Granite stairs at home: anti-slip, nosing, riser
For indoor stairs choose granite with a honed or brushed finish, or a polished one with anti-slip grooves near the edge. The nosing can project slightly past the riser. Each step is measured separately, and the skirting and risers are matched to one stone so the flight looks consistent.
Tread
The tread is the part you walk on. Granite is hard and handles foot traffic well.1 The finish matters most: polished looks striking but can be slippery in socks. Honed and brushed finishes give better grip.
Anti-slip at the edge
On a polished tread, two or three shallow grooves are milled near the nosing, or a strip is ground to a rough texture. The edge is the most important part of a stair, because that is where you put your foot when going down.
Nosing
The nosing is the front edge of the tread. It can project slightly past the riser and have a rounded or chamfered profile. A sharp edge chips more easily.
Riser and skirting
The riser closes the vertical part of the step. The skirting runs along the wall and protects it from shoes and the vacuum cleaner. When everything is from one stone, the stairs look like a single form.
Each step separately
Stairs are rarely perfect: steps differ by a few millimetres and the flight turns. That is why we measure each step separately and fit the pieces at the turn and where the stairs meet the floor.
Care
Sweep away sand, which acts like sandpaper, and wash with water and a mild cleaner. Do not use cream cleansers or acidic products.
(Sources)
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Natural Stone Institute, Granite
(Questions)
Are polished stairs slippery?
In socks and when wet, they can be. Milled grooves at the nosing or a different finish help.
Can stone be laid on existing concrete stairs?
Usually yes, if the structure is level and stable. We check this when measuring.
