One of the areas of the home where balustrades can be installed is the staircases. Balustrades are by design placed along the sides of the stairway to provide a physical barrier that can cushion against fall accidents. It is, however, important to point out that while all balustrading systems are meant to prevent falls, they are not all made the same.
Balustrade varieties vary depending on different factors, key among them the choice of material used to manufacture the product. In this regard, it is important for homeowners who are interested in installing staircase balustrades to know the various types of balustrading they can choose from based upon the available materials selections.
Wood balustrading
Wood is one of the oldest construction materials available on the market. Until now, it continues to be one of the most sought after construction materials, mostly because of its rustic appeal and timeless beauty. It, therefore, comes as no big surprise that staircase balustrading is available in wooden material. In wood balustrading systems, the entire assembly comprising the handrail, baserail, spindles, newels, and newel caps are all made with wood material.
The balustrades can come in standard as well as custom designs, depending on the homeowner's preferences and of course, their budget. Homeowners will have to pay more if they want custom wooden staircase balustrades, such as those with hand-carved decorative finishes.
Glass balustrading
For those who want a stylish, contemporary look in their homes, glass staircase balustrading is the go-to choice. Glass balustrades are essentially glass panels that are directly mounted on baluster posts using a range of glass hardware accessories, such as glass clamps and glass adapters.
The glass panels used as part of the staircase balustrades are made of toughened glass, which does not break into sharp shards as easily as regular glass does. This minimises the risk of getting cut by broken glass or the sharp shards.
What is more, glass stairway balustrades are a perfect choice for small or space-confined interiors, as they tend to create an illusion of larger space within the room.
Stainless steel balustrading
Last but definitely not least is stainless steel staircase balustrading. They give a clean, contemporary look with their attractive metal finishes. They can outlive both wooden and glass balustrading because of their inherent strength and protective coatings applied onto the substrate metal.
Homeowners should be ready to pay extra for this high-end type of staircase balustrading. Due to its low life cycle costs, it may prove to be an economical option several years down the road.
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