Types of steps by purpose

There are two types of stone steps by purpose: overlay steps (used more indoors) and solid steps (used most often outdoors).

Overlay granite steps

Overlay steps are ordinary granite slabs of small thickness (there is a tread, riser, side). That is, we can say that this is a granite tile cut to certain non-standard sizes. Overlay steps are mostly used indoors, they are laid on prepared metal staircase structures or on a previously poured concrete base.

Solid steps

Solid steps are whole stone curbs that are laid on top of each other in a suitable manner. Solid steps are much more reliable than overlay steps, but they are more expensive. In addition, the installation process is more complicated, since the weight of one solid step can be ten times greater than the weight of an overlay slab.

3 types of steps by shape: straight, radial and curved end face processing (chamfer)

Today, there are many options for end processing of granite steps, in which an acute angle is removed on the end face, called a chamfer. The simplest chamfer option is a bevel chamfer (a cut from 0.5 to 3 cm wide), then – a semicircular chamfer, even more difficult – a figured chamfer.

Surface treatment of steps

There are the following types of texture for steps: 

• polished (shiny, rich in color, slippery),
• heat-treated (fire-treated, rough, medium-saturated in color), 
• hewn (untreated, medium slipperiness, unsaturated).

For steps on the street, and where there will be high traffic of people, a non-slip surface is recommended – heat-treated texture. It is possible to use a polished beautiful texture, then on such slabs it is customary to make anti-slip stripes. For internal steps, a polished surface of slabs for steps is used.