Downing Designs creates custom concrete stair treads for architects, general contractors, and homeowners who refuse to compromise on quality, color, or craftsmanship. We are based in Florida, but we securely crate and ship concrete stair treads to job sites anywhere in the United States — fully insured, with a guaranteed delivery date.

We have been doing this for over 25 years. Our general contractors come back project after project. Nobody buys a bad product twice.

Architectural precast concrete stair treads have become a defining feature in luxury Florida homes, particularly in Florida where minimalist designs are specified by Architects remodeling coastal homes and commercial properties in:

• Tampa
• St Petersburg
• Sarasota
• Naples
• Miami
• Ft Lauderdale
• Boca Raton
• West Palm Beach
• Jupiter

What Makes Downing Designs Custom Concrete Stair Treads Different

A Superior Mix Design — Heavy Duty Concrete Stair Treads

Most precast concrete uses large limestone aggregate. Over time, as the surface wears, those rock chunks rise to the surface and change the entire look of the tread — a nasty surprise years after installation, especially on color-matched projects. In Florida, that aggregate is white limestone. It will show once the initial surface layers are abraded. Not good.

We use a fine sand-and-white cement cement mix. No large aggregates What you see on day one is exactly what you will see in year twenty. The color goes all the way through, just like porcelain tile.

Better for Lighter Color Finishes

Downing Designs uses white cement and white sand as the base concrete which makes it very easy to color match lighter colors. Grey cement often uses fillers, and has a wide variety of colors as a consequence. Much like a paint match, by using the whitest cement we can, we can produce lighter shades of color better than those that grey cement. While the white cement is almost twice as expensive, it also yields a faster early set strength and allows us to turn your project around faster. 

High-Strength Fiber Reinforcement

We use hair-fine synthetic fibers throughout our mix. These fibers bond to cement particles at the molecular level through hydrogen bonding and have tensile strengths of 240,000 PSI — stronger than steel. In Japan, fiber reinforcement is used as a primary structural reinforcement in place of welded wire mesh and rebar.

Rebar prevents large chunks from breaking off. Fiber prevents cracks from forming and spreading in the first place. Our fiber-reinforced mix will flex under loads that would cause conventionally reinforced concrete to fail. Combined with our proprietary mix design, our treads achieve 8,000 to 10,000 PSI compressive strength.

Permanently Sealed — No Epoxy, No Recoating

We acid-wash and seal every tread with a multi-stage penetrating sealer system. We dilute the first coats with acetone so they penetrate deeply. Final coats are applied until the concrete begins rejecting further saturation — exactly the endpoint we want. The result is permanent protection, indoors and outdoors, that never needs to be reapplied.

We do not use or recommend epoxy or plastic sealers on high-use treads. Epoxy wears off under foot traffic, leaves zero protection in abraded zones, and looks terrible. Our penetrating system outlasts it by decades. To refresh the look anytime, simply wipe on and wipe off our enhancing sealer.

Safe Traction Surface — Concrete Stair Treads Stay Safe Even When Wet

We polish every surface to a controlled slip-resistant finish that provides safe grip even when wet — critical for exterior stairs and pool decks. The standard front edge gets a half-inch round-over, which is comfortable on bare feet and disperses impact energy to reduce chipping. We can also incorporate abrasive metal safety nosing, including luminescent versions for low-light safety.

Thick Concrete Stair Treads—Weight by Thickness

Weight planning is essential — especially for floating stair systems, upper floors, and large landings. Use these values when coordinating with your structural engineer and installation crew.

 

Thickness	Weight per Sq Ft	Typical Application
1.5 inches	20 lb / sq ft	Interior, lighter loads
2 inches	27 lb / sq ft	Standard residential and commercial
3 inches	40 lb / sq ft	Heavy-duty, exterior, commercial

 

We recommend 2 inches minimum for most treads — and up to 4 inches where railings will be through-drilled and anchored. Thicker concrete distributes the railing point-load far more effectively. We can also mold railing post-holder notches directly into the tread edge.

