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Stair treads are rarely a round number, and an insert cut a few millimetres short leaves a gap that fills with grit and lifts at the end. This is the same 55mm carborundum insert as our 1m, 1.5m and 2m stock lengths, cut here to the exact millimetre you specify between 250mm and 2000mm, tolerance plus or minus 5mm, in any of twelve infill colours.
A 55mm-wide band of aluminium oxide grit bonded into a resin matrix, bedded into a routed groove or fixed to the tread surface. Carborundum is the hardest of the common anti-slip infills: it does not burnish out under footfall the way a soft PVC insert eventually does, which is why it is specified for entrances, plant rooms, external steps and any stair walked on in wet boots. The manufacturer states a pendulum test value of 92 dry and 86 wet, and guarantees the insert for 10 years against premature wear.
55mm is the widest band in the range. It is the specification for deep goings on heavily used public stairs, and for landings and ramp thresholds where the grip needs to cover the whole step-off zone rather than a single line.
Cutting carborundum on site is slow and unpleasant: the grit destroys a fine-toothed blade and the dust is abrasive, and a 55mm section is heavy going with a hand tool. Cutting in a workshop keeps the ends square and the grit intact right to the end of the strip, so it beds cleanly instead of rocking on a burr.
| Insert width | 55 mm |
| Thickness | 8 mm |
| Anti-slip infill | Carborundum (aluminium oxide grit in resin) |
| Infill colours | Twelve, listed under Choosing your infill colour |
| Carrier | UV-stable rigid PVC, black |
| Slip resistance | PTV 92 dry, PTV 86 wet - manufacturer stated |
| Cut length range | 250 mm to 2000 mm, tolerance +/- 5 mm |
| Weight | 0.89 kg per metre |
| Fixing | Bedded in adhesive into a routed groove, or screw fixed |
| Application | Internal or external |
| Guarantee | 10 years against premature wear - manufacturer stated |
| Manufactured | United Kingdom |
All twelve infills cost the same and carry the same grit, so the choice is about visual contrast rather than performance. The manufacturer publishes an average light reflectance value for each colour, and guidance on stair visibility generally looks for roughly a 30-point LRV difference between the grip band and the tread around it, so these figures are the quickest way to sense-check a combination before you order. The carrier behind the grit is black on every colour.
| Obsidian | LRV 1.74 |
| Graphite | LRV 4.44 |
| Pebble | LRV 7.17 |
| Portland Stone | LRV 31.61 |
| Chalk | LRV 40.18 |
| Amber | LRV 31.68 |
| Hazelnut | LRV 9.13 |
| Chestnut | LRV 6.54 |
| Speckled Obsidian | LRV 1.44 |
| Speckled Graphite | LRV 4.35 |
| Speckled Pebble | LRV 9.52 |
| Italian Marble | LRV 32.74 |
The speckled and stone-effect infills read as a textured finish rather than a solid band, which sits better on stone and terrazzo refurbishment; Chalk and Amber are the usual picks where a genuinely light, high-visibility band is wanted against a dark tread. All LRV figures are the manufacturer's published averages and vary a little between batches, so ask us for a sample if the contrast is critical to a specification.
Measure each tread individually rather than assuming a flight is consistent, and take 3mm to 5mm off a wall-to-wall measurement so the strip drops in without scraping. Set the band back at least 15mm from the front arris so the nose edge stays intact, and check the tread thickness and any reinforcement before routing a groove this wide. The manufacturer notes that section size varies slightly between batches, so take a sample before you cut or cast your channels. The substrate must be clean, dry and free of laitance; bed in an exterior-grade adhesive worked well into the groove and weight the strip until cured. Custom lengths are made to your figures, so they are non-returnable except for faults.
Choose your infill colour, then enter the length you need in millimetres. Cut lengths are made to order; allow additional working days over a stock length and we will confirm a dispatch date. Standard UK mainland delivery is a flat rate. If your treads sit close to 1m, 1.5m or 2m, the stock listing linked above will reach you sooner.
| Service | Timeframe | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Standard UK Delivery | 2 working days from dispatch | £9.99 |
Orders placed by 2pm (UK time) on a working day are dispatched the same day. Orders placed after 2pm or on non-working days are dispatched the next working day. Delivery takes 2 working days from dispatch. Working days are Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays. UK delivery costs £9.99. Contact us for international enquiries.
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Overall rating: 5.0 / 5 from 7 reviews.
Job done. Cuts to fit like a charm and worth every penny for the smooth finish with no grit-filled gaps. Happy to say its tough enough for the wet British weather, too! Id avoid bothering with any alternatives now that the 55mm carborundum works so well.
Had to fit the library with a safe option for rainy days. These fit flawlessly and seemed more tailored than expected, aligning smoothly with every millimetre of our irregularly spaced steps. Weather hasnt been kind lately, but everythings holding up superbly so far.
Arrived promptly just as Id hoped. Installed these 55mm strips on the hotel marble steps, across a wet entrance, expecting them to handle the hustle and bustle. Surprisingly, they hold up brilliantly in any condition; not a slip yet from Friday nights rainy crowds!
Wasnt sure at first about cutting the carborundum strips to size, but what a good move those were. Got em in perfectly, no odd gaps left open for dust—it fits snug and secure on my stair steps. Add to that, smooth delivery with well-secured packaging; it made me quite chuffed from the get-go. Casual café foot traffic hasn’t dared to peel a corner yet, even if I took the any shortcut past maintenance checks now and then—just ace value for something so straightforward!
Replaced the old stair inserts on our office entrance with this, and it transformed the whole look immediately. Having them precisely cut to any length makes a world of difference; they fit seamlessly and give the stairs a chic appeal that complements our buildings modern facade. Definitely considering another purchase for our back entrance steps.
Put it in the factory last December, and let me tell you, these inserts have seriously stood the test of time. Despite the constant traffic from boots bringing in muck and grit, they’ve proved to be just as sturdy and stable as day one. No signs of lifting at all—rock solid under foot, even after months of heavy use!
Impeccably precise, this insert saved us time. I measured the steps on our restaurant patio and ordered several custom pieces to the exact length we needed. They all slid neatly into place with no gaps, proving just how useful it is to have sizes cut so exactly – you rarely get that with any other option Ive tried before. Yeah, they installed securely avoiding awkward edges collecting grime for later trouble.
