What is better concrete stairs or wooden. Which staircase is better - concrete, wood or metal? Combined staircase designs

You can build on the second floor, and, most importantly, choose a convenient and comfortable staircase to the top. But, a stationary ladder is not so little, especially if it is overall. But manufacturers tried to please all categories of citizens - this is how inexpensive stairs to the second floor of the dacha appeared.

As a rule, the price reduction occurs due to the reduction in the size of the staircase itself.

Oddly enough, but it is small designs that are gaining popularity, since:

They look very decent;
Fit into almost any interior;
The price is significantly lower, and the variety of species remains.

Indeed, monumental structures will not be in place everywhere, which is especially true for small houses with an added second floor.

Stairs have a number of requirements, including that the width of the passage be equal to the width of the stairs. The second floor is also unlikely to be large, and a huge passage will just ruin everything.

Not everyone can afford expensive options, especially if the house has just been completed and the renovation is completed. Affordable price helped small-sized stairs to find their niche in the goods market. Indeed, the variety of materials and design options for the entrance to the second floor allows you to find exactly what you want, even for the most fastidious taste and complex interior style.

It is quite possible to make a wooden staircase with your own hands, if you correctly approach this process. We will tell you how to do this in the article:.

Materials for inexpensive stairs

Often, the price is affected by the material from which the stairs are made. Moreover, almost always the choice of expensive materials instead of ordinary ones is determined solely by prestige and the desire to brag. And in terms of performance, inexpensive materials often turn out to be even better and more reliable.

Most often, inexpensive stairs are made from materials such as:

Concrete;
Metal;
Wood.

Concrete stairs are considered to be one of the most reliable. It can be found in any entrance of a multi-storey building. Street stairs are made from the same material. But this does not mean at all that such a design cannot be used in the country. Maybe it looks not too beautiful and expensive, but reliability is guaranteed.

Ladders made entirely of metal are rare, this is understandable - in order for the ladder to be durable, the metal should not be soft, and such a structure weighs a lot. Most often, metal is combined with other materials, such as tempered glass. Metal forged railings look especially impressive.

Depending on the size and material, the cost of a spiral staircase can start from 10 thousand rubles, which is really quite inexpensive. Even if the staircase is made to order, you can still save. The main price gouging is, oddly enough, for additional work - measurements, drawing up diagrams and drawings, and the owners often make an estimate. If you do everything yourself, it will save at least 15 percent.

You can save the same amount by refusing to finish. It can also be done on your own. Yes, and independent installation will leave the owner about 20% of the total amount.

The most economical version of a spiral staircase is with an emphasis on a supporting pillar. It is made from a metal pipe, which has a diameter of 5 cm or more. Wedge-shaped steps are attached to it like a fan. There are other options - based on the wall, on stringers, well type. However, it is this design on the pipe that is the most reliable. It also allows you to make a railing, which provides additional security. This is true for the elderly and families with children.

It is also necessary to take into account the fact that the spiral staircase saves space very significantly. If this is not so important for a large house, then for small rooms this configuration will be a real salvation. In addition, both the steps themselves and the support pipe can be finished in various ways. For example, they are painted with special paints, varnished.

Cheap stairs to give to the second floor

It is clear that those people who are trying to save on installation and finishing are unlikely to order stairs for several hundred thousand rubles from precious woods, and many people begin to doubt the quality and reliability of inexpensive structures.

It is worth considering that:

The finished staircase may vary in size;
Ordering specially is expensive;
Inexpensive models can be made of low-quality material.

All these doubts are quite easy to dispel. Yes, ready-made kits for mounting stairs have strict proportions, but you can’t make a mistake if you take all the measurements well. A custom-made staircase may also not hit your wallet too much if you take on some of the work. And saving on materials is not at all due to low quality, but to the similarity of all models - they are the same to the last screw, and vary only in size, and very slightly.

Polishing will provide a pleasant appearance for an inexpensive staircase. It will also get rid of burrs and other troubles. In addition, it will increase durability and strength.

Further finishing is done exclusively to the taste of the owners. Wooden structures are usually covered only with varnishes. But metal ones can be painted, and not only railings, but also steps.

