Concrete is often the go-to material for outdoor staircases, but is it truly the most suitable option? While a well-built concrete staircase can be satisfactory, a properly constructed steel staircase can be an excellent choice for residential, commercial, and industrial constructions.
Steel possesses several advantages over other materials, such as its versatility, durability, and sustainability. When it comes to constructing stairs, the advantages of utilizing steel rather than concrete are abundant.
Let’s explore these benefits in detail. And if you require the assistance of Sydney’s premier steel fabricator to manage your project from inception to completion, contact Steel Fabrication Services today.
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.
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 favoured steel more and more. Steel is sophisticated and modern. It is lightweight, and allows more light through than concrete does.
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.
Strength and Reliability
Steel has extremely high tensile strength. It is an 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 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.
Time
Builders need to spend a lot of time shuttering and reinforcing before they can cast a concrete staircase, whereas steel is delivered on site ready to go.
When building with steel, structures have greater foundations than building with other materials, so more time can be allowed for the structure itself, as less time is needed for the preparation process.
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.
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 labour 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, we can help.
Build your dream staircase with Steel Fabrication Services
Our team of expert structural steel fabricators have the experience and knowledge to answer any of your questions and will ensure that you find the best solution to suit your needs. To contact us today, simply call, fax, email or drop by our Brookvale location.
While you’re here, read more about steel and its benefits:
How To Choose the Best Type of Steel for Your Next Project
