Why Choose Rubber Stair Treads Over Other Options?

So, you’re in the market for some new stair mats, but are overwhelmed with all of the options the options your Google search has presented to you. Between stair tape or carpet, vinyl or rubber, or even just giving up and going with no step mats at all, making the right choice can feel impossible. Rubber stair treads are the best option for non-skid stair treads because they offer the best safety features, are long-lasting, and offer various color and designs to maintain an aesthetic appeal. The other stair mat options cannot offer all of these qualities in one product.

First, let’s talk about how not having any non-slip stair treads is by far the worst option. Without any sort of stair mat or non-slip stair tread, there is zero protection against slips, trips, and falls. This is a huge safety risk, especially considering that fall related accidents are the second most common fatal accident in the work place (National Safety Council). Stairs are already trickier to navigate than flat surfaces, but when you throw in slippery surfaces or carrying large and heavy objects, without the protections of non-skid stair treads, a disaster is waiting to happen. Thankfully, rubber stair treads can help combat these safety concerns. Rubber treads have a textured surface, which creates more traction, greatly decreasing the chances of slipping while descending or ascending stairs.

“Well, isn’t that what all non-slip stair treads are for?” you may be thinking. Yes, all stair mats do work to create a safer anti-slip stair, but there are other disadvantages that come with non-rubber stair treads.

One of these anti-slip stair options is double sided stair tape. People look to this option because it is simple to install and seemingly cost-effective compared to step mats. However, stair tape is only a temporary solution. It wears away quite easily, which means having to constantly replace it, which ultimately means spending more money. Additionally, stair tape only covers a small portion of the stair; non-slip treads, on the other hand, offer full protection. Lastly, stair tape is not aesthetically pleasing. At best it’s a boring black strip of tape, and at worst it’s a horrifically bright yellow or orange used as a safety warning. As for giving a stair non-slip treads, stair tape is a poor option. Rubber stair treads are long lasting with little wear (making them cost-effective), offer full stair coverage, and come in a variety of colors and designs to suit your decorative preferences.

Another option is carpeted stairs in place of step mats or non-skid stair treads. There are several reasons not to go with carpet. It is a hassle to install. It’s not something that can easily done by yourself, so someone has to come in and do it for you. This ends up costing you more time and money than carpeting is even worth. Not only is it difficult to install, it is permanent to install! That means when you eventually decide that you don’t want carpet on your stairs any more, it will be just as much of a hassle to remove it as it was to get it there in the first place! By contrast, with a little adhesive, rubber stair treads are easy to install yourself, and while they are long lasting, they are simple to remove as well. Carpet may have an aesthetic appeal, but it is difficult to maintain. Have you ever tried cleaning carpeted stairs? Maneuvering a vacuum on a small step is not an easy task. When it comes to rubber stair treads, a hose or a mop can easily do the trick in a matter of minutes. Another disadvantage to carpet is that it’s for indoor use only. So, in some cases, it may not even be an option! However, rubber stair treads can provide the endurance needed for an outdoor step mat or the design desired for an indoor stair mat. Overall, carpet is a nightmare to deal with and is by far the least sensible option next to no non-skid stair mats at all.

A third option for non-slip stair treads is vinyl treads. Like rubber stair treads, vinyl is easy to install. However, vinyl treads are meant for indoor spaces that have a light or medium traffic flow. So, like carpet, vinyl is not ideal for any sort of outdoor stairway, nor any sort of stairway with heavy foot traffic. Since vinyl treads are meant for lighter indoor foot traffic, they are more likely to wear down quickly. This is most apparent in the discoloration that often occurs. This not only means a decrease in quality and utility, but also takes away the aesthetic appeal. So though vinyl treads are often compared most with rubber stair treads, the rubber treads are a better choice due to their greater durability which helps to maintain their aesthetic as well.

When choosing non-slip stair treads for your home or business, rubber stair treads are universally the best option. Their textured surface offers a slip resistant quality to keep your stairway safe, preventing slips, trips, and falls. They are easy and simple to install, not requiring experts to come in to do it for you, taking up your time and money. All you need is the right adhesive and a steady hand and you’re good to go! Rubber treads are long lasting and durable, making them a cost-effective choice for both indoor and outdoor stairways. In addition, they are easy to clean and maintain, making them last even longer. And lastly, rubber stair treads offer a variety of colors and designs, so that you don’t have to sacrifice aesthetic appeal for safety and durability. Altogether, you just can’t go wrong with rubber stair treads for your anti-slip stair needs.