Common Staircase Materials

It’s important to understand staircase design that perfects your lifestyle and needs. Whether you’re planning to get a new staircase manufactured or renovating an old one, work over to know which staircase material fits your dream specifications. Rustic, modern or traditional, there are a variety of material options available that suit your staircase type and complement your home aesthetics.

1. Wood/Timber: The staircase can be manufactured using one variety of timber or a combination of multiple kinds of wood. Here are some common timbers used by most staircase manufacturers in the UK.
   1. Pine: Pine wood is one of the most affordable and economical solutions for your staircase manufacturing. It is great timber which is easy to work with. You can easily finish it using plenty of options such as painting, varnishing, oiling, and waxing.
   2. Hemlock: Hemlock is a softwood timber and has a similar appearance to that of pine. Want to make a showstopper look, hemlock is a perfect option. It looks great when painted.
   3. American White Oak: White Oak is the most used hardwood timber for staircase construction. It gives a high-end finish when varnished or waxed.
   4. Sapele: Need a darker tone for your stairs? Sapele turns out to be the best choice. Its appearance is more like Mahogany and has a red tint.
   5. American Walnut: Another dark-coloured hardwood timber, it casts a beautiful timeless charm to your staircase. Straight stairs are not preferred as longer lengths cannot be attained using this hardwood material.
   6. Tulip: Manufacture beautiful and bespoke light-shade staircases with Tulip wood. It comes with fewer knots as compared to Hemlock.
   7. Red Oak: European Red Oak is a hardwood timber that is more expensive than white oak. It comes in a beautiful reddish brown to biscuit colour tone. It gives a beautiful finish on waxing and varnishing.
   8. Hard Maple: Maple is highly resistant to wear and tear which makes it a perfect choice for manufacturing landing spaces as well as stairs.
   9. Brazilian Cherry: The timber from Cherry Tree is a straight-grained hardwood and comes in a reddish undertone. Choose this to add warmth and elegance to any space. This is not recommended for manufacturing staircases in humid areas as it has a natural ability to store water and may get damaged.
   10. MDF/Plywood/ Composite Materials: MDF or plywood is also used in making the staircase. They are usually used when the staircase will be carpeted or there is a need to keep the cost down.
2. Glass: Glass is renowned for its class and elegance. The glass used for making the staircase is toughened and laminated to provide it extra strength. The strength is similar to car windscreens, or the glass used in an MNC building. There are multiple variations of glass available in texture, pattern, colour, and finishes. Glass is also used as bannister/railing to add charm, appeal, and ultra-modern to a place.
3. Tile: Looking for a maintenance-free option for your staircase, then go for tiles. This popular material does not need any sort of finishing and can be cleaned by simple dusting or wiping with a damp cloth.
4. Stone: Natural stones such as granite and marble add a modern and sleek appearance to the home. They can easily be cut and moulded into any shape offering you bespoke options for your staircase design.
5. Metal: Stainless steel and iron are some common metals that are used for staircase treads. You can also carve beautiful handrails, bannisters, and balusters from stainless steel. Though metal can rust or erode over time due to unsuitable conditions, they are preferred for covered and indoor spaces. Metal is one of the favourite choices of stairs manufacturers for spiral staircase.
6. Concrete: It is one of the most robust, sturdy, and long-lasting materials used for staircase manufacturing. It can easily be moulded into any shape, so it is one of the most loved material choices for curved and spiral stairs. The only disadvantage of this material is that it lacks lustre and is not aesthetically appealing.

The Bottom Line

Regal Stairs is one of the best staircase manufacturers in the UK offering bespoke staircases in all designs, materials, and styles. Explore our portfolio for a diverse range of material options. Or speak to us regarding your specifications, our team will help realise your dream staircase.