Cladding metal stairs

Cladding metal stairs  

Metal stairs in interiors are not common, but there are exceptions. In some modern interiors, they can be an interesting aesthetic element, or they can serve as a supporting structure suitable for cladding. Furthermore, metal is very often found elsewhere on staircases rather than on treads: it serves as a supporting structure to which treads – made of other materials – are attached.

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Metal staircase 

Metal as a material is of course a very general concept; either steel, stainless steel, or some form of cast iron is commonly used for staircases. In general, metal is very durable, and compared to most other materials it can achieve the same load-bearing capacity, strength, and durability at a much smaller volume.  

Metal staircases are very often clad for acoustic reasons. It might also be that the owner is no longer interested in regular surface maintenance. Or maybe the metal staircase is a relic of the former owners in an inherited/purchased house, and we are looking for a way to make it more attractive. So let’s first look at how metal actually performs as a staircase material.

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ADVANTAGES

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• Supporting structure 
  • High resistance
  • High hardness
  • Low volume of material
  • Low weight compared to conventional reinforced concrete
  • Non-flammability
  • Does not react to changes in humidity
  • Resistance to pests
  • Material suitable for rebuilding – easy to handle even in specific spaces and thanks to its low weight it does not compromise the stability of the building
  • It is an excellent base for all types of cladding
  • Very fast assembly
  • Immediate walkability
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• Surface
  • Suitability of the material
  • Modern brutalist design
  • You can be creative in your choice of paint

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DISADVANTAGES

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• Supporting structure 
  • More costly than alternatives
  • Requires surface treatment against corrosion on unclad surfaces
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• Surface
  • If metal is also used for the supportingstructure, the staircase is noisy 
  • It’ll wear down and create bumps quitequickly 
  • Requires regular maintenance due to paintwear (can be very unaesthetic and lead to corrosion) 
  • The surface is not waterproof without aspecial surface treatment 
  • Not UV resistant – not colourfast 
  • Unsuitable for barefoot walking due tocold 
  • Unsuitable for barefoot walking if exposedto the sun – metal can get very hot 
  • The appearance is specific and depends onthe coating, which must meet several requirements – it must be waterproof,abrasion-resistant, and slip-resistant 

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Our evaluation of concrete as a material for interior staircases 

• Supporting structure: 9/10 
• Surface: 2/10 
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Metal is generally a very good choice for the staircase structure. Especially if you are looking for a minimalist solution. It is not so suitable for the interior, but it is a perfect base for a new layer of cladding (there is certainly no need to remove it before cladding).  

And since we sell laminate cladding at TOPSTEP, we naturally want to show you why we believe it makes great choice.

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TOPSTEP laminate cladding 

Laminate cladding tiles are generally a very good option for metal interior staircases, but of course we cannot guarantee the general quality of products from other manufacturers. But we can vouch for ours, and we do. We pride ourselves on the high quality of our products – from the materials (highly durable HDF board body and the highest quality laminate), to the processing (we offer unique laminate processing on postforming machines that allows us to deliver products with a rounded edge on the cladding tile without any splitting of material that occurs with our competitors), to the installation (by our trained craftsmen). Moreover, our cladding solves most of the disadvantages of stone (all of which can be solved by changing the surface) and it makes an ideal material for staircase reconstruction – even unevenness or crumbling edges are not an obstacle, our systems can handle all such problems with ease.

We are happy to describe the great features of our cladding, but we have to change our approach slightly, and move from advantages and disadvantages to properties. In fact, we have tweaked our cladding systems so that we don’t see any disadvantages.

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Properties

Flexibility: TOPSTEP laminate cladding can be used to clad staircases of any shape, number of steps, with or without a landing. It can be used for cladding newly built stairs as well as for reconstruction by cladding.

High resistance: The A3-4 quality laminate is virtually unbreakable, resists heavy impact and abrasion, and is resistant to UV rays and common chemicals.  

Long-lasting beauty: TOPSTEP laminate profiles retain their appearance for many years without the need for maintenance work, the only maintenance required is wiping off dirt with a damp cloth.

Wide range of decors: We offer a variety of shapes, patterns, and colours that make it easy to match the stairs to the rest of your home’s interior.

Easy and quick installation: Our laminate systems are designed for efficiency, ensuring both easy and quick installation – a simple staircase can be clad in as little as one day, and it’s ready to go as soon as the job is complete. And you don’t have to worry about mess either, installation creates the absolute minimum of it.

Cost-effectiveness: Laminate offers an excellent price-performance ratio, is more affordable than many other materials, but does not compromise on quality or appearance.

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How about the cladding? WithTOPSTEP it’s easy! 

TOPSTEP offers laminate staircase cladding in two product series – FLEX and PROFI. The product series do not differ in quality, but there is a price difference. This is due to the difference in approach – FLEX is designed for self-installation by the customer (and therefore you only pay for the material), while the PROFI series comes with a complete service, from measurement to installation – you just have to choose which you prefer. What you can specifically expect:

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PROFI

• Installation within 3 weeks
• Choice of 15+ wood decors and 3 nosing profiles
• 3D configurator – you can design the entire staircase and immediately see how your chosen elements would look, with the option to send the configured stairs directly to a TOPSTEP sales representative
• Staircases without work and stress free, with guaranteed high-quality workmanship and installation
• Possibility to choose accessories such as banisters or LED stair lighting

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FLEX

• Delivery of all material within 5 working days
• Choice of 8 wooden decors with the option of a white riser
• Lower price – you are only paying for the material
• A fun Saturday with a construction set for adults

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