Using Stair Treads to Make Your Staircase Safer

Stair treads are small rugs custom-made for each step of your stairs. Not only are they safe to walk on, but they’re a great way to make an otherwise slippery or scary staircase considerably safer. 

Below you’ll find everything you need to know about Sisal Rugs Direct’s stair treads, including how they work, why they’re a great option for your staircases, and how you can get started customizing yours right now. 

What are stair treads?

Stair treads are a type of rug custom-cut to the length and width of your stair steps. You place stair treads on each step of your stairs and affix them in place with rug pads. 

These adhesive tapes keep the stair treads from moving or sliding when you step on them, while the staIr treads provide a soft and comfortable alternative to stepping on your stairs.

Why should I use stair treads?

Stair treads can be very useful for several reasons:

• Safety: Placing stair treads on steps made of potentially slippery materials such as tiled or linoleum can make them much safer to walk on. 
• Comfort: Rug pad-backed stair treads are much softer to walk on than stair steps made of hard materials such as concrete or hardwood.
• Noise reduction: Placing stair treads on creaky steps or steps made of hard material can help muffle the noise generated when people walk up and down them.
• Aesthetics: Last but not least, stair treads simply look great on all kinds of stairs. If you want to benefit from the advantages of a stair runner rug, but don’t want to cover your steps up with one, stair treads can be a great compromise.

How do stair treads work?

Sisal Rugs Direct measures and cuts our stair treads to fit snugly over the center of your staircase steps. 

When properly affixed, stair treads remain flush with your steps, providing a soft but completely sturdy surface to walk on. You should be able to walk up and down the stairs with total confidence that the treads won’t give, bunch up, slide, or move underfoot. If you notice the rug shift at all while you’re walking on it, you should stop using your stair treads immediately and reinstall them.

Where should I use stair treads?

Simply put: wherever you’d like to improve the safety and comfort of a staircase. A lot of people only consider placing stair treads on their main staircase, but they have far more utility than that.

For example, using stair treads can be a great way to make a steep, unfinished basement staircase safer and more comfortable to walk on at the same time. You could even use indoor-outdoor synthetic rug material to customize a set of waterproof stair treads for outdoor staircases, such as those leading up to your deck or porch. 

You could also use a single stair tread or a small set for small sets of stairs around your home. For instance, if you have a single step or a few steps to climb to get into your home from your garage, placing a set of indoor-outdoor stair treads on those steps is a great way to welcome yourself home. 

What kind of rugs make for the best stair treads?

This answer depends on where you’d like to place them. If you’re looking for stair treads for an indoor staircase, we generally recommend wool. Wool is the softest and most durable natural fiber we make rugs from. Its plush weave muffles the sound of footfalls and will make walking on your staircase far more comfortable. Wool treads also stand up to impact even better than most other natural fibers, which makes wool stair treads perfect for the most used staircases in your space.

That being said, if there’s a chance your stair treads will come into contact with excess humidity or moisture for an extended period of time, wool is not the right choice. In that case, we recommend polysilk, which is a synthetic fiber created to approximate the look and feel of wool. With polysilk stair treads, you can get all the benefits of wool — including its softness and durability — without worrying about any of its drawbacks. 

Ultimately, you should choose the fabric that feels right for you. Sisal Rugs Direct can create custom stair treads out of any of our natural and synthetic fibers. All you have to do is find the style that works best for you and start customizing.

Where can I get stair treads?

You can custom order stair treads on the Sisal Direct website. Just measure your stair (leaving a little room on the longer sides for the stairs to remain visible), select the style of material you want, and place your order to your exact specifications. 

If you have any other questions or need some help choosing the right stair treads for your home, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We want to help make your stairs as safe and comfortable as possible.