What Are Stair Treads

The stair tread is the part of the staircase that your foot makes contact with when ascending or descending. They can be made from numerous materials including wood, metal, glass and masonry. These, in combination with the riser, stringer and railings, form a staircase.

Since each step up or down changes the level of your feet, there is a higher risk of slipping or falling while ascending a staircase versus walking on level flooring. Steps that are made from smooth materials increase this probability, therefore, nosings are often required in local building codes to prevent unfortunate accidents.

As steps become worn, they can be renovated with non-slip treads. These covers have a high coefficient of friction for safety and give the steps a renovated, refreshed look. Our products can cover the front 3 inches of the stair up to the full depth of 11 inches or more.

The picture to the right shows a staircase with wood stair treads that include nonslip stair nosings that are flush with the stair. These nosings typically cover the front 2” to 4” of the stair tread. The wood was routered out to allow the nosings to sit flush with the stair tread.

Renovating Existing Staircases

There are several options available when renovating a set of stairs. Non slip stair treads and anti slip paint are two great examples. Coatings are easily applied and provide a uniform finish. They will need to be reapplied every 2 to 5 years depending on foot traffic and environmental conditions.

Although the installation of stair treads is more involved than that of coatings, Amstep’s tread products last many years or even decades.

In the end, each stair owner must decide which option best fits their foot traffic, environmental conditions and budget.

Feel free to contact us for options.