Material ideas for renewing your stairs
A smart, well-designed staircase can make a great centrepiece for your hallway, as well as serving a practical purpose. With a huge range of materials and styles to choose from, it's essential to look at all the options before coming to a decision. Here are a few points to consider:
Would you prefer wood, metal or glass stair components? Timber is a wonderfully warm material that goes with any style of décor, and opens up a host of design possibilities including shaped treads, handrails and curly volutes. Many types of wooden staircases and stair parts are available, ranging from premium American white oak, ash and black walnut through to more economical timbers such as pine, sapele and hemlock.
Metal is an extremely versatile, hard-wearing staircase component, and is produced in many forms. For a slick contemporary look, consider brushed nickel or chrome spindles, newel caps and connectors, perhaps paired with an oak or pine handrail and base rail. Steel balusters shaped to look like wrought iron are another popular option, and are available in both classic and contemporary designs to give an interesting twist to the balustrade.
Glass panels have really taken off recently, due largely to their light-giving properties which can make small spaces feel bigger and brighter. Made from thick toughened glass, the panels are normally made to measure, although some can be bought off the shelf. The glass can either be slotted into grooves in the handrail and base rail or attached to the balustrade with metal brackets, depending on personal preference. You can also get glass treads and / or glass risers for a really contemporary feel.
Of course, you are also free to mix and match materials. Wood, glass and metal can all be combined to great effect, and work particularly well in modern homes. To get an idea of what’s available, try out our free StairCreator planning tool, which lets you design your own staircase and get an instant quote. We also sell a large selection of stair parts for balustrade refurbishment in our online shop.
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