Convenient inexpensive stairs to the second floor for giving (video)

Choosing an inexpensive staircase model for a country house is not too difficult. And even here you can do everything much cheaper if part of the work is done by the owners. Inexpensive does not mean bad, so there is no need to be afraid of such designs. They will also last a long time and look beautiful.

Good luck with your experiments!

In detail: inexpensive stairs to the second floor (photo examples)

It all depends on what quality product you expect to see (and observe for many years) in your home. If you are not embarrassed by errors in the form of under-grinding, gaps between parts, creaks when walking, poor-quality painting, cheap glue

etc., but for a small price, you will be completely satisfied with the economy option from stores that provide a number of construction services.

If you are picky about the quality of materials, assembly, painting, you are a 100% client of furniture stores and professional manufacturers who control the manufacturing process from the stage of measurements, drawings and design to installation and delivery of the object to the customer.

So, let's look at a cheaper option. You go to a store where you can buy everything for repair, construction, etc., buy parts for your future stairs and start fooling around with this “constructor” (either by yourself, if you have the right tools, or by hired installers). And it seems that instead of a ladder there is a full-fledged staircase in the house, but where do the unexpected and unpleasant “surprises” (cracks, creaks, etc.) come from?

All this is explained very simply. If you ordered a ladder from professionals, you would get the following benefits:

all the necessary measurements will be taken at your facility, taking into account all the nuances: frame features, window placement, etc.;
you will be provided with drawings, the type of stairs, design, material, color and, of course, the production time will be agreed with you;
the material is polished to a shine (not only on the machine, but also manually);
all the details of the stairs will retain their appearance, as they will be made of chopped timber glued with high-quality glue;
you will also see your staircase in a draft version (during pre-assembly) and at this stage you can adjust some of the nuances;
during the rough assembly, the craftsmen will cut the parts, taking into account uneven walls, frame errors, etc.;
after that, the parts are again ground and painted. Painting will be multi-stage using high-quality paints and varnishes;
and now this product of great labor will be brought to the installation ... Rich and luxurious, it will delight you, cause a feeling of delight in your guests.

Is it all available in the economy version?

Draw conclusions, make up your mind and order from professionals!

Safety: how to close the stairs from the child

When a child first gets on his feet and takes his first steps, he begins an exciting journey through the house. On his way there are new objects. They, of course, are very interesting for a small person, but, moreover, they can be extremely unsafe for his health.

Which ladder to choose metal or wood?

The staircase structure should be designed even before the construction of internal partitions begins, taking into account the material from which the house is built, the size of the opening, the distance between the floors and the location of the structure. What product to put in a living room so that it fits well into the interior, is practical and durable?

The basis of any staircase design is its functionality and aesthetics. The practical component is paramount. But appearance also plays a significant role.

What material the structure is made of affects both its technical parameters and design. Consider the questions of which staircase is better: metal or wood, what is affected by the use of each of these materials, and where it is better to use such a design.

By appointment, all stairs can be divided into:

Input;
Interfloor;
Checkpoints;
Workers.

By location, they can be external or internal, according to functionality:

Stationary;
Portable;
Transformable.

According to the material of manufacture, stairs differ:

Concrete;
From natural stone;
brick;
Wooden;
metal;
Glass;
Combined.

Type:

Screw;
Marching;
Combined.

Marching stairs are the most common in use.

They are easy to manufacture, can be:

Single-march;
two-march;
Multi-march.

Screw ones are more suitable if you need to save space in the room.

Combined options are often chosen for individual projects.

Stair structures

Structurally, the staircase consists of:

carrier system;
steps;
Fencing.

As a bearing element can be:

Kosoura;
Bowstrings;
Boltsy;
Racks.

Stringers are solid support beams, the steps are attached to them from above. On kosour, mid-flight wooden stairs are most often made.

The bowstrings have special grooves on the inside where the steps are inserted.

The bolts can serve as fastening steps to the wall, and also fasten them together.

The central support posts usually have spiral staircases.

Metal supports are most suitable for the construction of spiral and curved stairs.

Stair railings consist of:

Railings or handrails;
Support and intermediate pillars or balusters;
decorative elements.

