What is a landing nosing (top step)?
A landing nosing is the top step of a staircase, which joins the floor of the upper storey. In Dutch it is called a “welstuk”. It forms the transition between stair and floor and neatly finishes the edge of the stairwell opening. It is usually narrower than the other treads, and sometimes has a rebate at the back on which the floor can rest.
Purpose
- Finishing the stairwell: the landing nosing covers the edge of the floor and the trimmer, so no untidy joint shows at the last step.
- Nosing at floor level: it forms the final nosing of the stair, so the top step looks the same as all the others.
- Junction with the floor finish: the upper floor covering butts up to the landing nosing.
What to watch out for
- Equal risers: the height of the last step, up to the top of the landing nosing, must equal all other risers. An odd last step is a classic trip hazard. Allow for the thickness of the future floor finish.
- Decide the floor finish first: a thick floor build-up added later shifts the floor level relative to the nosing. Choose the finish before the stair is measured.
- Fix it firmly: the landing nosing is loaded on its edge with every step. Glue and screw it well to the trimmer or strings.
- Same material and profile as the treads for a calm look.
- Creaking: a creaking landing nosing is often loose on the trimmer; extra screws or glue from below usually cure it.
Related terms
- Stair tread
- Nosing
- Tread depth
- Landing
- Spiral staircase
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