When designing a staircase for your commercial space or property, there are a number of key decisions you will have to make – most importantly what material the staircase will be constructed from. The traditional material option used was timber, however more architects, homeowners and developers are opting for steel structures as this enables more complex, slender and durable designs to be considered.
Opting for a staircase with metal as its core structure can be a building block for other materials such as stone, glass, timber etc. However, there is an upward trend towards all metal staircase specifications in residential and commercial properties; metal structures are strong, durable and built to last.
Resilience
Timber structures will expand and contract when exposed to heat, humidity and other elements, over time this will distort and loosen the timber and joints. Therefore, timber structures will become noisier and begin to creak. Also, the natural variants in timber result in designs having to be over engineered in terms of section sizes to compensate, this means there can be huge limitations with the design itself when opting for timber.
A steel structure is extremely stable and there’s no need to worry about expansion, contraction or warping. A metal staircase is inherently resistant to all environmental elements including fire and flood which is a key advantage for Architects and Structural Engineers from a safety point of view.
Economical
The evolving pandemic and advances in sustainability has shifted the way architectural design is perceived in 2022. All metal staircase structures are strong, durable and built to last meaning there’s less need to paint or replace a structural component within a metal staircase as ultimately, metal stairs last longer with minimal maintenance required. A big shift towards sustainability and climate concerns means metal structures are increasingly becoming the preferred choice within the industry.
Versatile designs
Metal is considered far more contemporary and the go to-choice for architects and interior designers. The possibilities of modern metals are vast, the structural integrity of steel means you can incorporate the beauty of timber into your design, through balustrades and timber treads. Architects have been actively incorporating the natural world into design by using timber elements in structures. The idea of pairing timber treads with metalwork staircase structures is also becoming an increasingly popular option; particularly oak and sapele timber for a classic appearance.
The option to incorporate the stripped back, industrial finishes of raw steel continues to rise in popularity in to 2022 the idea of injecting character and textures into staircase design. The design possibilities are endless!
For over 30 years Canal have also played an invaluable role in designing, fabricating, and installing an expansive range of architectural staircase designs for many prestigious projects.
At Canal their greatest strength lies in turning your design brief into a reality and they have manufactured and installed unique metalwork solutions to some of the UK’s most prestigious residential and commercial projects. If you would like to discuss your latest architectural metalwork design then please email canal@canalengineering.co.uk for more information or head over to their website and speak directly to one of their technical advisors.