I just spent several thousand dollars on ripping up carpeting in the entire
house (including several staircases), and then I learn that hardwood steps
are extremely slippery. My wife was wearing socks, and she slipped and fell
with our 3 month baby in her arms. Just missed his head on the railing.

Does anyone have a recommendation on how to provide a safe and nice looking
DIY solution to oak hardwood steps to prevent the slip? I do not want to
carpet the entire step, because we still want the look of the hardwood, and
also can't afford to recarpet everything back to eliminate the hardwood.

In article ,
"Billy" wrote:

I just spent several thousand dollars on ripping up carpeting in the entire
house (including several staircases), and then I learn that hardwood steps
are extremely slippery. My wife was wearing socks, and she slipped and fell
with our 3 month baby in her arms. Just missed his head on the railing.

Does anyone have a recommendation on how to provide a safe and nice looking
DIY solution to oak hardwood steps to prevent the slip? I do not want to
carpet the entire step, because we still want the look of the hardwood, and
also can't afford to recarpet everything back to eliminate the hardwood.



There are stair runners for such situations. They are held to the steps
with brass rods. You still see the outside edges of the steps, but the
middle part is covered.

Of course, the least expensive way to handle this is to try to get your
wife to wear the footie socks that have the rubber on the bottom...

On Sun, 4 Jan 2004 16:15:53 -0500, "Billy" wrote:

I just spent several thousand dollars on ripping up carpeting in the entire
house (including several staircases), and then I learn that hardwood steps
are extremely slippery. My wife was wearing socks, and she slipped and fell
with our 3 month baby in her arms. Just missed his head on the railing.

Does anyone have a recommendation on how to provide a safe and nice looking
DIY solution to oak hardwood steps to prevent the slip? I do not want to
carpet the entire step, because we still want the look of the hardwood, and
also can't afford to recarpet everything back to eliminate the hardwood.

Similar situation. Our older dog couldn't make it up or down without
slipping after I removed the carpeting.

We found some carpet tread liners. They are just tread shaped pieces
of carpet with bound edges and have a rubber back so they don't slip.
They cover most of the tread. They are easy to lift up to clean the
steps and runners. Bought them from some online/mailorder place,
sorry I don't remember where, but I have seen them in catalogs.

You can also use anti-slip strips made just for this. They are long
narrow strips with a rough surface like sandpaper, and adhesive back.
you stick them near the edge of each tread. The work well, but look
pretty ugly and institutional.

HTH,

Paul

)
(you know what to leave out)

A different finish may also make a big difference. Waxes also can
increase or decrease the effect.

--
Joseph E. Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math


"Billy" wrote in message
...
I just spent several thousand dollars on ripping up carpeting in the
entire
house (including several staircases), and then I learn that hardwood steps
are extremely slippery. My wife was wearing socks, and she slipped and
fell
with our 3 month baby in her arms. Just missed his head on the railing.

Does anyone have a recommendation on how to provide a safe and nice
looking
DIY solution to oak hardwood steps to prevent the slip? I do not want to
carpet the entire step, because we still want the look of the hardwood,
and
also can't afford to recarpet everything back to eliminate the hardwood.