Each of the elements of the stairs has its own requirements. In addition, the entire design of the stairs must also meet a number of conditions.

Basic requirements for the material of the stairs

The main requirements that the material of the ladder structure must meet:

Strength;
moisture resistance;
Durability;
Chemical resistance;
Weather resistance;
fire safety;
Ease of installation;
Ecological cleanliness;
Ease of use;
Ease of care;
aesthetic appeal.

Additionally, steps must be highly resistant to abrasion and have a non-slip surface.

In addition, the cost of the staircase design is of great importance.

The strength of the ladder structure

In terms of strength characteristics, wood is significantly inferior to metal. However, valuable wood species have sufficient strength necessary for the normal operation of the staircase structure.

The hardest rocks are:

Maple.

Of the remaining options, it is better to choose larch, which is stronger than pine and other soft woods.

In terms of the strength of the connection of individual elements, wooden structures also lose to metal ones. Over time, the tree dries out, the joints loosen.

A metal ladder does not have this problem. The design of the metal staircase has:

Reliability;
Resilience;
Rigidity.

The exception is aluminum. It is quite soft material, can be easily deformed.

Moisture resistance of staircase elements

Exposure to moisture is equally detrimental to untreated wood and ordinary steel. All wooden elements must be protected from water using special means:

Moisture resistant impregnation;
Colors;
Lakov.

For outdoor use of wooden stairs, such protection is necessary. It will constantly need to be updated. For example, beech is unstable to moisture, can be deformed, and larch does not rot.

Modern production technologies make it possible to produce wood-based materials that are reliably protected from the harmful effects of water. For example, wood-polymer composite.

Ordinary steel is absolutely unstable to corrosion, and requires mandatory processing. To prevent rust from reducing the strength characteristics of the metal structure, it is necessary to paint the metal with special compounds. In addition, the metal will need constant care to maintain the appearance of the staircase and increase its service life.

Corrosion resistant:

Stainless steel;
Aluminum;
Chrome plated steel.

If the staircase structure is not assembled on welded joints, then systems made of these types of metal can be used outdoors for a very long time.

But if welding is used, then the junctions of the elements require special attention. They must be carefully cleaned and covered with protective compounds.

Durability

Wooden stairs can last quite a long time. Good examples are the magnificent staircase complexes in many historic buildings.

But this requires the use of precious woods, which are perfectly prepared, well dried, treated with special compounds from:

Rotting;
mold;
Gribkov;
insects;
Rodents.

In addition, appropriate conditions for temperature and humidity conditions are required. In the future, the finished structure must be constantly maintained in an aesthetically attractive form.

Outdoor wooden stairs that have not been properly treated on time quickly lose their normal appearance.

Restoring it is sometimes no longer possible. Of the metals, stainless steel has the longest lifespan.

Ordinary profiled steel will last longer than wood.

But it also requires special processing and subsequent care.

Resistance of materials to aggressive and atmospheric influences

If we compare the resistance of wood and metal in relation to aggressive and atmospheric influences, then metal structures have higher technical performance.

The tree is very susceptible to most acids, alkalis and other adverse factors.

Fire safety of the ladder system

If we consider the issue of fire safety of wood and metal, then it is unequivocally decided not in favor of wooden structures.

Wooden ladder structures in the building should be located away from any possible sources of ignition. Even processing them with special flame retardants does not give a full guarantee of fire safety.

Metal structures resist high temperatures much longer. Of course, they also lose their technical characteristics as a result of prolonged exposure to open fire. But in the process of fire, the metal does not emit combustion products, smoke does not occur from it.

In order to reliably protect the metal structures of the stairs, they are coated with special flame retardants and paints.

Ease of material processing and installation of the structure

Wood is much easier to process than metal. For this reason, it is possible to independently perform a greater number of shapes, sizes, and decorative elements from it.

With metal, everything is more complicated. In the factory, it is very plastic and can be performed:

profile products;
Casting;
Forging.

But all these will be ready-made parts, or separate modules, from which you can assemble not so many staircase options with your own hands. As a rule, the manufacturer's instructions are attached to them.

