When designing wood stair treads for your home, you&#;ll have a great variety of options. The best wood for stair treads is a matter of personal preference &#; any hardwood or pine species can serve your purposes. The choice comes down to the type of grain and hues you like most, and whether you want your stair treads to match or complement your hardwood floors.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit our website.
When matching your stairway to existing floors, the best wood for stair treads is obviously the wood you&#;ve selected for your hardwood floors. Matching the treads to your floors will create a visual cohesion and a greater sense of flow throughout your space. If you prefer to have your stair treads complement your floors, you can choose a different species of wood or decide to stain your treads to a complementary hue. Either approach will bring more visual focus to your stairway.
At Carlisle Wide Plank Floors, our design consultants can answer all your questions and offer expert advice about choosing the best wood for stair treads in your home. We&#;ll explain the benefits of Red Oak vs. Maple and the difference in density in Hickory vs. Walnut. We can help you decide on a texture treatment for your White Oak stair treads or explore finish possibilities for your Black Walnut stair treads. Ultimately, our goal is to assist you in choosing the best wood for stair treads that will be a reflection of your sense of style and beauty, and to create a surface that will delight and amaze you every time you return home.
When designing or building a staircase, it&#;s important to consider not only the type of staircase, but also the type of stair treads and stair tread nosing. Whether the staircase is part of new construction or a remodel, the kind of stair treads and nosing selected will impact the look of the staircase and can also affect the overall safety of travelling up and down the staircase. Below are some factors to consider when deciding on these components.
The stair tread is the horizontal part of a staircase that you step on when climbing up or down the stairs. Of all the staircase parts, treads are typically the largest visible component. So, the kind of stair tread you choose will have a big impact on the overall look of the staircase. Stair treads are available in a variety of materials, styles and finishes that can contribute to the interior design of the staircase and space.
The best material for stair treads depends on many factors. Some materials are more suited for indoor use, while other more durable materials may be used outside. Different types of staircases may utilize different types of stair treads. Whether the stair case is in an industrial, commercial or residential setting can also impact the type of stair tread material. Some tread systems work better for bolted steel stairs while others fit a
Steel is an alloy made up of iron, carbon and other materials. The steel used in staircases can be primed and painted to match the design of the building; have a powder coat finish; or be galvanized with a long-lasting zinc coating that prevents corrosive substances from reaching the steel below. Steel treads are extremely durable and fire resistant making them a long-term, safe material for many applications.
Steel stair treads are often used in industrial and outdoor applications. Steel or metal stair treads with a diamond pattern, bar grating surface, or an
abrasive coating can be used in commercial building interiors and exterior applications, such as apartment buildings and parking garages. Steel stair treads are also used in private homes and are commonly found on spiral staircases.
Aluminum is a silvery-white metal &#; the thirteenth element in the periodic table. Aluminum is the most wide spread metal on earth making up more than 8% of the earth&#;s core mass. Aluminum is naturally corrosion resistant without any further treatment. Aluminum is also lightweight, weighing more than 50% less than steel for the same volume.
Like steel treads, aluminum treads are used in a variety of industrial, commercial and residential applications. Aluminum treads can be found in fire escapes, stairs for machinery and mezzanine access, and residential garden or deck stairs. Because of its light weight and corrosion resistance, aluminum is the preferred material for roof stairs, ship stairs on boats, other marine applications, and chemical environments. Aluminum treads are frequently cast into shape.
Stainless steel treads are the Cadillac of stair treads. Stainless steel is a type of steel alloy with chromium and / or nickel added to help prevent corrosion and rusting, and add heat resistance to the material. Because of these properties, stainless steel is used in high-heat environments like cooking equipment. Stainless is also more easily cleaned than other metals and is a great material for food applications.
Stainless steel stair treads are a high-performance tread material and considerably more expensive than other metals. Because of the cost, they are best for specialized applications like food production, cooking, chemical applications and other high-heat, corrosive environments.
Concrete is comprised of three components: water, aggregate (rock, san, or gravel) and powdered cement. The cement acts as a binding agent when mixed with water and aggregates, which when poured will harden into concrete.
Concrete is the most popular material used to build outdoor stairs due to its durability, but can also be used as the base of stairs in offices and homes that are then covered with other materials. Metal pan stair treads with poured concrete are very popular for commercial egress stairs. Pre-cast concrete stair treads are popular for apartments and residential outdoor and indoor stairways.
Many different types of wood can be used for staircase treads. The most important consideration is if the stairs will be for interior or exterior use, as many types of wood are not durable when exposed to the outdoor elements.
Many wood species can be used for interior stair treads including red oak, cherry, maple, walnut and engineered wood. Each will provide a different type of visual appeal. For exterior wooden staircases, ironwoods should be used for treads due to their hardness. However, cedar and redwood can also be used outside as they are more weather resistant than other types of wood.
Although wood is not a popular tread material for industrial applications or tall commercial buildings, it is the most common tread material used in private residences.
