You can make your staircase safer by understanding how to select the best stair treads.
Why Get Stair Treads?
Wooden stairs add an elegant aspect to the home. Plus, they are easy to clean. However, these hard materials are prone to scratches and are very slippery.
A stair tread gets placed on the centre of each step to reduce anyone from slipping and for scratch-resistant protection. Stair treads provide functionality but can be stylish too.
Similar to area rugs, you can find different stair nose styles, patterns, colours, and even materials. Here's how to find the best stair treads for your stairs.
Types of Stair Treads
Even though there are endless designs you can get for your home, there are two types of stair tread categories that you should consider. Those categories are:
Standard Stair Tread
A standard stair tread rug is one you may see more commonly. They have space between the edge of the tread and the edge of the step.
They give off a minimalist look that is best suited for contemporary styles. These treads look good when they are made with natural fibres.
Bullnose Treads
The second category of stair tread covers is bullnose treads. These are better for protecting stairs from damage. They can also significantly reduce the level of noise that comes with going up and down the stairs.
Instead of saving room between the edge of the stairs, these treads wrap around the edge of the stairs. This gives off a more traditional look.
Stair Tread Materials
Material is essential when choosing the right stair treads for your home. What material you need depends on several factors such as the level of foot traffic and the expected wear and tear.
The most common stair tread materials are:
- Wool
- Polypropylene
- Sisal
- Seagrass
- Nylon
A wool stair tread is beneficial for medium foot traffic homes. This material provides a comfortable and soft feeling on the feet.
Polypropylene is also known as olefin. This material is perfect for homes with heavy foot traffic. This material can be used for indoor or outdoor stairs and is great for resisting stains.
Sisal is a natural material made of strong and durable plant fibre. Because of this, sisal stair treads last longer than other materials and is best in high foot traffic homes. It won't feel as soft as polypropylene, but it offers an unforgettable natural look.
Seagrass is another natural material that is stain resistant. This type of carpeting is more low maintenance than others and works great in busy houses.
At last, nylon is common because it is stain resistant and very easy to clean. You can use nylon stair treads in heavy foot traffic environments.
Wooden Stair Treads vs. Non-Wooden
Wooden stair treads don't hold up well on exterior staircases. For interior staircases, there are multiple types of wood to choose from that can up your home's aesthetics.
A popular non-wooden staircase tread is glass. These come in different colours and varieties, but this material is not always slip resistant.
Tile treads are another alternative to wooden stair treads. One huge advantage of this material is that it don't need maintenance and oiling. For outdoor staircases, this material is beneficial because it does not attract insects or decay.
If you want the look of wooden stair treads, tile can mimic that for you.
Limestone is another stair tread option that can be used indoors or outdoors. This natural stone can be cut into any size or shape. It is a durable material that can be polished to provide a perfect finish.
Limestone comes in different colours. To prevent this material from staining, it needs to get sealed.
For those who want a rustic industrial look, steel treads are a good option. Generally, they are used on spiral staircases. It is essential to provide slip protection when using metal treads.
Sizing Treads
One of the most important aspects of buying stair treads for your wooden stairs is getting the right size. Don't go through with payment without measuring your staircase first. You can easily measure the stairs by figuring out the length and width of a step.
Consider how much room you want between the stair tread and the stairs. If you want to expose the hardwood on your stairs, you could leave an inch around the tread. If you prefer the tread to cover the entire step, the simple mathematics will do you just fine.
After figuring out the area of each step, count how many steps you have. If you don't plan on covering every step, just include the number of steps you want to cover.
Stair Nosing
If you don't want to order stair treads, you can opt for stair nosing instead. This is necessary for the structure of any staircase, but it has more benefits than one.
Just like stair treads, stair nosing can add an extra level of safety to your staircase. A stair nosing will hand over the top of the tread giving you extra space to step on.
Stair nosing is also beneficial as it protects the edge of the treads from being damaged and wearing down over time. Because the step is more visible, slips and falls are less likely.
There are many stair nosing strip styles to choose from that can make your home look pleasing to the eye. These are also great for businesses that want to give off a sleek look.
Pencil Round
A pencil round look is best for contemporary stairs, but it works with other styles just as well. It is named this because of the roundness that looks like a pencil. This is the most durable style.
No Overhang
The no overhand style works best for stairs that also have stair treads. However, it can go without the added carpeting to give off a modern look.
Square/Arrissed
Square is a popular nosing style for contemporary and modern homes. This square nosing is called arrissed because it is sanded on the edge to prevent easy damage.
How Will You Protect Your Stairs?
The best stair treads and stair nosing for wooden staircases depend on the style of the home. Because there are tons of options, it can be hard to choose. With this helpful guide, you can find the right way to protect your wooden staircase now!