Weight-saving strategy for large landings: We can cast a 3-inch-thick perimeter with a 1.5-inch hollow interior, dramatically reducing total weight without affecting the appearance of a solid tread. Highly recommended for floating stair systems. Always plan forklift or lull access for any piece over 200 lbs.

Custom Color Matching Concrete Stair Treads

We start with white Portland cement and fine sand — a more expensive and stronger base than grey Portland, with a natural off-white canvas tone. From there we add pigments using a computer-controlled mix design to hit any color you specify.

We use only pigments proven in concrete roof tile applications — products documented to 30-plus years of durability under UV, heat, and rain. Supersaturating concrete with pigment reduces strength; we balance color depth against structural performance in every batch.

We have custom color matched plenty of custom concrete countertops and custom concrete sinks over the years

Our Color Match Process 

• Choose a Benjamin Moore or Sherwin-Williams color as your target swatch.
• We blend pigments, cast small sample chips, then polish and seal them to final specification.
• We photograph the best matches and send them via text or email — typically within one week.
• If refinement is needed, we make a second batch. Production is mathematically scaled from the same formula, so the approved sample is the final product.

 Color tip: Light to medium tones are most forgiving for exterior stairs — they hide pollen, dirt, and traffic wear naturally. Light grey is our top recommendation outdoors. It carries a minimal pigment load, maximizes compressive strength, and blends with the real-world grime that accumulates over time.

Beyond solid colors, we can embed seashells, glass pieces, and metallic logos at any point in the mold — exactly as we do for our precast concrete countertops. We have also designed staircase sequences where each tread advances 10 percent in tone from light grey at the bottom to dark grey at the top. The design possibilities are genuinely open.

How We Manufacture Custom Concrete Stair Treads

We pour treads in large slabs, polish the full surface, then cut each tread to your exact dimensions. This guarantees identical color, texture, and finish across every tread in a set — something impossible to achieve with individually cast pieces.

Hollow-back profiles are also available for projects where treads cap over a steel stair structure, concealing all metalwork beneath. We mold these profiles to your steel fabricator’s drawings.

Steel Substrate: What to Know Before Installation

The support structure must be both strong and flat. Welding generates heat that often warps steel frames — even well-fabricated ones. Before installation, we inspect and correct each support, grinding welds and bow sections as needed. A warped support creates gaps under the tread that require shimming or silicone filling, and introduces uneven stress that can cause cracking over time.

Steel vs. aluminum: We strongly prefer steel. It expands and contracts at approximately the same rate as concrete — the same reason rebar and concrete work so well together. Aluminum behaves differently under temperature cycling and can stress the tread bond over time.

Install railings after the treads are set whenever possible. It gives installers full maneuverability to align each tread precisely without working around fixed posts.

Installation: Adhesive, Alignment, and Crew Planning

We often bond treads using Sika Hi-Mod 31 epoxy. It has a peanut butter consistency that stays where you place it, sets in 45 minutes, and achieves over 16,000 PSI compressive strength. It bonds reliably to concrete, metal, and wood.

Plan your crew for the weight. Even a standard 36-by-12-inch tread at 2-inch thickness weighs roughly 65 lbs. Larger treads and landings require four strong workers or mechanical lifting equipment. We discuss logistics with every client before production begins — especially for landings, which we strongly recommend installing before the treads to keep the work area open.

Shipping Nationwide — Fully Crated and Insured

We ship custom concrete stair treads to any address in the United States. Every shipment is packed in foam-padded, secured wood crates and fully insured for transit. We provide a guaranteed ship date so your project schedule stays on track.

Every order includes one extra tread. We have saved more than a few general contractors when a tread was damaged on site. Their reaction when we said no problem, we made extras — priceless. We believe it is simply good business.

