Staircases are everywhere around us. A common part of life for us today as well as in antiquity, it is one of those human inventions that are at once practical and timeless. However, stairs often bring a unique hazard along with them. On every staircase, there is always the risk of accidents from occurring as a result of a slip or misplaced foot. The elderly, in particular, are very vulnerable to this. One surefire way to help reduce the chances of such accidents occurring is through the use of a rubber stair tread.

Regardless of whether you have a small two-step section inside your home leading to your living room or large winding exterior staircases, a non-slip tread made of rubber will greatly increase the safety of the area. Safety should be a paramount concern regarding any stairway. This is especially true in case there are any elderly folk within the vicinity. They are far more prone to slipping on stairways than people of other age demographics. For the elderly, an injury can be so severe that it can be fatal at times. According to the National Safety Council, one in three adults age 65 and over suffer a fall every year (http://www.nsc.org/safety_home/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Falls/Pages/OlderAdultFalls.aspx). More often than not, these falls occur while ascending or descending a staircase. A rubber stair tread placed on each step will help to increase overall safety.

In what ways do rubber stair mats aid in your safety? It is a common question and a very valid one. The answer lies within the material of the non-slip tread itself: rubber. A rubber stair tread is naturally suited to keeping people on their feet. This is thanks to rubber’s natural ability to increase traction. It is for this reason that rubber is often employed in various types of flooring for specific safety purposes. When feet are going over rubber, they experience sufficient friction and resistance. This provides enough traction to keep you and your guests safe and upright on your feet.

Unprotected steps can be fairly slippery by themselves. They are often made of wood, metals, or even concrete. These surfaces are not the greatest in terms of providing traction. Wood and laminate can be quite slippery, especially in wet conditions. A rubber stair tread will replace the existing step surface with a reliable safety-enhancing rubber surface. With a non-slip tread in place on your interior or exterior staircases, your feet will not come into contact with the pre-existing step. Ultimately, each rubber stair tread will greatly reduce the chances of accidents occurring on your steps.

A great feature about rubber is that it maintains its anti-slip capabilities even in wet conditions. In fact, rubber is generally very resistant to moisture. Rubber stair mats will not suffer from mold or mildew. As a material, rubber is very good at prohibiting microbial byproducts from forming. These can go on to become mold and mildew, which can be very harmful to your health. More importantly, they still retain better anti-slip traction while wet when compared to exposed and unprotected steps. For example, wet wooden stairs can cause your feet to slip, but a wet rubber stair tread is more likely to grip your feet.

The rubber content used to make each non-slip tread can survive other environmental conditions such as intense sunlight. This is an especially useful feature in case they are used for exterior staircases. UV rays and ozone normally tend to cause cracks and other deformations in materials left in their presence for long enough, but the rubber material used to make each rubber stair tread, usually recycled rubber, can endure in such outdoor conditions for far longer.

Anti-slip safety and environmental resistance are always great features to have, but sometimes there are other factors to consider as well. Aesthetics are another feature that people look for when considering stair mats. A non-slip tread can come in various different types of designs and forms. Whether you have interior or exterior staircases, their appearance can always be enhanced with stair treads. Some of them feature designed surface patterns that can range from an industrial diamond-plated look to more design-oriented shapes like stars. Overall, treads are meant to combine their useful practical functions with aesthetic considerations.

The rubber stair tread is a popular addition to any home. They function well in both indoor and outdoor conditions. They are very important to have around in case you have elderly people in the vicinity. The rubber material allows feet to stay gripped onto the surface of the step mats. Stair mats are also able to last in outdoor conditions for a very long time. They are the best possible addition to your staircases, so do not hesitate in getting rubber stair tread mats installed on your steps!