GB2293613A

GB2293613A - Step refurbishment method

Info

Publication number: GB2293613A
Application number: GB9419487A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Langley Sutherland
Original assignee: Caledonia Matting Ltd
Current assignee: Caledonia Matting Ltd
Priority date: 1994-09-28
Filing date: 1994-09-28
Publication date: 1996-04-03
Also published as: GB9419487D0

Abstract

A method of refurbishing a worn step comprises: fixing a front plate (14) to the front face of a step (16), the upper edge of the plate being positioned at or above the desired level of the upper face of the step such that the plate partially defines a space (20) corresponding to the material worn from the step; filling the space with a settable material (22); and fixing a top plate (24) to the upper face of the step to define a tread surface. This replaces the worn step material and provides a step covering. The use of the front plate to define the space to be filled with the settable material minimises the work involved in refurbishing the step. <IMAGE>

Description

STEP REFURBISHMENT METHOD This invention relates to a method of refurbishing a worn step, and in particular to a method of refurbishing a worn stone or concrete step.

Through time, stone and concrete steps are subject to wear particularly at the step edges. Such wear affects the appearance of the stairs and may eventually present a danger to persons ascending or descending the stairs.

Conventional methods of refurbishing such worn stairs involve temporarily fixing a strap to the front face of a step, with the upper edge of the strap being positioned at the desired level of the upper face of the step. The space behind the strap is then filled with settable material, matched to the original stone of the step. Once the settable material has hardened the strap may be removed. Alternatively, a section of the step edge may be cut away to define an area which may then be filled with a preformed insert. It is difficult to provide a close match between the replacement material and the original stone of the step, such that the newer material may be clearly visible and thus detract from the appearance of the stairs.If an additional stair covering is required, this must be separately fixed to the stairs after the settable material has hardened and the strap has been removed from each step.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide an improved step refurbishment method.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of refurbishing a worn step, the method comprising: fixing a front plate to the front face of a step, the upper edge of the plate being positioned at or above the desired level of the upper face of the step such that the plate partially defines a space corresponding to the material worn from the step; filling said space with a settable material; and fixing a top plate to the upper face of the step to define a tread surface.

The method of the present invention thus replaces the worn step material and provides a step covering.

The use of the front plate to define the space to be filled with the settable material minimises the work involved in refurbishing the step and allows the refurbishment to be carried out more quickly and using fewer materials.

The present invention is particularly suited to the repair of stone or concrete steps.

Preferably, the front plate is formed of metal.

Most preferably, the front plate is formed of rubber coated steel, thus providing a plate of sufficient stiffness with an attractive resilient surface, which may be coloured as desired.

Preferbly also, the top plate is formed of a resilient material, such as natural rubber. The top plate may be formed of a section of matting such as described in International Patent Application Publication no. W093/07789, which comprises a resilient matting having an upper surface defining alternate strips of rubber material and carpet. Rather than strips of carpet material, non-slip inserts may be provided, formed of non-slip material such as hard vinyl mixed with carborundum, such as the STP50D insert strips manufactured by Gradus Limited of Macclesfield, Cheshire, England.

Preferably also, stair edging is provided at the edge of the step and covers the upper and front edges of the front and top plates, respectively. The flexible PVC stair edgings PKS75 as sold by Gradus Limited are suitable for this purpose.

The plates may be secured to the step by any suitable means, including fixing pins or screws.

The plates may extend over the full width of the step, or only over a central portion of the step. Similarly, the plates may extend the full depth of the respective step surfaces, or only extend over a portion of the surfaces.

This and other aspects of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional side view of a stair that has been repaired using a method in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the step of Figure 1.

Figure 1 of the drawings illustrates a step 10 following refurbishment using a method in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The concrete step was previously worn away at the edge 12 such that the step presented a rounded edge and which would be more pronounced in the centre of the step. The refurbishment method is described in some detail below.

A front plate 14 is first fixed to the front face 16 of the step using fixing pins 18. In this example, the front plate 14 is formed of 5-7 mm thick steel coated with vulcanized rubber. The plate 14 is located such that its upper edge extends above the desired level of the upper face of the step to define a space 20 corresponding to the worn area of the step. The space 20 is then filled with settable material 22.

Once the material 22 has hardened a top plate 24 is fixed to the upper face 26 of the step, again utilizing fixing pins 28. In this example the top plate 24 is formed of a natural rubber material the upper surface of which defines a series of transverse ribs 30. Also, the upper face of the plate 24 defines a series of transverse slots which accomodate non-slip inserts 32.

A stair edging 34 is fitted to the meeting edges of the plates 14, 24, the edges of the plates being shaped to accomodate the edging 34 such that the upper and front surfaces of the step are substantially planar.

In this example the top plate 24 extends substantially over the depth of the step however the step covering does not extend over the full width of the step. To provide an attractive and non-tripping finish to the edges of the top plate 24, feathered edge pieces 36 are provided.

Using the above described method a worn stair may be refurbished quickly and easily, and is provided with an attractive finish which is both safe and pleasant to walk upon.

It will be clear to those of skill in the art that the above described embodiment is merely exemplary of the present invention and that various modifications and improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A method of refurbishing a worn step, the method comprising: fixing a front plate to the front face of a step, the upper edge of the plate being positioned at or above the desired level of the upper face of the step such that the plate partially defines a space corresponding to the material worn from the step; filling said space with a settable material; and fixing a top plate to the upper face of the step to define a tread surface.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the front plate is formed of metal.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the front plate is formed of rubber coated steel.

4. The method of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the top plate is formed of a resilient material.

5. The method of any of the preceding claims wherein the top plate is formed of a section of matting which comprises a resilient matting having an upper surface defining alternate strips of rubber material and carpet or non-slip inserts.

6. The method of any of the preceding claims wherein stair edging is provided at the edge of the step and covers the upper and front edges of the front and top plates, respectively.