Smart clients order early. Concrete continues to cure and harden for weeks after casting. Ordering ahead of your installation window means your treads arrive at peak strength. We can warehouse finished treads until your site is ready and batch-deliver on your timeline.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Routine cleaning is warm soap and water. For tougher stains or biological growth, a 25 percent bleach-and-water solution works well. No special products, no periodic resealing, no maintenance contracts.

Pricing

Precast concrete stair treads are cheaply made with large aggregates that will show over time. Custom concrete stair treads from Downing Designs are not cheaply made. They have a high cement content for strength and start at $150 per square foot for 2-inch-thick profiles. Thicker treads, expedited lead times, and complex pigment matching may affect pricing. Here is how our product compares to the broader market:

 

Product Type	Typical Cost Range	Notes
Single precast step 12” x 48” x 2”	$150 – $500	Standard sizes, limited color options
Custom poured in place (per step)	$200 – $500+ per step	On-site forming, complex labor
Downing Designs custom treads	From $150 / sq ft	Any color, any size, ships nationwide

 

If a Downing Designs tread is ever chipped, we recreate the exact formula and patch the area seamlessly — we keep your color records on file.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a concrete stair tread weigh per square foot?

At 1.5 inches thick, a concrete stair tread weighs 20 lb per square foot. A 2-inch tread weighs 27 lb per square foot. A 3-inch tread weighs 40 lb per square foot. Always account for these figures when planning structural support and your installation crew.

What type of metal substrate is best for concrete stair treads?

Steel is strongly preferred over aluminum. Steel expands and contracts at approximately the same rate as concrete — which is why rebar and concrete work so well together. Aluminum behaves differently under temperature cycling and can introduce ongoing stress into the tread bond.

What is the most important thing about concrete stair tread supports?

They must be level and flat. Welded steel supports of 3′ or longer, often warp from the welding heat. A warped support creates a gap under the tread that must be shimmed or silicone-filled, neither of which is ideal.  Flat supports also prevent uneven stress that can cause cracking over time.

Should I install railings before or after setting concrete stair treads?

After. Installing railings after the treads gives your crew full maneuverability to align each heavy piece precisely without working around fixed posts or handrail sections.

Can I save weight on a large concrete stair tread landing?

Yes — and we strongly recommend it. We can cast a 3-inch-thick perimeter with a 1.5-inch interior, providing enormous weight savings without affecting appearance. A 400 to 500 lb landing requires a lull, forklift, or four strong installers. Plan your site access before you order.

Can you match any paint color for a concrete stair tread?

Yes. We work from Benjamin Moore or Sherwin-Williams swatches. We blend pigments, cast polished and sealed sample chips, and send you photographs — typically within one week. If you want further refinement, we make a second batch. The production formula is mathematically identical to the approved sample.

What pigments do you use — will the color fade?

We use only industrial pigments proven in Outdoor concrete roof tile applications, with documented 30-plus year durability under UV, heat, and rain. These are not standard construction colorants. They will not fade.

How do I know the color sample will match the final order?

We use precise spreadsheet formulas to scale every ingredient. Pigment ratios, water content, and admixture ratios are mathematically identical between the sample batch and the production batch. The science does not change with volume.

How fast can I receive a color sample?

We can ship polished, sealed color match samples to you in under one week.

How durable are concrete stair treads for outdoor environments?

Our mix achieves 8,000 to 10,000 PSI compressive strength — roughly three times stronger than standard concrete. For outdoor use, we recommend light grey. It carries a minimal pigment load, maximizes strength, and naturally hides pollen, dirt, and traffic wear over time.

Can you make other concrete elements that match my stair treads?

Yes. We can produce any custom molded concrete element — countertops, window sills, cap stones, or outdoor furniture — using the same mix design and exact color formula as your treads.

I am not in Florida. Can you still ship to me?

Absolutely. We ship custom concrete stair treads to any state in the United States. Every shipment is foam-padded, wood-crated, and fully insured. We provide a guaranteed ship date, and every order includes one extra tread.

What does a custom concrete stair tread from Downing Designs cost?

