Retrofit Flexible PVC Stair Nosing with Bevelled Edge
If you look after a staircase whose step edges are chipped, slippery or worn through, this flexible PVC nosing lets you put it right without lifting the existing floor. It is a black L-shaped profile with a ribbed anti-slip tread and a low bevelled leading edge, made to bond straight over a step already finished in vinyl, LVT, laminate, timber, tile or screed. Facilities teams, landlords, care-home managers and homeowners buy it because it covers the damage, adds grip where feet land, and takes the trip hazard out of a broken edge. You cut it, glue it, and the stair is back in use the same day.
Why it works
Flexible PVC follows the step you actually have
Rigid aluminium nosings need a true, square edge to sit on. This profile is extruded from flexible PVC, so it conforms to steps that are out of square, rounded from wear, or not quite straight. It trims with a sharp knife or tin snips and bends around minor irregularities instead of leaving hollows behind the tread.
A bevelled edge instead of a step up
At 2.5mm thick the tread sits low on the step, and the front edge is chamfered so the transition from floor to nosing is a slope rather than a lip. On a retrofit this matters, because any raised edge at the top of a step is a new place to catch a toe. The bevel removes that risk while still giving a clear black line at every step edge.
Ribbed tread for grip
The top face is moulded with fine parallel ribs running the full length of the profile. They give shoes something to bite into where slips start and keep working when the floor is dusty or damp. The nosing is one homogeneous piece of PVC, so there is no separate insert to lift or lose.
- Conforms to worn or slightly uneven step edges
- 2.5mm tread with a chamfered leading edge, so no raised lip
- Ribbed anti-slip surface moulded into the profile
- 36mm downturn protects the riser edge from further chipping
- Cuts with hand tools and bonds with contact adhesive
Where it's used
You will find this profile on communal stairwells in flats, back-of-house stairs in shops and offices, school staircases, care homes and clinics, and on domestic stairs floored in LVT or laminate and left with an exposed edge. It suits refurbishments where the budget will not stretch to relaying the floor, and fire-escape or service stairs where a plain black safety edge is all that is needed.
Specifications
| Material |
Flexible PVC |
| Colour |
Black |
| Profile |
L-shaped retrofit nosing, bevelled leading edge, ribbed tread |
| Tread width |
62mm |
| Inside depth (downturn) |
36mm |
| Thickness |
2.5mm |
| Lengths |
100cm (1 metre) or 270cm (2.7 metres, approx. 9ft) |
| Fixing |
Contact adhesive (not supplied) |
| Suitable substrates |
Vinyl, LVT, laminate, wood, ceramic tile, terrazzo, screed, steel |
| Slip-resistance rating |
Not published for this line |
| Fire rating |
Not published for this line |
| Sold as |
Single length |
Choosing the right option
Both lengths are the same profile, so the choice comes down to the width of your steps. Measure the clear width of the tread between the strings or walls. Most domestic stairs are 80cm to 95cm wide, so a 1 metre length does one step with a small offcut. For steps wider than a metre, or to avoid a joint mid-step, order the 2.7 metre length and cut it down; it also works out cheaper per step across a whole flight. Order one length per step and add one spare for cutting errors. If your steps already overhang the riser by more than about 30mm, check that the 36mm downturn will still sit flat against the riser before you order.
Installation, use and care
Clean the step edge and make sure it is dry and free of polish or old adhesive. On glazed tile or terrazzo, lightly sand the bonding area; on steel, abrade the surface to give the adhesive a key. Cut to length, dry-fit, then apply contact adhesive to both the step and the back of the profile, let it go tacky, and press the nosing firmly into place from one end to the other. Keep foot traffic off until the adhesive has cured. Mop with a neutral detergent and avoid solvents, which dull the PVC.
Frequently asked questions
Can I fit this over carpet?
No. It needs a firm, flat surface to bond to. On a carpeted stair you would strip the carpet back from the step edge or choose a carpet-specific nosing.
Is it suitable outdoors?
It is intended for internal stairs. PVC and contact adhesive both suffer in prolonged UV and standing water, so for external steps look at an aluminium nosing with a weatherproof insert.
Does it come with adhesive?
No. You will need a good-quality contact adhesive applied to both surfaces. A solvent-free type is easier to use in occupied buildings.
Ordering and delivery
Select the length from the drop-down and enter the number of pieces. Orders are despatched from UK stock on a tracked service for one flat delivery charge, however many lengths you order. The 2.7 metre length ships as a full piece, so make sure someone can receive a long parcel. Unsure how many you need? Send us a photograph and measurements and we will check before you commit.