions, visibility, environmental demands, and much more.

Custom Stair Treads: What, How, and Where

The right choice in stair tread makes for more than mere architectural or design impact. Superior safety, increased economic efficiency, long lasting performance, and improved structural integrity are all benefits of a well-designed stair tread solution.

When evaluating stair nosing or non-slip treads for the best fit, it’s key to evaluate all of the qualities of a given design, including:

Sizing

Check your local building codes and fully evaluate your existing stairs to find an appropriately sized tread or nosing for your environment. A nosing that’s too narrow can save initial installation costs, but can compromise the longevity of the stair itself — not to mention pedestrian safety.

Material

Aluminum, concrete, wood, even musical keys: stair treads can be crafted from almost any imaginable material! Of course, this makes the designer’s responsibility especially key in finding the best combination of safety, aesthetics, and practical performance for any stair.

Video credit: Rolighetsteorin – Piano Stairs (YouTube.com)

Just a few of the common material choices for stair treads include:

• Wood
• Metal Grating
• Non-slip surfacing
• High-visibility substrates
• Carpet or traction coating
• Glow-in-the-dark coating
• Accent lighting
• And more!

Environmental Challenges

Indoor and outdoor stairs must be crafted with different considerations in mind. For example, a non-slip or high visibility stair is especially important in abrasive, high exposure outdoor settings where weather and low light can be a challenge. Demanding indoor environments such as industrial facilities, shipping centers, and garages can also take advantage of high performance stairs for long life and increased safety.

Coloring and Surface Treatment

The toughest stair treads and nosing are often made of a metal composite base: aluminum is a durable, long-lasting option. However, for maximum stair safety, a high visibility coloring or non-slip surface treatment helps to stop slips in their tracks. A contrasting nosing substrate, glow in the dark tread highlight, or a safety traction surface offers both peace of mind and long-lasting performance for your stair.

Non-Slip Nosings

The nosing of a stair tread can be a precarious place, and one of the most common culprits for slips, trips, and falls. Consider both the proper seating and depth for your nosing, as well as the accident risk of your environment. High risk areas should utilize a deeper stair nosing, and can be even further fortified with non-slip surfacing and high contrast visibility treatments.

Custom Crafted Stair Solutions with Amstep

The designers and engineers at Amstep Products have led the industry in developing high performance, non-slip stairs for over 100 years. We’re proud to provide some of the world’s most durable safety products, including Sightline high visibility anti-slip stair treads and stair nosings, cutting-edge Glowline™ treads, and a full series of unique heavy duty composite-treated treads to renovate existing staircases.

Our inventory is stacked with ways to secure your stairs — reach out to consult with an expert or request a quote today!