Aluminum Diamond Plate for Stairway Treads?

I think this technically falls under "flooring".

I want to spruce up the newly built stairway in my shop. I originally found a place that sells reasonably priced ribbed rubber pads that fasten to the treads and bought enough to to the job. I'm now second guessing this decision because I think they will be a PITA to keep clean. The stair treads are made from 2x12 lumber and I was thinking some diamond tread plate would cover it up nicely and the aluminum would be maintenance-free over the years.

Has anyone done this? Pros/Cons? Suppliers? I don't expect I will have wet feet heading up or down the stairs so the "slippery when wet" issue is not a big concern to me.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Slippery when wet was going to be my caution.

I would say the same as Pa that it would be slippery.

how about diamondplate "kick" trim underneath the treads?

I have seen some aluminum diamond plate that had matte finish with pretty aggressive texture, that might work, but the typical smooth finish? I see a harsh fall in your future.

Try Diamond Life or go to Thomasnet.com and search there for manufacturers in your area.

thegarageguy said:

Try Diamond Life or go to Thomasnet.com and search there for manufacturers in your area.

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Thanks Garage Guy. I actually am working with Diamond Life already and they are willing to do the job. They have some really cool stuff. Currently they make an adhesive backed floor tile and that's why I contacted them initially. I believe their MaxTile will be the basis for my flanged stair tread covers.

For those interested, here's the link:
http://www.diamondlifegear.com/flooring.htm

PAToyota said:

Slippery when wet was going to be my caution.

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Tech Guy said:

I would say the same as Pa that it would be slippery.

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AlphaGarage said:

I have seen some aluminum diamond plate that had matte finish with pretty aggressive texture, that might work, but the typical smooth finish? I see a harsh fall in your future.

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"Slippery when wet" was the first thing that came out of my wife's mouth too. Are you guys speaking from experience or spectulation?

Sounds like it would be wise to investigate the slippage issue further. Not just water but maybe with a layer of sawdust or something.

From experience, I work on the second floor and the stairway is the industrial type with steel diamond plate treads that now have all the paint buffed off to a metallic mirror finish from foot traffic. The diamond pattern is not aggressive at all (more like just bumps) and yet I have never felt there was a slip issue on them, even when I came in from the rain.

Would aluminum be any different? I thought the sharp-edged diamonds on the product I mention in the previous post would even be better and might eliminate any slip issue. I don't want anyone to take a fall, however.

txleadfoot said:

how about diamondplate "kick" trim underneath the treads?

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Thanks txleadfoot,

Diamond Life offers their product in anodized colors, too. I don't want to worry about anodizing wearing off on the tread itself so that will be uncoated silver, but I thought the kick panels (risers) would look great in a contrasting color (blue or yellow for my shop).

Mine's from experience. I have a nice scar on my shin from slipping on aluminum diamond plate and bashing my shin. Actually crushed the skin against the bone.

Anyway, your speculation on sawdust is also true. No scars from that one, but again, it makes for a slippery surface.

The last thing I want to do is have me or a guest get hurt. I ordered samples from Diamond Life to take a closer look at the aggressiveness and colors of their product. I've seen styles that you wouldn't want to walk barefoot on and others where the diamonds were nothing more than bumps in the sheet. For wall decorations and such, the bump style is perfect, but for a floor (which this product is being sold for), I'm hoping they have addressed the slip issue.

Thanks again for your concern PAToyota.

I have ribbed rubber tread covers on my stairs and have no issue at all with keeping them clean. In fact, they're easier to sweep as the ribs all run in the same direction, as opposed to diamond plate.

MY DECISION HAS BEEN MADE...

Thanks for all your input. The solution is kind of a hybrid between the diamond tread plate and rubber mat. I found a fairly aggressive nosing that should eliminate any slippage issue a lot of you warned me about.



WRITEUP FROM MY MAIN GALLERY THREAD...

"All my material arrived for the stairway tread covering so I decided to do a quick mock-up to see how it would look. I already bought the 10x24” black rubber tread covers awhile back from Vermont Country Store at $3/each. I found stair nosing from M&D Products, which is an aluminum ribbed extrusion. It costs $9 per 6ft piece but that makes two steps. Flanking the rubber sheet is aluminum diamond plate from DiamondLife. What’s unique about their product is that its adhesive backed so installation should be easy. I bought one 12” square for each tread at $4.50 and cut it on my miter saw. Grand total is about $12 per tread if your treads are less than 3 feet wide. I’m still trying to decide what to do for the risers, but I’m leaning towards the aluminum tile board I use extensively throughout the shop. With enough contrasting black trim, it should look nice. Lowe’s had the paneling on clearance at $5/sheet so I now have a boat-load of it. One picture shows some of it propped up in place as an example."

Here's the railing that will go with it...