High-visibility edging for exterior steps
Bert Coules
and I'm beginning to be concerned about their safety (or rather the safety
of anyone using them) especially in poor visibility: I'd like clearly to
mark the front edge of each step with a white or other light-coloured strip.
There are various commercial products available, both stick-on and
screw-down: see for instance this page:
http://www.stair-nosing.co.uk/standard_aluminium_ramp_edge_stair_nosing.htm
My question is: would it be adequate to stick down such a nosing strip, or
should it be screwed? If so, is it practical to drill into a limestone slab
so close to the edge? The stuff does seem to chip quite easily. If
adhesive could be used, what would be recommended?
Or should I just paint a white stripe along the edge of the steps?
Many thanks,
Bert
Nightjar
I used this stuff
http://www.watco.co.uk/watco-coloured-safety-tapes.html
on a set of factory steps. It works well and shows no signs of wear
after five years' of fairly heavy use. Just make sure you clean the step
well first.
Colin Bignell
Bert Coules
> I used this stuff...
Thanks for that, Colin. Clearly an option I should consider. I also
wondered about using straightforward 1"x1" white PVC angle bonded to the
front of the steps: I don't see why an exterior adhesive (or sealant?)
shouldn't be perfectly strong enough, and one advantage of the angle is that
would hide the slightly uneven front edges of the limestone slabs.
Bert
Dave
When I was site supervisor at the local Primary school, I was advised to
get some non slip bright yellow paint, but it was too expensive for my
budget. In the end, the lines were painted by the council's contractors.
They lasted as long as I was there.
Dave
Chris J Dixon
>When I was site supervisor at the local Primary school, I was advised to
>get some non slip bright yellow paint, but it was too expensive for my
>budget. In the end, the lines were painted by the council's contractors.
>They lasted as long as I was there.
>
I thought the old dodge was to mix some sharp sand in the paint,
or sprinkle some on whilst the paint is wet.
Chris
--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham UK
ch...@cdixon.me.uk
Have dancing shoes, will ceilidh.
Bert Coules
creating a trippable-over raised edge. I'd never heard of the mixing-sand
trick, though.
Bert
Nightjar
It is only marginally better than paint without. Coarse carborundum
pwoder, available for tumble polishing stones, works better.
Colin Bignell
Bert Coules
> Coarse carborundum powder, available for tumble
> polishing stones, works better.
Thanks, though in truth I'm not that concerned about making the edging
non-slip: visibility is the important issue.
Bert
Dave Liquorice
> I'd never heard of the mixing-sand trick, though.
But the advice to use builders sharp sand might not be too good. That
varies immensly and can contain small stones and quite large
irregular bits and quite a lot of fine muck. You really need a graded
fine (approx 1mm or a bit smaller), washed, grit.
--
Cheers
Dave.
Steve Firth
> The three steps up to my front door are topped with black limestone
> slabs, and I'm beginning to be concerned about their safety (or rather
> the safety of anyone using them) especially in poor visibility: I'd like
> clearly to mark the front edge of each step with a white or other light-coloured strip.
Donkey Stone.
Bert Coules
> Donkey Stone.
I had to look that up. It turns out that a donkey stone is an abrasive
scouring block. I'm not clear on how one of those could produce a
light-coloured edging to my limestone steps.
Thanks for the reply.
Bert
Steve Firth
> Steve Firth wrote:
>
> > Donkey Stone.
>
> I had to look that up. It turns out that a donkey stone is an abrasive
> scouring block.
You were reading an explanation written by an idiot. Probably something
on Wikipedia?
> I'm not clear on how one of those could produce a
> light-coloured edging to my limestone steps.
I take it th'art not a northener then? Donkey stoning t'step was, until
the 60s at least the way that all steps were treated. First used as a
scouring block to keep them clean and non-slip and to colour the stone,
then the edge of the step would be rubbed with a dry stone to put a
white or yellow stripe on the edge to make it visible.
Most of the non-Wiki pages seem to have a reference to the use of the
stones to colour the steps.
Bert Coules
Thanks for the elucidation. So where do I get a donkey stone, then? I'm
pretty sure I'll receive nothing but blank looks if I ask for such a thing
down here on't Kentish shoreline.
Bert
Nightjar
The last manufacturer appears to have closed down over 30 years ago, so
probably nowhere, unless you find one of those old-fashioned ironmongers
with lots of brown boxes on shelves that contain stuff nobody has bought
for years.
Colin Bignell
NT
There's no lack of abrasives available.
I'd avoid applying solid items that rise the lip. Paint would be
easier than abrading, you can get hi vis yellow for £4-6 last time I
looked. Though I guess you oughta use something more porous to avoid
freeze-thaw damage.
NT
Steve Firth
> The last manufacturer appears to have closed down over 30 years ago, so
> probably nowhere, unless you find one of those old-fashioned ironmongers
> with lots of brown boxes on shelves that contain stuff nobody has bought
> for years.
They are still being made, but I've no idea where the closest supplier
to Kent would be. And I suspect no one nowadays would want to spend most
of Monday morning stoning the steps.