Worn stair treads

[Mrs McG]

Having slipped down the stairs for the second time since moving in 6 weeks ago I’m wondering whether I just need to become more familiar with using them or if they need attention. The photos below give a good idea of where the treads are wearing out and I’d be grateful for views, the least worn treads are 8.5” deep but in some areas that’s worn down or broken off to under 8”.

 

[Feltwell]

Those are lovely characterful old stairs, but I see the dilemma. A good carpenter could rout off the front edge and splice new timber in, it would be very visible but it would be an "honest repair".

You could try some anti-slip tape across the front edge - very reversible so worth a try. Lots on Ebay/Amazon. You could put a carpet runner up with stair rods, leaving the edges of the treads exposed at least - the carpet would increase the grip but would it make the wear hidden and even more lethal? Possibly!

 

[noj]

Lovely stairs, ours are similar and twist 180 degrees too (they're are actually laid over even older ones).

They were initially a death trap but we don't even notice them now to the extent that we don't even have a handrail any longer!

I'd try and live with them for a bit longer before giving them major surgery. Maybe put a thick rug over the quarries at the bottom?

It will also depend on how many visitors you have and their agility - we've had guests need to climb on hands & knees to the top room and bum shuffle back down.

Obviously choose any oil or wax finish very carefully...

 

[Cubist]

We had the same problem here after we moved in and, while muscle memory soon helps to avoid spills, that, as you say, does not help visitors. In our case the design of the stringers and easy access from below helped in the fix which consisted of removing the treads, cutting off the, in our case beetle devoured, leading edges and splicing matching timber to the rear edge to re-establish the tread depth. Some here may regard that as heresy and it would be the last thing I would have done had the darned things not been crumbling to dust between my fingers.

Your stairs have so much history and character I would be very reluctant to suggest you do the same so - perhaps a zip line and hoist arrangement?

 

[Mrs McG]

Many thanks for the advice and reassurance, I’ve never owned a home like this before (it’s late 1600’s and listed) and I’m a bit adrift with things so I’m very grateful that I found this forum!

Going upstairs is fine, it’s coming down that’s tricky. I had thought about transparent anti-slip tape but I was worried that tape could just mean that I’d pitch head over heels instead of slipping down on my rear as I’ve done!

I like the idea of an ‘honest repair’ and splicing in a new leading (or rear) edge as it would be better than replacing the whole tread which I was thinking I might have to do. If the leading edge was spliced would there be any concerns that the join could withstand the pressure of the front of a foot hitting when going downstairs?

 

[Craig89]

Stunning stairs, you just can't reproduce hundreds of years of use. I personally would be very reluctant to undo that because once it's gone it's gone. In my opinion these minor inconveniences are all part of the joy of owning a period property

 

[Cubist]

Ah, listed building you say. What grade? Your CO may have a little, probably a lot, to say about any changes even to make the stairs safe. I had to prepare scale drawings, schedules of materials and construction methods..... for a replacement front door! Needless to say that job went to the bottom of the ToDo list.

 

[Mrs McG]

It’s grade II listed and in a conservation area so a bit of a double whammy on the restrictions! I’ve recently requested some pre-app advice from my CO so I will ask them when we meet whether I’d need consent for the stairs, maybe not as it would be ‘like for like’ i.e. same pitch pine materials and no structural change.

Aesthetically I agree that the stairs shouldn’t be messed around with but I think it’s unlikely that these are original and at some point, perhaps several points, over the last 450 years or so they’ve been repaired.

 

[Cubist]

The trump card is Health and Safety in your case I think. The risk potential will weigh in your favour if the CO raises any significant objections. I wouldn't count too heavily on 'past' enhancements/repairs as a significant factor - my CO's words were "...but they provide evidence of how the building developed...". I paraphrase but my reply was not printable.

 

[CliffordPope]

I think I'd leave them but replace the handrail with a more "period" reproduction. It doen't need to stick out so far. That one looks a little bit like the kind of thing social services would put in for an elderly person. I'd be embarassed to use it.

 

[Mrs McG]

Haha I agree! It’s a 1970’s look at best.

 

[RBailey]

We put carpet treads on outs, they have a hard plastic nose built into the carpet.

And a squirt of grip fill to build it up and help the stick


I can really recommend pigs ear hand rail, fitted it to the wall on these stairs and makes a big difference.

Cheers,
Richard B.

 

[Mrs McG]

Great ideas, thanks! I might need made to measure treads, are yours a standard size?

 

[Feltwell]

I would also have said pig's ear handrail, but alas that really does require the wall to be pretty flat and by the look of the OP's first pictures, it definitely isn't! So I'd go with a mopstick handrail.

With it only having 3 or 4 points of contact (via brackets) with the wall you've more chance of getting an alignment. If you can't, well you can get adjustable brackets but they do look modern - or, much better - get a blacksmith to make you up brackets to the exact length required for each of the 3 - 4 points to give a straight line for the handrail.

 

[Mrs McG]

Mopstick, pigs ear … there’s a whole new vocabulary opening up to me

I have to say I like the simplicity of a simple cast iron handrail but I haven’t found it easy to find online resources for what might have originally been there. There might have been no handrail, but historical style is where I like to start my research and I haven’t found much for late 17th century. Windows and doors yes, but smaller items no.

 

[Feltwell]

Pig's ear - looks great but problem is the wall has to be dead flat:-

https://www.jacksonwoodturners.co.uk/online-shop/part-type/pigs-ear-handrail.html

Mopstick:-

https://www.jacksonwoodturners.co.uk/online-shop/part-type/mopstick-handrail.html

 

[Feltwell]

We put carpet treads on outs, they have a hard plastic nose built into the carpet.

And a squirt of grip fill to build it up and help the stick


I can really recommend pigs ear hand rail, fitted it to the wall on these stairs and makes a big difference.

Cheers,
Richard B.

Sorry, but I'd want to keep Gripfill well away from a beautiful old staircase like that!

 

[K80]

I am not sure how helpful but what you could start with "stair rules". I, for example, never think about anything else other than going down the stairs and multi tasking while taking the stairs is strictly not allowed. Could you wait another month? But they do look a bit slippy and dangerous. It is amazing, though, how used to my stairs I am now, we are as one. All my visitors take much more time with the stairs than me.

 

[LadyArowana]

Stunning stairs, you just can't reproduce hundreds of years of use. I personally would be very reluctant to undo that because once it's gone it's gone. In my opinion these minor inconveniences are all part of the joy of owning a period property

I’m very pro heritage and preservation, but a nasty fall can result in a lot more than a minor inconvenience, see Laura Ashley for details…… Ouija board required of course.

 

[CliffordPope]

Pig's ear - looks great but problem is the wall has to be dead flat:-

I don't think so. Offer up the rail to the wall and mark to lines along the edges. Then chisel out plaster from the high spots until the rail sits reasonably solidly in the groove, then glue and screw the rail to anything solid behind. Neaten up with filler along the crack.