The production of individual designs to order immediately leads to an increase in the cost of the product. Few people can independently perform a forged staircase, or use a welding machine.

Ecological purity of the material

The naturalness of wood, its valuable properties for creating a favorable indoor microclimate are well-known facts. No other material can compete with this.

Often the choice in favor of a wooden staircase in the house is made precisely for this reason. The tree creates a unique coziness and warmth in any room.

From an environmental point of view, there are no questions about raw wood materials. However, when different wood preservative chemicals are used, very careful selection is required.

Environmentally friendly material - wood

Important! It is strictly forbidden to use materials intended only for outdoor use for processing wood inside the house. They, as a rule, very reliably protect the wooden surface from various adverse effects, but emit substances hazardous to human health.

It is necessary to select impregnations, paints and varnishes with natural ingredients. More trustworthy products with certificates - well-known brands.

The metal itself is an absolutely clean ecological material. A problem with metal stairs can be created by its treatment with unsafe compounds.

Therefore, their choice should also be approached with caution.

Ease of use of stairs

Wooden stairs are more convenient to use than metal ones. The safety of descent and ascent on non-slippery steps that isolate sounds, the pleasant naturalness of steps and railings are an indisputable advantage of wood. They do not create inconvenience when walking.

The only serious drawback is the presence of creaking steps. It often occurs during operation, due to drying out of the tree or improper assembly of the structure.

The disadvantages of metal stairs during their operation include:

Slippery steps;
Low sound insulation;
Heating of the structure in the sun and strong cooling at low temperatures.

Slippery metal steps can be a serious hazard and require more caution when walking on them. If there are children in the house, then using a metal staircase becomes even more dangerous.

The noise that is generated during the operation of a metal staircase can be reduced by applying special step coatings.

The metal tends to react strongly to temperature, which makes it unsafe to use. If the handrails are heated for a long time in the sun, they can cause burns. When the ambient temperature goes into the sub-zero range, the unprotected skin of the hands can also suffer from direct metal contact.

One option to avoid this is to finish the railing with wood.

The aesthetic appeal of the stairs as a decorative element

The question of the design of stairs made of wood and metal is purely individual. Someone prefers naturalness, the natural beauty of wooden structures.

Others will opt for metal products.

Purely metal structures of stairs cannot boast such a wide variety of design options as wooden models.

Stair construction cost

From wood, the most budget option is a pine staircase.

For a metal staircase, the simplest design of conventional steel profiles.

But these are very little costly and, accordingly, purely practical options. There is no need to talk about any aesthetics here. If you choose more design solutions, then basically a metal staircase will cost more than a wooden one.

Yes, when using exotic woods with the use of artistic decoration of elements, the price of an exclusive option can reach huge sums.

Which ladder is cheaper: wooden or metal - depends on the type of material, the complexity of the design. But this choice is purely individual.

Combined staircase designs

In order to use all the advantages of materials and reduce or even eliminate their shortcomings, you can use the combined version of the stairs.

The combination of metal and wood in constructions is a very common phenomenon, they perfectly complement each other.

Stairs made of metal and wood can be used both inside and outside the building.

Stairs on a metal frame

Mainly metal-wood stairs are used, which consist of:

Metal supporting frame;
wooden steps;
Combined fencing.

That is, the metal acts as a more durable and reliable version of the support. The tree gives the structure an attractive appearance, ease of use. Wooden stairs with a metal base can be made in any shape and size.

Their main advantages are:

Durability;
High strength;
Rigidity;
sustainability;
Easy assembly.

The cost of a combined design, most often, is much cheaper than a completely wooden version of the stairs.

Modern metal production technologies make it possible to create lightweight structures. They can be sheathed not only with natural wood, but also with various materials based on it.

In order to reduce the cost of stairs, you can combine expensive types of wood - for elements with a high operational load, and cheap species - for products that are less subject to wear.

For example, solid wood is made of:

steps;
supports;
Handrails.

From pine or birch you can build:

End parts of steps;
frame sheathing;
plinth;
Other vertical details.

Wooden steps, which are attached to a metal frame, get rid of creakiness, they can be easily replaced if necessary.

In addition, wooden steps have the greatest safety when moving up the stairs. Less chance of slipping - injuries when falling will not be significant.

