Basement Stair Advice - How to make them safer?

[chiefobrien]

Hello--

I am refinishing my basement now. There is a wooden staircase going down that was previously carpeted. I have pulled up the carpet and now have the unfinished wood showing. My wife is concerned because the stairs are steep and she is always afraid she'll fall down to the basement. I -was- planning on just sanding the wood and refinishing it, but now I am thinking I should cover the stairs with something soft, but with traction. Since the basement will be a kids playroom anyways, this makes sense. I want to avoid carpet as it can be slippery and is hard to clean.

I guess I am thinking of those industrial rubber stair covers that are padded and provide traction, but it doesn't sound too nice for home use. Any ideas on what I can use? I want it to give great traction, be easy to install on wood stairs, and be soft enough that if somebody did slip, they wouldn't crack their skull open. Looking nice is a good bonus.

Thanks

[majakdragon]

I don't think you are going to find anything with ALL the qualities you want. Carpeting is softer, should anyone fall but is slippery. The wood by itself is hard but could be painted with sand inclusive paint for traction. They make a rubber nosing for stairs that would make it softer but the appearance isn't so great and looks industrial. They also make friction strips that have adhesive for traction. This will do nothing for the hardness of the wood though. Good luck in your quest.