WALLS AND WINDOW TREATMENTS 3(1+2)

Lesson 11 : Wall Element – Staircase

Materials For Staircase

The staircase is perhaps one of the most experimented architectural elements. In terms of versatility in design and use of materials, the staircase surpasses all other components constituting our home interiors.

The staircase design has evolved over the years with a variety of materials used for its construction. From the traditional materials like bricks and stone to the contemporary options such as solid surface and glass; the staircase has reaped the benefits of all. In fact, the look of the staircase itself can lend the desired theme to your house. Let’s look at a few materials you can use for the staircase and the elements constituting it.

1. Stone staircase

One of the most common staircase materials is stone. Stone offers variety in color and texture; and looks amazing as a staircase material. For interiors, stones like marble and granite are widely used as a cladding material for concrete and brick staircase. It lends the interiors a touch of luxury. Marble staircase is the obvious choice for marble flooring, Also, stone is an excellent staircase material for exteriors like garden and patio. Stone is extremely durable, resistant to moisture and pests, and easily maintainable. Stone can also be carved into beautiful shapes to form staircase balusters. These can significantly add to the elegance of your home interiors or exteriors

2. Brick staircase

A humble yet magnificent staircase material is brick. Brick staircase with stone cladding or cement finish is probably the most used material for staircase. It looks fabulous if complemented with the right interiors. Brick is also a very popular staircase material for home exteriors. Brick has the unmatched quality to get beautiful with time and it looks fantastic against the green backdrop of a garden. The main advantage of brick is its cost effectiveness. Also, it is extremely durable and an easily available construction material

3. Glass staircase

A relatively recent addition to the list of staircase materials is glass. Until lately glass was considered to be a delicate material and was used with caution. But with the invent of new varieties, glass is being successfully used as a staircase material. Glass staircase adds a contemporary look to the home interiors. It offers variety in color and texture. Glass staircase is also well suited for space constrained interiors as it appears to take lesser space. Glass staircase can be well complemented with metallic balusters and handrails. The only disadvantage is that glass requires high maintenance.

4. Wood staircase

An extremely popular and evergreen staircase material is wood. The beauty of wooden staircase is that it can adapt to any style of interiors; be it traditional, contemporary, rustic, or any other. The sleek and trim look of wooden staircase is widely adopted for modern interiors. Wood as a staircase material is most suited for space constrained interiors. Sleek wooden treads supported by metal balusters practically take no space at all. Carved and decorative wooden balustrade and handrails have been used to adorn staircases since ages.

5. Solid Surface staircase

Solid surface is gaining popularity as an excellent alternative to natural materials like stone. It has already been successfully adopted as a worktop and countertop material. And now it is also being experimented as a staircase material. The advantages of solid surface staircase are low maintenance, durability, aesthetic looks and variety.

6. Metal staircase

Though not very popular, metal staircase is a great option for space constrained interiors. It is strong and hard wearing but scores low on aesthetics. External emergency fire escape staircases are usually made from metal now. The reason why external staircases are used as emergency escapes is that occupants need an escape route that is free from fire and smoke, usually installed with fire rated doors and fire-resistant materials