Staircases are among the most dangerous places out there. As common and necessary as they are, the sheer height of some staircases can pose a danger to the people going up and down them. Additionally, the individual steps of a stairway are not the most protected surfaces. If the stairway in question is located outdoors, then each step is subject to the elements, specifically rain and snow. These factors combine to form a potentially hazardous area in your home or business. The most direct method of safeguarding your stairways is to put rubber treads on them.

Why use rubber for stairs? What makes rubber such a special material? The answer is simple and lies in one of rubber’s defining physical features: traction. As a material, rubber naturally comes with a very high co-efficient of friction. Rubber treads provide your feet with a better level of grip, keeping them safe and secure on the surface of the rubber step mats. The more traction that feet will have, the far less likely a person is to suffer a slip and fall accident. It is this feature that makes each tread an effective anti-skid tread.

The importance of traction in helping keep people safe from accidents cannot be overstated. According to the National Safety Council, in 2011 about 8.9 million Emergency Room visits resulted from a fall (http://www.nsc.org/safety_home/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Falls/Pages/Falls.aspx#slips, trips and falls). It is fair to say that 8.9 million is a huge number. Slip and fall accidents are no joke and can cause great harm. At the least, they provide for a bit of embarrassment and maybe a bruise. But on the more serious side, they can lead to costly injuries that can sometimes be fatal.

Rubber for stairs can function very well when placed on any outdoor staircases. The rubber material that is usually used to make them is of the recycled variety. Recycled rubber has many benefits, but one of them is a higher degree of resistance to outdoor elemental conditions. Rubber treads can handle the otherwise harmful effects of UV rays and ozone. More importantly, rubber step mats are impervious to moisture. These mats for steps guard against water in two ways. First, rubber itself is very good at prohibiting microbial byproducts such as mold and mildew from forming. Secondly, and more importantly for the purposes of staircase safety, rubber maintains its traction in wet conditions. Compared with bare wood or concrete steps, rubber treads will provide a far superior grip for the feet going up and down outside staircases in rainy conditions.

An anti-skid tread will not only serve to keep you and your loved ones safe, but it can also help to protect the steps of a staircase. Steps made of wood or laminate are very sensitive to physical abrasions. The coming and going of feet is the most regular source of physical harm to staircases. Rubber treads can go a long way in preventing physical damage to your steps. Rubber is a durable material that is ideal to have as a barrier between your feet and the sensitive surface of the step. Mats for steps that are made of rubber can prevent stains, chips, and even cracks from forming on each step. The smoother the surface of a step, the safer it is to walk on.

Rubber treads are very easy to install. They come in sizes that will fit most standard step sizes. Step mats can be put in place by anyone. An anti-skid mat will often come with an extended lip on one edge so that they can easily “snap” or fit into place firmly on each individual step. When needing to ensure that they are installed in placed, just used some double-sided tape. One reason why they are so popular is because of this ease of installation. They are a fast and easy DIY project.

The importance of rubber treads should never be overlooked. Neither you nor your loved ones should become a statistic. It is crucial to have safety rubber for stairs both indoors and outdoors. Rubber mats for steps will help keep you balanced on your feet while moving up and down the stairs. They help to protect the stairs from physical harm. They can function well if placed in outdoor staircases. Most convenient of all, they are very easy to install. An anti-skid tread is perhaps the easiest way to enhance your home’s safety.