Have You Considered Aluminium Tread For Your Outdoor Entertainment Area?

Building an outdoor entertainment area complete with different levels is the dream for many Australians. This is viewed as the ultimate extension or renovation which will add value to the home, as well as turning some of your garden into an attractive and usable place to bring guests. In order for your project to be a success, it is essential to consider the safety situation and remember to feature aluminium stair treads in your design.

The type of home that you have will no doubt dictate the design of your courtyard or patio to some extent. Some will match perfectly with a little red brick courtyard while others will demand a modern, sleek timber aesthetic. Both of these materials stand to benefit from the addition of stair grip.
While brick appears to be a very durable material choice, it actually can wear and crumble rather quickly. Brick will endure the elements very well, making it a popular choice for lasting walls. The clay is also very dense and so supports a lot of weight, making it also a great flooring choice.

However, brick steps are not quite as suitable. When people walk down stairs, the foot often lands on the right angle edge of the stair, rather than the flat surface. As this is repeated, the sharp corner of the brick will crumble. The result can be dangerous, especially seeing as outdoor entertaining often involves carrying plates of food and trays of drinks up and down the stairs without looking.

Hardwood or other smooth surface timber can present a danger when wet. Unlike porous brick, coated timber without any sort of groove or grip will mean a slick surface when it comes into contact with water. Some outdoor landscaping includes this kind of timber close to a pool, which is a poor choice. We all know that children coming out of the pool often forget to dry off meaning everything around them gets soaking wet. Aluminium nosing for the stairs will be sure to prevent nasty falls onto a hard surface and near a body of water.

One thing that no tread or nosing will offer much protection from is grease. Under a barbecue or leading up to a tool shed where the handyman likes to get his hands dirty, stairs could be prone to grease spills. Extra care should be taken to clean up any trace of grease as soon as possible.

At the moment there is no requirement to include nosing and treads in private building projects, although it has recently become mandatory in new public builds. The reason for this change is that the government has realised the dramatic safety advantages of this small feature. While these products make life much easier for the vision impaired, this is far from the only target market. Everyone will experience a safer lifestyle with stair treads in place.

In public places, there are rules in place which insist that nosing must be of a contrasting luminance so that it stands out. In your own home, you are once again exempt from these rules and can do as you wish. Of course, a contrasting colour will increase visibility and overall safety, however it is not as necessary as in public spaces, where there are crowds of people. In your situation, your family and guests will be familiar with your nosing. This means that if you wish, this safety feature can be practically invisible. Use a grey tread on a concrete step and you will barely notice it is there though will enjoy fewer slips and greater peace of mind.

Feel free to contact Step Solve on http://stepsolve.com.au/ to discuss your outdoor stair treads options.

Improve Safety For Indoor Staircases

Any parent living in a two storey home will know the feeling of worrying about their small children running up and down the stairs. And it is for good reason, as the staircase is the site of many slips and falls, of course the difference being that any minor tumble can result in a disaster and falling quite a long way. One of the best ways to give yourself peace of mind that your little ones are safe is to install some simple stair treads.

 Generally speaking, carpeted stairways are probably the most dangerous. While there is some amount of cushioning if you fall which could reduce bruising, the rounded edges of each stair can easily turn one misstep into a broken limb. There is little in the way of treads that can be applied to carpeted stairs, without looking very odd indeed. What is more popular for those that are thinking of building or renovating, is to opt for a timber staircase instead, with a series of non-slip mats on each stair. This introduces a chance to add a bit of colour and texture to the stairs, and can actually look quite striking. If the mats are wide enough, this can even give the illusion of carpeting without the safety risks.

Carpet or fabric stair treads are highly effective in that they offer the comfort and feel of carpet under the feet while not covering the edge of the stair which is dangerous. They will usually come with a non-slip backing or some sort of securing mechanism which ensures they stay in place. The popularity of these items means that there is quite a variety in what is available, and they can be as simple or as much of a decorative statement as you like.

Furthermore, carpet treads can reduce that hollow, reverberating sound of walking down timber stairs. This means no waking up in the middle of the night if someone uses the bathroom, or when teenage children come home late. Of course, to further improve stair safety, treads should be used in conjunction with effective railing and banisters.

Some indoor staircases simply won’t suit carpet treads, for example, a painted wooden staircase, or an iron spiral staircase. In some cases, rubber can be an effective alternative. Spiral staircases can be dangerous as there is less space for the foot to be in contact with the stair, however in general people are more aware of this risk and so ascend and descend slowly and while holding the rail. However, that being said, all stairs can be risky and tread of some sort will improve the situation.

Rubber treads are often brushed off before people even know what they can offer. Several years ago, the only rubber options that were available looked like boring old doormats, and so understandably weren’t so popular among those who care about appearances. Nowadays, there are a number of designs, which resemble cast iron floral patterns. They can be oblong or rectangular, and suit just about any home aesthetic. Placed against a white or cream background, these rubber treads offer a distinct Mediterranean feel with some helpful safety benefits.

In the home, owners are more concerned about safety features that can also look nice. In public spaces and outdoors, aluminium and less decorative rubber treads are most popular for their practicality. In fact, building codes in Australia now stipulate that all new public spaces must incorporate stair treading for safety reasons. To get in touch with a leading stair treads supplier, please contact Step Solve at http://stepsolve.com.au/ where our helpful staff will gladly be of assistance.