Stair Tread Covers

Stair Tread Covers is typically used as a generic term to mean any type of stair tread which covers all or most of a stair. Sometimes the term is used for rubber or vinyl stairs, and typically used in industrial or commercial environments.

Some are weight bearing, meaning they provide support. A prime example is metal grating used as stairs. Metal grating is often used as the actual steps themselves in wet and/or oily environments, for example on offshore oil rigs.

Most stair tread covers are applied to existing staircases and stairs that have structural integrity and can support the weight of the traffic they are designed to handle.

These treads help prevent slips and falls, protect the underlying staircase from wear and tear, and additionally may add decorative touches

Sometimes heavy duty stair tread covers are made of molded polyester or fiberglass, often with surface grit, metal, aluminum, vinyl, rubber, and a wide range of other materials. Carpet is also a common cover for stair treads, either one contiguous piece or individual pieces on each step, much like miniature area rugs.

Here are some examples:

In one commercial warehouse I visited last week, the stairs were covered in a heavy duty fiberglass stair tread cover. Surface grit was incorporated into the surface for obvious non slip properties, and the each fiberglass piece covered an entire step, protecting it from wear. Although not ugly, décor was obviously not a design consideration!

In a multifamily rental unit, the inside stairs were made of construction grade material. It was strong yet unattractive, and entirely covered by a commercial rug both to hide and protect the underlying plywood and wood, and for its non slip properties. Additionally, the one outside staircase had rubber stair tread covers for their non slip properties.