This is a solid brass bullnose stair nosing for staircases that take real foot traffic: hotel and pub stairs, shop and office stairwells, school and apartment common parts, and period homes where a brass edge suits the interior. The profile has an 89mm ribbed tread face and a smooth rounded bullnose that wraps 43mm down over the front of the step. It is 5.0mm thick, one piece of brass all the way through, with no plating and no insert. It is made to finish the nose of a stair where carpet or carpet tiles butt up behind it, or it can be rebated so it sits flush in a timber tread. Each length is cut to the millimetre you order, from 700mm to 2700mm, and you pay by the metre.
Why a solid brass bullnose works
It protects the part of the stair that wears first. Foot traffic concentrates on the front edge of each step. Carpet goes bald there and timber or stone nosings chip and round over. The 5.0mm brass section takes that wear instead. It is solid metal, so as it wears it simply shows more brass. There is no coating to wear through.
The grip is part of the metal. The ribs are cut into the tread face and run along the length of the nosing. There is no separate strip to peel, lift or replace. The manufacturer publishes slip resistance values of 45 wet and 73 dry for the profile.
The bullnose defines the step edge. The rounded nose gives each step a clear, consistent leading edge that people can see and feel. The finish you choose decides how strongly that edge contrasts with the tread (light reflectance values are in the table below).
Specifications
| Material |
Solid brass, grade H/H CZ108 to BS EN 12164:2016 |
| Profile |
Ribbed tread with rounded bullnose |
| Tread face width |
89mm, ribbed |
| Nose depth (overall) |
43mm |
| Gauge (section thickness) |
5.0mm |
| Insert |
None: solid brass throughout |
| Length |
Cut to your size, 700mm to 2700mm per piece |
| Cutting tolerance |
±5mm |
| Weight |
Approximately 3.28kg per metre |
| Slip resistance (published) |
45 wet, 73 dry. Test method not published for this line |
| Light reflectance value (LRV) |
Polished brass 71.45 · Satin brass 59.55 · Antique brass 29.55 · Antique bronze 9.15 |
| Drilling |
Drilled for countersunk screws, or undrilled |
| Screw size |
No. 8 countersunk |
| Application |
Interior stairs; butts up to carpet and carpet tiles, or rebated flush into timber treads |
| Recyclability |
100% recyclable at suitable disposal centres |
Choosing the right option
Finish. Polished brass is bright and reflective (LRV 71.45) and is the lowest price per metre. Satin brass is the same metal with a brushed, low-glare surface (LRV 59.55). Antique brass is a darkened, warm brown (LRV 29.55). Antique bronze is the darkest, close to black (LRV 9.15). On a pale timber or light carpet it gives the strongest visual contrast at the step edge. Both antique finishes are applied chemically and finished by hand, so they vary slightly from batch to batch. If you need every step to match, order the whole staircase at once.
Drilling. Choose Drilled to receive the nosing pre-drilled for No. 8 countersunk screws, ready to fix on site. Drilling adds 10% to the cut price. Choose Undrilled if you would rather set out and drill the holes yourself, for example to avoid existing fixings or services in the tread.
Length. Measure each step edge and enter the length in millimetres. The price is calculated from the length you enter, so a 1000mm piece costs one metre's rate and a 2700mm piece costs 2.7 times that. For stairs wider than 2700mm, order two pieces and butt-join them.
Fitting and care
Fix onto a sound, flat tread, with the bullnose tight against the front edge of the step. Fix it mechanically with No. 8 countersunk screws: on concrete or stone, plug and screw rather than relying on adhesive alone. To bring the tread face flush with the floor finish, rebate the timber by the thickness of the section before fixing. Screws and plugs are not listed as included, so allow for them. Clean with a damp cloth and mild detergent. Polished and satin brass will darken naturally; a non-abrasive brass polish restores them. Do not polish the antique finishes, because polish strips the applied patina and it cannot be restored on site.
Questions buyers ask
Can I use it on outside steps?
The manufacturer specifies it for interior stairs and publishes no external performance data for this profile, so we don't recommend it for exposed external steps.
Will it fit my stair edge?
The tread section sits on top of the step and the bullnose curls down over the front edge: 38mm below the underside of the tread section, 43mm overall. Compare your stair edge with the profile drawing in the gallery. If you're unsure, send us a photo of the step edge before ordering.
Does the 89mm include the rounded nose?
Yes. 89mm is the full width of the tread face from the back edge to the front of the bullnose.
How do I get the price for my staircase?
Enter each length and the number of pieces, and the calculator shows the total before you add it to the basket. The metre rate depends on the finish you choose.
Ordering and delivery
Every piece is cut to order to the length you enter, so please double-check your measurements, allowing for the ±5mm tolerance. Estimated delivery is 2 to 7 working days. If you are matching an existing interior, order one short length first to check the finish before committing to the full staircase.
View our complete range of stair nosing profiles — aluminium, rubber and PVC options for every application.