Stair Treads and the Safety Concerns

Staircase remodeling is one area where you cannot afford to be careless. As every seasoned stair builder would tell you, building a staircase that is beautiful to look at, safe to use and strong enough to withstand all the usual assaults that we subject it to, is a primary concern.

One rule of thumb when choosing stair treads to ensure maximum safety is to opt for treads that are the widest. A wider step means a better footing and less slipping. This concern usually boils down to a very simple question – whether to install treads measuring 2 x 12 or 3 x 12? If you let safety issues guide your decision, the choice is very simple – 3 x 12.

A 3 x 12 design naturally gives your treads extra strength by virtue of being thicker than the 2 x 12 variant. Anybody climbing up or down such a robustly built staircase would naturally make him feel safe, steady and in control. If you've ever walked up an older stairway that was built using 2 x 12 stair treads, you probably know what I'm talking about. Climbing stairs should not make one feel unsure about it. In other words, it is in everyone’s interest to avoid building a staircase that gives the constant impression that the climber might slip or fall, or that the treads might give way. With a solid 3 x 12 construct, such issues can be quickly forgotten.

Some of the other concerns while building a safe staircase include watching out for possible problem areas. For example, if one has a 3” knot in a 2 x 12 stair tread, it can render your staircase weak and unsafe over tome as the wood expands (a natural process) and causes the knot to loosen up.

With a thicker stair tread (such as in 3 x 12), this process of expansion is significantly slower and the problem is much less acute. Finally, don’t forget to select only premium grade lumber for your stair treads.

Stair Treads and the Safety Concerns – A Brief