Giving a completely new look to a staircase on a metal frame is quite simple if you completely change all the wooden elements.

Combined staircase - photo

The metal frame can be completely covered with wood.

The strength of the structure will be high, and aesthetically it will look like wood.

Stairs with a combined frame

You can combine different options for supports and fences. For example, wooden steps rest on one side on a wooden stringer, and the other side is attached to metal bolts. Metal fencing adds extra strength to the structure.

There are a lot of options for combining ladder structures made of wood and metal.

Combined stair railing

Another option is to combine stair railings.

Cold metal railings and handrails are sheathed with wood or completely made of it. Support poles can be made from both materials.

Filling the internal space between them is possible from decorative metal elements.

For outdoor use, it is better to choose the option of a metal staircase - it is less susceptible to external atmospheric influences;
Indoors, a combined option is perfect - the combination of strength and stability with an aesthetic component will give the user much more convenience than mono-material stairs;
For the device of attic transformer stairs, it is better to choose lightweight metal structures;
Any working stairs should be made of aluminum;
Completely wooden structures will definitely fit perfectly into the design of a wooden house.

Which is better: metal or wooden stairs? Everyone approaches this issue individually. There is no single answer here, and everyone has their own choice. You can learn more about wood and metal staircase designs by watching the video in this article.

When building a multi-storey building, it is worth considering the entire project as a whole. Particular attention should be paid to the stairs, as some models of these products are best mounted as the house is built.

In this regard, a natural question arises: "Which ladder to choose?". Thanks to modern materials, you can easily build a wooden, metal or concrete staircase of almost any shape. It is necessary to take into account not only the cost of the staircase itself, but also the cost of finishing it. Therefore, we will consider all the pros and cons of products from the most common materials, as well as the shape of the stairs.

Types of stairs

There are three main types of stairs that are built in country houses:

Direct. This is the simplest and cheapest option for arranging stairs, regardless of what material it is made of. Free space is formed under the stairs, which can be left unchanged or filled with niches and cabinets for storing things. As a rule, the width of such a ladder does not exceed 1 meter. Also, a straight staircase allows you to build the most comfortable steps, the optimal width (slightly longer than the foot of an adult).
Marching. In this case, a straight zone appears between the two stairwells. Such structures are optimal for spacious rooms with high ceilings or if the house is supposed to have more than 2 floors. The staircase can be L-shaped or U-shaped.
Screw. This is an option for small spaces.

All these stairs can be made of metal, concrete or wood.

metal stairs

Such stairs optimally fit into the design, which has forged fences, railings and more. But they also go well with wood, glass, stone. These are reliable, durable and very strong constructions. They are able to withstand heavy loads, and the installation of such products is carried out at any stage of construction or after its completion. The metal is fireproof, resistant to mold and fungus. In addition, these stairs are the cheapest.

But such designs also have disadvantages. For example, if we are talking about a metal staircase without any finish, then its steps will be very slippery. Therefore, these elements are recommended to be made of plastic or wood. And if you think that, unlike a wooden structure, it does not creak, then you are greatly mistaken.

Healthy! The longest are steel stairs coated with powder paint.

Firstly, if the metal is too thin, then the steps will bend a little under the weight of a person. Secondly, if the steps are metal, then each step will be accompanied by a hum. If insufficiently rigid fastening to the walls was made or welding failed, then the steps will creak more than any tree.

Initially, this option may seem cheaper. Concrete stairs really cost almost two times cheaper than wooden counterparts. But if you build such a structure, it will not look comfortable. So you have to think about finishing. Some even completely sheathe concrete with wood, which significantly increases the cost of the finished product.

If we talk about the pros, then it is worth highlighting:

Long service life (up to 40 years). Reinforced concrete is able to cope with huge loads.

Healthy! The service life largely depends on the climate in the region of residence, as well as on the frost resistance parameters of the selected concrete.

Moisture does not affect concrete. This is a fire resistant material.
Concrete structures are not interesting for rodents and insects.
Fast production. Such structures are erected directly on site in 2-3 days.

