Staircase is a face of every house. As they said in the old days, “one judges the house owner and his wealth by the porch”. Modern building market is filled with design and decoration solutions. However, if you want that your staircase serves you for decades, you should follow clear instructions and comply with technical standards of GOST. So, what steps for the stairs are better?

What types of stairs are there?

Depending on the material used for mounting the structure, the stairs are divided into the following types:

  • concrete;
  • wooden;
  • metal.

These types are characterized by their cost, way of finishing and practicality. Even though different technologies are used during installation, main indicators and dimensions of stairs and location of the steps remain the same.

How to calculate the type of stairs?

To make the necessary calculations, you should determine the height of the stairs. The following calculations and indicators are regulated by GOST standards. The height depends on the purpose of construction. For example, the height of outdoor stairs equals the length of the cap (i.e. the distance from the doorsill to the surface of the platform in front of the house); the height of indoor stairs is measured from the place of beginning to the end. If the place of installation is the door, we should substract 3-4 cm to ensure that the door opens freely.

After that, you must calculate the slope of construction. According to GOST, this indicator may vary from 20 to 45 degrees. It is important to remember that the inclination angle of more than 50 degrees is unacceptable. When calculating the slope, you should take into account many factors, such as allocated area, shape, type and structure of the stairs.

The size of step for the stairs is an important parameter. This value is principal for providing user safety and comfort of movement on a given surface. The best option is the step wider than 30 cm and about 16-20 cm high. According to GOST, the width of stairwell must be at least 70 cm.

Considering all indicators and individual characteristics of its placement, you can proceed with the calculation of the size.

Form of steps

Rectangle is the most common shape of steps. This option is perfect for the steps with simple configuration. If you decided to build a winding staircase, the steps must be trapezoidal. The steps also differ in the shape of section and are classified into:

  • modular;
  • tile;
  • angular;
  • triangular.

The most common option is rectangular tile or angular steps.

Finishing and decoration of steps and stairs

Decoration of stairwells is not just an aesthetic task. It is important that the material is safe and practical in terms of operation.
Step facing must have a rough texture to avoid slipping. Moreover, the material must have high wear resistance and durability.
Usually, wooden stairs are just painted. Varnishing of the wooden surface is impractical, as in a few months, the surface starts to peel and lose its properties. For painting, you should use frost- and moisture-resistant enamels.

Natural/artificial stone and tile are used for decorating the concrete stairs. These materials are widely used for the decoration of outdoor construction. If the staircase is located indoors, the finishing material can be other (for example, laminate, linoleum and WPC).
Iron stairs are also finished with wood, WPC and laminate.

It is important to choose the durable material, as the structure withstands heavy loads in operation.

Main materials used for finishing

Wooden steps are the most common option, as they are accessible and can be easily made with your own hands. However, this material has many disadvantages: it dries, cracks, rots and swells from high moisture stress.
WPC (wood-polymer composite) is a perfect alternative to wood. This material is resistant to mechanical damage, moisture and rot. The surface has rough texture, which allows you to use it in the decoration of outdoor stairs. In its properties, WPC is akin to wood and ceramics; such synthesis allows you to achieve good results in operation. WPC can be used both indoors and outdoors (for example, when mounting the porch, terraces and other structures, located in the open).

Laminate is a material that has unique aesthetic and practical properties. It is used for decorating the floor and stairs. Laminate steps have a high wear resistance and practicality. Easy mounting with your own hands will help you save money and efforts. This results in the aesthetic design solution. The coating has a wide range of colors, textures and decorative solutions. However, in contrast to WPC, it is not recommended to use laminate for decorating the outdoor porch, this is due to the fact that laminate is not resistant to moisture.

Staircase can be the decoration of every house, if you look at the issue creatively and wisely. It is important to choose the material for the steps, which has a high reliability and practicality. This factor will help you use this masterpiece for many years.

Fashion trends of building industry

Every year, modern industry presents the new finishing options and materials for manufacturing the steps of any purpose. In recent years, glass constructions have become popular. This material looks excellent and helps you create a unique interior. However, some technical features can be considered as disadvantages: fragile coating, slippery surface and high price. Construction doesn’t stand still, and who knows what trends will be relevant in the near future.

To summarize, we can highlight a few main points, which will help you build the hand-made steps for the stairs, which will not only meet the GOST standards, but also have a unique design. Firstly, the stairs must be safe. Secondly, it should be practical and reliable. Thirdly, you have to develop the aesthetic design of the stairs in the interior.

By following these difficult rules, you can create a design object, which will also have practical value. And what materials do you use for decorating the steps? Sometimes, only experience and useful tips can help you achieve the desired result — share them in the comments!