What Material to Choose for a Modern Staircase – Metal vs Wood?
When it comes to creating a staircase, many homeowners are shocked at the number of issues that need to be solved. One of the questions that immediately come to the minds of customers is what material to choose for the staircase. Obviously, everyone wants a finished project that is modern, safe and aesthetically pleasing.
Metal and wood are the materials that are most in demand for creating stairs at V.P Stairs. That’s why we’ve decided to explore metal and wood staircases in more detail, to help make the important choice of material easier for you.
Key Takeaways
- Metal staircases are characterised by their strength and durability.
- Projects made of wood materials are considered a more luxurious and ecological option.
- Installation of wooden staircases may require more time, especially if you have chosen an author’s project.
- The final choice depends on the customer’s preferences, design project, and planned budget.
Metal Staircases and Their Features
Metal staircases are something that can often be found in commercial facilities, including boutiques, clinics and even restaurants. As a rule, for internal installation, combined type structures are selected, which consist not only of steel, but also lined with other, decorative materials. For example, the second material can be glass or even stone.
More popular are such solutions as metal stairs panelled with wood, which retain the strength of the metal frame. They allow you to add bright, warm accents to the interior with the help of decorative elements – handrails, balusters, and others. Metal models have the following advantages:
- A wide variety of metal options are used for outdoor metal staircases and residential home structures: stainless steel, bronze, cast iron, iron, etc. At V.P Stairs, we help customers bring a variety of ideas to life by providing options for real gold balusters.
- Metal stairs are characterised by strength and durability.
- A variety of materials can be chosen for the steps.
- Resistance to external factors.
- Restoration of individual elements.
Among the advantages, we should also mention the ability to withstand an increased level of load, often reaching the mark of half a tonne. However, anything has both pros and cons. Therefore, below, we have highlighted the main disadvantages of metal staircases.
- Make noise and vibrations when walking.
- Require treatment to protect against corrosion and rust.
- Periodic painting is necessary.
To avoid such disadvantages, you can choose combined solutions. For example, when your elevating structure contains metal handrails for the stairs to the house, posts or balusters, while the frame is made of natural wood or even vice versa.
Wood Staircases and Their Features
Wood staircases are about the texture, warm shades, uniqueness of the texture, and the safety of the occupants themselves. As practice shows, this material is environmentally friendly and clean. However, the characteristics and features of wooden stairs will directly depend on the species of wood that you choose. We have collected the general advantages that are characteristic of wood stairs.
- The value of wood lies in its environmental friendliness and naturalness, which give it the important property of air permeability;
- Wood structures are characterised by their lightness, so the load on the slabs is reduced;
- The material is solid, durable, and reliable. The service life due to these characteristics is a long period;
- Wood has a good appearance. It can be used to make the most intricate curves and chiselled elements.
In addition, natural wood has a reduced level of density ( except for oak), which significantly reduces the load on the supporting wall as well as the frame. This allows the models to be lighter, as well as to be installed even in places that are not designed for this. Wood stairs also have disadvantages, which you can explore further.
- High costs due to the high cost of hardwood.
- The need for special treatment to protect against mould, fungus, rot, and parasites.
- Temperature and humidity fluctuations lead to a loss of attractiveness of the material and provoke over time unpleasant sounds of steps.
As you may have already realised, real wood projects can have both advantages and disadvantages.
Cost Comparison of Metal and Wood Stairs
As the statistics show, cost is one of the main factors in choosing a staircase for your property. Many people focus on the price instead of aesthetic attraction. That is why we offer a small comparison of price formation for metal and wooden projects.
Of course, metal and wood are of different types. This is the main factor that forms the final price. For example, oak is characterised by its high cost, while coniferous trees are cheaper. Metal staircases also depend on the specific type of material. If you want to implement luxurious elements made of gold, it can cost you a lot.
What conclusions about the cost of stairs can be drawn? It is generally accepted that wooden staircase materials are more expensive than metal. You may ask why this is so. Wood is a natural and ecological material that is limited in production.
Final Thoughts
It doesn’t matter what material you decide to choose to create a modern staircase, as modern technology allows you to create a masterpiece in both metal and wood. We at V.P Stairs specialise in creating staircase projects from a variety of materials, including metal and wood. We are ready to offer you the best solutions for combining these materials to ensure the main aspects of stairs are safety, functionality, aesthetics, and durability. For a free consultation with us, leave a request on our website or contact us by other convenient means, including emails and phone calls.
7 Comments
-
Mia Carter
It’s interesting to know what will last longer in ordinary use. Wood or metal construction?
-
vpstairs
Wood is a popular and durable material for stairs. However, much depends on the type of wood, its quality and use. Metal is considered a more durable material.
-
-
Charlie Richardson
I looked at your company’s portfolio and was surprised at the balustrades used in the projects. It looks really cool!
-
vpstairs
We are glad to hear these words from you. Stay with us as our portfolio is regularly updated with new projects.
-
-
Chloe Gardner
I’m leaning towards a metal structure with wooden treads. Why? It feels like a good compromise between durability and warmth.
-
Daniel Cooper
Our fully wooden staircase is about 10 years old and still looks great, but we take maintenance seriously. I mean, regular cleaning and proper products make a big difference.
Jack Mitchell
In my clinic we have installed a helical staircase with aluminium balustrades. I believe this is the best solution for places with high daily visitor traffic. Perhaps for private homes wooden balustrades would be the best option.