Healthy! Despite the speed of manufacturing such a staircase, experts recommend pouring concrete simultaneously with the construction of an interfloor ceiling or the so-called box.

No load on the wall structure. Moreover, we can say that the concrete staircase is an additional point of support.
No squeak. Even if wood was used for decoration, there should not be such a disadvantage. A creak will only appear if the steps are too uneven.
Variety of forms. Concrete is a very plastic material.

Healthy! If you build a wooden spiral staircase, you will have to install a central support post. In the manufacture of a concrete structure, this need is eliminated.

Concrete stairs are:

Monolithic. In this case, they are poured in place and represent a single whole.
National teams. You can order the ladder in parts and then install it in the right place.

But such designs also have disadvantages. For example,:

Concrete stairs, due to their impressive weight, are only suitable for stone, monolithic, brick, precast-monolithic and other houses with a reinforced structure.
If you sheathe the entire staircase with wood or “ennoble” it to look like marble or other stone, then its cost will be higher than its wooden counterpart.

Also, for independent construction, a lot of strength will be required.

Features of the installation of concrete stairs

First you need to prepare the formwork. After that, reinforcement is installed and concrete is poured. The first stage is considered the most difficult, and if you have conceived a more complex form, then it will be easier to transfer the work to the master. Or you can make a straight single-march structure located between two walls. In this case, the side elements of the formwork are excluded, which greatly simplifies the work. To do this, simply draw the outline of the future stairs on the walls.

A little more difficult if the structure is adjacent to the wall on only one side. To do this, you will have to think over the end elements of the formwork. If you perform them incorrectly, then the whole structure will “go”.

Many believe that wood is significantly inferior to concrete and metal. But in fact, it all depends on the quality of the wood. For example, oak, beech and ash are very hard. Such stairs serve at least 50 years. And if the owner of the house periodically takes care of the stairs and processes, then this period can be doubled.

Healthy! Due to their low weight, wooden stairs are suitable not only for concrete, but also for frame and wooden houses.

It is also not entirely true that all wooden stairs creak. If the design is made using all technologies, then there will be no such shortcomings. By the way, the highest quality stairs are made in the workshop, and not on the spot. First, a drawing is developed (if the elements do not match at least a little, then sooner or later creaks and cracks will appear) and then the production process begins. On the one hand, this guarantees quality, and on the other hand, it brings us to the main disadvantages of such products.

Among them it is worth highlighting:

Long production time. If the concrete staircase is ready in 2-3 days, then the production of a wooden structure will take at least 40 days, plus the time spent on delivery and installation.
The possibility of installation only after the completion of capital construction and internal rough work. Otherwise, there is a risk of damaging the wood. In addition, it will be affected by dust, construction debris.
Additional load on the walls. Although wood weighs less than concrete, it does not have its own support. In addition, special embedded elements will have to be installed in the load-bearing walls, which will reduce their strength characteristics.
Fire hazard.

In addition, rodents and insects like to feast on the tree. If the room is poorly ventilated, then mold and fungus will start in it.

Features of the installation of wooden stairs

In short, it all starts with drawing up a detailed drawing. After that, steps are cut, which are connected to two bowstrings. On the next one, bars are installed, which these steps must support.

Although the tree does not need additional finishing, it is better to paint it. To do this, you must first level the surfaces. If necessary, a special putty for wood is used. When the putty layer dries, it is necessary to sand the surfaces well. This is done in two stages.

First, work is done with coarse sandpaper, then more delicate processing is performed. The smoother the surface, the better the whole staircase will look, so this step is given a lot of attention.

After that, the tree is impregnated with compounds that will help protect it from insects, fungus and mold. At the next stage, it is desirable to cover the surface of the stairs with a primer (selected in accordance with the final color).

Healthy! Paint for wooden stairs is also needed special. You need to buy compounds of the alkyd or urethane type.

If there is no desire to paint the stairs and you want to preserve the beautiful structure of the tree, then you can emphasize it and protect the material from external influences with the help of wood stain.

In custody

The quality of the stairs directly depends on the master who made it. It often happens that even concrete stairs begin to creak. For example, if the steps turned out to be uneven, and wood was used as a finishing material, such products are guaranteed to play.

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