In recent years, glass has become a popular material for stair treads. Many colors, patterns, textures and finishes are available to provide a unique look for your staircase.
With a variety of design options, tile stair treads can be a beautiful alternative to other materials. Tile is composed of naturally occurring materials with many options that are made from recycled materials.
Like glass, tile treads are mostly found in commercial buildings and private homes. Tile is often used for staircases located in an entryway to make a bold statement.
Link to Shengfei
Stone stair treads come in a variety of options. The most popular type of stone tread is bluestone, which is a bluish sliver color. Limestone, which is an off-white color, is also commonly used.
Stone stairs are most often used in outdoor applications such as gardens but can also be used in homes, offices and commercial buildings. They are typically not found in industrial settings.
As we&#;ve discussed, stair treads can be made from a variety of materials. But there are also several different types of stair treads.
With standard stairs, each foot normally uses only about half of each tread, stepping out and over the unused section. With alternating tread stairs, the unused half tread is removed to provide more stair tread depth.
Alternating tread stairs provide additional safety and comfort to the user. Typically, the user faces the direction of travel when climbing up and down the stairs. The stair slope requires a smaller overall footprint than a standard stair.
Because of the unusual design and steepness, it can take practice to learn how to climb alternating tread stairs. Alternating tread stairs are not intended for use as a main staircase, but are only suitable for access to a single room such as an attic, cellar, roof or mezzanine.
These space saving stairs are commonly seen in residential, industrial and commercial applications. They can provide a convenient way of reaching an attic, basement, mezzanine or other space where a standard staircase wouldn&#;t fit.
Non slip stair treads are commonly used on outdoor stairs to increase traction and reduce the potential for accidents. Typically, the treads are covered with a light-weight, bolt-on tread cover which features a permanent, abrasive polyurethane coating.
However, there are other types of outdoor non slip stair treads. Diamond plate treads feature a pattern of raised diamond on one side with the reverse side being smooth. Bar grating treads feature an open grid assembly of metal bars. Grip treads feature a serrated surface which help reduce accidents by providing a safer walking and working surface.
Non slip stair treads are commonly found in industrial environments, as well as outdoor metal stairs in high traffic areas of commercial settings.
A concrete filled metal pan stair tread consists of a metal pan which is filled with concrete. Typically, 1.5&#; of concrete is poured into each stair pan individually. The steel pan treads are fabricated and attached to the stair stringers. Metal pan stairs can work with various types of stair stringers. The concrete is poured into the metal pan to establish the walking surface of the stair tread.
Concrete filled metal pan stairs are durable and require low maintenance. However, they are costly, time consuming, and can result in safety hazards during construction.
Concrete filled metal pan stairs are a tread system commonly used in steel stairs for commercial and residential buildings.
Stair nosing is the front of the tread which protrudes beyond the riser. Some staircases do not have nosing but some building codes make it mandatory. Stair nosing is available in a variety of materials including rubber, aluminum and wood. There are also several different types of stair nosing.
Because this is where most of the foot traffic occurs, anti-slip strips may be applied to the nosing to make navigating the stairs easier. The addition of nosing in a contrasting color provides an extra measure of safety by helping users visually identify the presence of a step edge.
Photo-luminescent glow nosing is used in high-rise buildings for egress stair applications. The glow in the dark strips help users identify the edge of each stair tread in the case of emergency or power outage.
Metal pan stair treads have a lip that turns up to contain the poured concrete. This style of nosing is very popular for commercial egress stairs.
Abrasive nosing cast into concrete treads is a great solution for outdoor stair treads that need better slip resistance than what the concrete alone provides. An abrasive nosing is very popular for outdoor egress stairs.
This popular stair nosing design has rounded edges which look like a pencil which has been turned sideways. Pencil nosing is a common option for traditional staircases but can be used with modern styles as well. Pencil nosing has no sharp edges and creates a streamlined look down the length of the staircase.
Even though this stair nosing detail is named square, it usually has slightly rounded edges. Not only do the rounded edges ensure the stairs are not too sharp, they also protect against nicks and dents. Square nosing is a popular for both modern and contemporary stairs.
This stair nosing profile has two partially rounded edges with a flat surface between. This type of nosing looks like a half moon and is also referred to as bullnose.
Full round nosing features a continuous curve on the front edge of the stair to provide a smooth look and feel. Because this type of nosing provides less slip protection is often used for only the landing step or on grand staircases.
Unlike other stair nosing types, no overhang nosing sits flush with the riser below, giving the appearance of no nosing at all. This creates a sleek look and it commonly used for classic and contemporary staircases. No overhang nosing reduces the chances of tripping but also slightly reduces the size of your stair tread due to the loss of the nosing projection.
Two important components of staircase design are the stair treads and stair tread nosing. Stair treads can be made from a variety of materials including steel, aluminum, concrete, wood, glass and tile. The pros and cons should be considered when selecting a tread material, as well as the type of tread to use. Nosing styles can affect both the appearance and safety of the staircase, so the nosing design should be carefully considered as well.
For more fiberglass stair treadsinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.