A well-made, beautifully constructed steel staircase is a fantastic choice for any residential, commercial or industrial build. Steel has a number of benefits over other materials, ranging from versatility to durability and sustainability. When it comes to using steel for staircases, the benefits over concrete are numerous. Let’s take a look.

Steel is one of the most versatile materials you can build with, and when it comes to stairs, the benefits of building with steel make it a far better choice than concrete.

#1 Modern Aesthetics

When it comes to residential builds, steel is a far better choice than concrete. Trends in construction and architecture over the last half-century have favored steel more and more. Steel is sophisticated and modern. It is more lightweight and lets in more light than concrete.

Steel is also an extremely flexible and versatile material, with an impressive strength to weight ratio, and lends itself to creative modern staircase designs, making it the material of choice for many contemporary, forward-thinking designers and architects.

#2 Strength and Reliability

Steel has extremely high tensile strength. It is a made from iron and carbon, which together make an extremely strong material that discourages dislocation at an atomic level. It is as sturdy as you can get when it comes to building materials and require little to no maintenance.

Concrete is a composite material consisting of cement, sand, gravel, and water. Yes, it has a relatively high compressive strength but lacks the tensile strength of steel. Concrete also needs to be reinforced with steel rebar to increase a structure’s tensile capacity, ductility, and elasticity.

#3 Time

Builders need to spend a lot of time shuttering and reinforcing before they can cast a concrete stair, whereas steel is delivered on-site ready to go.

#4 Sustainability

Steel is one of the world’s most recycled materials, with a global recycling rate of over 90%. It is also 100% recyclable. Steel can be used reused multiple times with little to no compromise to its structural integrity. Thus structural steel manufacturing has a minimal impact on the environment.

#5 Cost

Despite its many perks, steel is actually quite inexpensive – especially when you consider its long-term benefits, its reliability and its sturdiness. Building a staircase with steel can save you a small fortune as manufacturing of steel isn’t cost-intensive, and because building with steel takes considerably less time than building with other materials, it will save you money on labor-hire. Steel will also last you a lifetime, increasing the value of your home or business if you ever opt to sell. A steel staircase will last longer, is more eco-friendly, more cost-effective and will look better than concrete in almost any project.

If you are considering steel frames for your new staircase and would like a professional opinion, Contact Us.