There are so many options when it comes to choosing the correct stair nosing for your specific situation. Since countless different companies specialize in certain types of stair nosing, the buying process can seem overwhelming at first.
The buying journey involves a two step process:Some companies that manufacture stair nosing work only with the residential market, while others work completely with the commercial or industrial market. You will want to make sure that a company can take care of your needs before doing any further research into that company’s products.
Stair nosings have very specific functions. If you know that your area will be getting wet or will be subjected to extreme temperature changes, you will want to ask if the products provided by the company can stand up to those conditions. Also, a huge consideration is whether the stair nosing will be used indoors or outdoors. Only certain products that can be used in an exterior setting.
For instance, if you’re working with an opulent hotel lobby that has a very visible staircase, you may want to use a brass or bronze stair nosing (if it fits within the color scheme of the lobby). If you’re going to install the profiles in a backstage area of a theater, you may want to go with a more basic stair nosing, like aluminum or PVC.
Like most things that we purchase, there is a huge price range for stair nosing. For example, the Gradus stair nosing profiles that we carry start out at around $2.00 per linear foot for a basic flexible PVC (rubber) stair edging and reach over $50.00 per linear foot for a bronze stair nosing or a lighted stair nosing. Knowing your budget will help determine if the company has anything to offer for your situation.
Steps with light traffic will not require the same type stair nosing as for those with heavy traffic. Typically, you can use thinner and less expensive stair nosing when your traffic level is low. Conversely, a more durable profile is optimal for steps that will have a high volume of traffic.
Below, I have listed some additional questions to help you identify which stair nosing is the best fit for your needs.
Stair nosing not only comes in various materials, but is also produced in many different shapes and sizes. Some questions that will help you choose the shape and size you will need are as follows.
Do you plan on adding anything to the tread part of the step? Or do you plan to keep the step as is - concrete or wood with no other product?
If you aren’t using anything on the step other than the concrete or wood finish, you will want to choose a stair nosing that ramps down in the back to a flat surface. If you are installing carpet, VCT, ceramic or any other surface on the tread portion of the step, you will need to make sure that the stair nosing you choose is the same thickness as the flooring material. So, if your carpet is ¼” thick, you will want stair nosings that is also ¼” thick to prevent a trip hazard on the back end of the stair nosing.
As you can see, there is much more to selecting the perfect stair nosings than meets the eye. I hope that this gives you a little more insight and helps make your search less stressful.