Nosing - Stairs, Treads And Steps

The nosing is the front part of the stair step that protrudes past the riser. The nosing can be located on a floor, landing or stair tread. The picture below provides you with a perfect example of a carpeted stair landing nosing.

Building Code Nosing Violations

Make sure that you understand your local building codes, before building a stairway. For example, the maximum length of a stair nosing is around 1 - 1/2 inches. In other words the front of the finished stair tread, landing or floor can't be longer than 1 - 1/2 inches, from the face of the finished stair riser.

Why Do We Need A Stair Nosing?

The stair nosing usually provides us with additional comfort while walking up and down the stairway. It usually doesn't provide us with as much benefits, while were walking down the stairs, but makes a big difference while were walking up the stairs.

A one inch stair nosing provides us with one extra inch of stair tread width. Most of the time, this extra inch can make all of the difference in the world, especially for people with larger feet.

Do Your Own Test

Find a similar set of stairs that doesn't have a 1 inch nosing or a 1 inch undercut. Walk up and down the stairs, while noticing any variation in comfort or ease of stair use.

I rarely built a set of stairs that didn't have some type of stair nosing.

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