Renovating prefab concrete VvE stairs — what are the challenges?

Many post-war apartment complexes and owners' associations (VvE) have stairwells with prefabricated concrete stairs. These stairs are robust and durable — but the tread finish is often bare, wear-resistant concrete or an outdated coating that is due for replacement.

Renovating concrete treads requires a different approach than renovating wooden treads. The full set of requirements for shared stairwells is found in stair renovation for owners' associations and commercial buildings.

What makes concrete treads different?

Concrete is hard, heavy and dimensionally stable. That offers advantages for renovation:

• The tread does not deflect under use.
• The substrate is flat and solid.
• There is no moisture movement as with wood.

Why a solid concrete core is often retained rather than replaced is covered in why existing concrete stairs are often retained.

But there are also challenges:

Concrete is porous — thorough cleaning and surface preparation are essential for good adhesion.

Prefab concrete treads can vary in size per complex — measuring on site is necessary.

Anti-slip on concrete often faces stricter requirements, because the substrate itself provides little grip.

Which system is suitable?

EverStep Solid is the system of choice for renovating concrete VvE stairs.

EverStep Solid offers:

• NEN 7909 anti-slip.
• Fire class Bfl-s1.
• Wear resistance for intensive daily use.
• Immediate walkability after installation.
• Adhesion strength >4.0 N/mm² in accordance with EN 1542 — relevant for bonding to concrete.

The tread is 4.3 mm thick and in most cases fits without adjustments to the dimensions of the stairwell.

Is laser cleaning needed for concrete treads?

In some cases — particularly with heavily soiled or degraded concrete treads — laser cleaning can improve the substrate before renovation. An installer assesses this on site. How this surface preparation works is explained in laser cleaning of concrete stairwells.

What if anti-slip is currently missing?

GripStep Pro provides an anti-slip solution in accordance with NEN 7909 that is placed over the existing concrete stair nosing — without a full renovation. GripStep Pro complies with NEN 7909 and fire class Bfl-s1.