Peel & Stick Adhesive Backing for Aluminium Stair Nosings, Per Metre

Peel & Stick is a factory-applied fixing option for aluminium stair nosings, charged per metre and added to your nosing order. We bond continuous strips of high-bond double-sided tape to the underside of the profile before dispatch and cover them with a red protective liner. On site you peel the liner, align the nosing and press it down: no drilling, no plugs, no screw heads in the tread.

This is an add-on, not a standalone product. Order the same number of metres as the nosing it is going on, at the same time, and pick the rate that matches your profile.

Rates

Twin channel profiles are wider and take more tape, which is why they carry the higher rate. If you are not sure which yours is, a single channel nosing has one insert strip along the tread and a twin channel nosing has two with a bare metal rib between them.

When adhesive fixing is the right call

• Tiled, terrazzo or stone treads that would chip or crack if drilled.
• Screed and power-floated concrete where plugs are awkward to set neatly.
• Hollow or timber steps with nothing solid for a fixing to bite into.
• Occupied buildings where drilling noise, dust and a closed stair are the real cost.
• Underfloor heating or services in or below the step.

When to fix mechanically instead

Screws remain the safer specification on heavily-used public stairs, fire escapes and external steps, and on any substrate that is dusty, damp, friable or painted. They also let the nosing be lifted and refitted. On a busy public stair the belt-and-braces approach is to bond the nosing and screw it.

Fitting

1. Dry-fit the nosing and mark its position on the step.
2. Clean the bonding area: remove old adhesive, loose screed, polish and dust, then wipe with isopropyl alcohol and let it flash off. The surface must be dry.
3. Peel the red liner back from one end, align the nosing to your mark and set that end down.
4. Work along the step, peeling and pressing as you go so no air is trapped.
5. Press the full length down hard with the heel of your hand or a rubber mallet. Adhesive needs pressure to wet out.

Fit between roughly 15 and 25 degrees C. The bond builds over the first 24 to 72 hours, so keep heavy traffic off the stair for as long as the programme allows. There is no repositioning once the nosing touches down.

Questions

What exactly am I buying here?

An option, not a separate product. We apply continuous strips of high-bond double-sided tape to the underside of the aluminium nosing before it leaves us, with a red protective liner over the adhesive. You peel the liner off on site and press the nosing down. This page is how that option is charged, at a rate per metre, so it has to be ordered at the same time as the nosings themselves.

How many metres do I order?

The same number of metres as the nosing it goes on. If you are buying 12 metres of nosing, add 12 metres of Peel & Stick. Choose the Single Channel or Twin Channel rate to match the profile you are buying: twin channel nosings are wider and take more tape, so they cost more per metre.

Can I order it on its own?

No. It is applied in our factory to the nosings on your order, so it cannot be supplied loose or sent out to be added later. If you have already placed a nosing order, contact us before it is dispatched and we will add it.

When should I choose adhesive instead of screws?

Adhesive fixing suits refurbishment work where the existing steps are sound and you do not want to drill: tiled or terrazzo treads that would chip, screed or concrete that is hard to plug neatly, hollow or timber steps where the fixing would have nothing to bite into, and occupied buildings where drilling noise and dust are a problem. It is also much faster, which matters when a stair has to stay in use.

When should I still use screws?

Mechanical fixing remains the safer specification on heavily-used public stairs, on fire escapes and external steps, and on any stair where the substrate is dusty, damp, friable or previously painted. Screws also allow the nosing to be lifted and refitted later. If in doubt on a public building, fix mechanically, or do both: bond the nosing and screw it as well.

What surface preparation does it need?

The step edge must be clean, dry, sound and flat. Remove old adhesive, loose screed, polish and dust, and let any damp substrate dry fully. Wipe the bonding area with isopropyl alcohol and let it flash off. A dusty or contaminated surface is the single most common reason an adhesive-fixed nosing lifts later.

Does temperature matter?

Yes. High-bond tapes want a substrate and air temperature of roughly 15 to 25 degrees C when fitted, and they lose grab badly in the cold. Fitting on an unheated stair in winter is asking for trouble. The bond builds over the first 24 to 72 hours, so keep heavy traffic off the stair for as long as the programme allows.

How do I fit it?

Dry-fit the nosing first and mark its position. Peel the red liner back from one end, align the nosing to your mark and set the end down, then work along the step peeling and pressing as you go so no air is trapped. Press the whole length down hard with the heel of your hand or a rubber mallet: the adhesive needs pressure, not time, to wet out. There is no repositioning once it is down, so get the alignment right before it touches.

Can the nosing be removed again?

Not easily, and usually not without damage to the nosing or the step surface. That is the trade-off against screw fixing. If you expect to lift the nosing later, for example over an access hatch or a floor finish due for replacement, use screws.

Is it available on every nosing?

It is offered across the heavyweight, standard and DDA aluminium profiles we list. It is not applicable to the loose replacement insert strips, which sit in the channel of a nosing rather than being fixed to the step.