Our treads start at $150 per square foot for 2-inch-thick profiles. Thicker treads, faster lead times, and complex pigment matching can affect the final price. We provide detailed quotes once we have your dimensions, thickness, color, and timeline.

Why choose concrete over wood, tile, or stone for stair treads?

Because our concrete is the same color throughout — like porcelain. If the surface ever abrades after decades of heavy use, it reveals the same pigment underneath. There is no coating to peel, no veneer to wear through. Combined with fiber reinforcement and a permanent penetrating sealer, our treads look the same in year twenty as they did on day one.Wood will eventually rot and need to be replaced. Tile grout is a large pain to maintain. Thick stones work well, but make sure they are thick or laminated for strength. Imagine a large person carrying a heavy load up the stairs. It could be 350lbs total per each footstep. That requires a strong thick stair step and support.

Do you recommend epoxy sealers for concrete stair treads?

No. Epoxy is a surface coating, not a penetrating sealer. It wears off under foot traffic and leaves the concrete completely unprotected and visually patchy once it does. Our multi-stage penetrating sealer bonds within the concrete matrix permanently and never needs replacement.

Why choose Downing Designs for custom concrete stair treads?

Because we have been making custom concrete stair treads for over 25 years, and the general contractors who use us keep coming back. We offer precise color matching, fiber-reinforced high-strength concrete, permanent sealing, hollow-back profiles for steel stair systems, nationwide shipping with a guaranteed date. Look at our 5-Star reviews. They say a lot about our integrity, expertise, and trustworthiness.

And pristine white glove installations like this in Clearwater, Florida.

 

Beautifuls stair installations don’t just happen. We were called on again by Dan Karcher Construction in Florida to help create this ensemble.

Does Downing Designs do more than custom concrete stair treads?

Yes we do.  I have attached 2 pictures: One is of the Phil Esposito statue that they commissioned. I made the base.  We also did the Dave Andreychuk . It has very heavy foot traffic from visitors standing upon my concrete puck for their Instagram moments. Lots of beer spilled and lots of rain and hot Florida summers pounding on that puck. Still looks great.

The other is a custom concrete sink for a commercial brewery. It shows elegance and great form-work. The tile work isn’t bad either.

How do I get started ordering custom concrete stair treads?

Tell us your size, shape, thickness, and color. We will confirm availability, send a detailed quote, and set a guaranteed ship date. We deliver fully crated to your job site anywhere in the U.S., with installation support available for Florida clients.

What sealers do you use on concrete stair treads?

A multi-stage system: densifiers first, followed by penetrating sealers diluted with acetone for deep initial penetration, and final coats applied until the concrete begins rejecting further saturation. The result is permanent protection with no future resealing required. An optional enhancing sealer refreshes the color with a simple wipe-on, wipe-off application.

What aggregates are in your concrete mix design?

Fine sand and cement only — no large rocks or limestone chunks. Large aggregate looks fine at first, but as the surface wears over years of use, the rocks rise to the surface and completely change the tread’s appearance. Our sand-and-cement matrix stays visually consistent for the life of the tread.

What are common installation gotchas with concrete stair treads?

Plan for weight — these are heavy pieces that require strong, experienced crew members. Apply adhesive evenly and set treads in precise alignment with each other. Inspect the steel substrate for flatness before installation day. Warped supports are much easier to correct before the treads arrive than after.

How do your most experienced customers order concrete stair treads?

They order early. Concrete continues to cure and harden over time — only time fully maximizes strength. Ordering ahead of your installation window means treads arrive at peak hardness. We warehouse finished pieces until your site is ready and deliver on your schedule.

Ready to Get Started?

Call or text Jeff Downing directly at (813) 784-5211, or visit DowningDesigns.com. Tell us your size, shape, thickness, and color — and we handle everything from there, whether you are in Tampa or across the country.

Downing Designs — Custom Concrete Stair Treads. Made in Florida. Shipped Anywhere in the U.S.