It is said that most commercial buildings today have staircases that serve as focal points and useful accessories for the entire structure. Often, these stairs are installed inside or outside the building to allow people access to different floors and areas of the property throughout the day. Since they are used by many people, it is important that only the right materials are used to make them.
To determine which materials are ideal for building stairs, commercial property owners must consider factors such as cost-effectiveness, aesthetic appeal, ease of use, among others. Although they may choose to install wooden or concrete stairs in commercial buildings, structural steel is believed to be the ideal material for building commercial metal stairs.
Below are some of the reasons why steel stairs are considered perfect for use in commercial properties:
Steel stairs are highly durable
Steel stairs are considered to be ideal for commercial properties because they are designed for long-term use. Once commercial property owners install this type of staircase, they can count on it lasting for years without needing immediate replacement.
This is because steel is a material designed to withstand various conditions. Steel stairs mainly undergo chemical treatments to increase their resistance. Additionally, a top coat is added to increase its durability and help protect it from rust in wet conditions. Naturally, structural steel is very rigid. This means that steel stairs are capable of withstanding any type of impact or stress. This makes them usable for many years.
The other aspect that makes steel stairs highly durable and therefore ideal for commercial staircase construction is that they are free from pests that usually attack and impact wooden stairs. Furthermore, you would not need to think about extra expenses required for pest control. Additionally, greater construction planning will help you in your quest for success.
Steel stairs are resistant
The structural steel used to make steel stairs is an alloy comprising iron and other mixed metallic materials. This makes it extremely strong, with only a few materials matching its robustness and ability to withstand high levels of pressure.
Compared to concrete or wooden stairs, steel stairs are able to hold up well when excessive weight is applied to them. In fact, these stairs are said to be capable of supporting weights up to five times greater than most concrete and wood stairs.
Steel stairs are highly versatile
Structural steel is believed to be easy to shape and customize into different styles, shapes and patterns. This allows commercial property owners to creatively utilize it to design steel staircases with a contemporary look rather than just being limited to traditional designs.
The malleability and versatility of structural steel allows your assigned contractor to customize your commercial building's stairs into a variety of stair designs that are both aesthetically pleasing and functional. These two aspects make steel stairs the ideal choice for commercial buildings of any type.
Steel stairs are highly affordable
In addition to being durable, installing steel stairs in commercial properties is not as expensive as you might think. On the contrary, these stairs are considered the most cost-effective option on the market. This is because the cost of purchasing structural steel is much lower compared to materials such as concrete or wood, which are also used to construct stairs in commercial buildings.
In addition to the cost of purchasing structural steel, the process of building stairs with structural steel is considered cheaper compared to other materials. The individual steel staircase compositions are manufactured separately and assembled on the construction site. This significantly reduces installation costs, which makes steel stairs a great option for commercial property managers looking for a more economical option for their buildings.
Steel stairs are easy to maintain
Unlike wooden stairs that need regular maintenance to maintain a good shine, steel stairs can maintain their attractive appearance for years with minimal maintenance efforts. Commercial property owners who install metal stairs do not need to apply varnish, sealant or paint to keep the stairs looking good. Just simple maintenance can help. Cleaning them regularly with water and mild detergent will help steel stairs maintain their attractiveness for a long time.
Steel stairs offer safety benefits
The structural steel used to make steel stairs is believed to be extremely strong. This means that when steel stairs are installed in commercial buildings, they are able to provide reliable support to their users. This is particularly important in buildings where heavy items or materials have to be constantly moved up and down different floors of the buildings.
Steel stairs offer more flexibility
Steel stairs can be easily installed in different yet unique designs because the structural steel used to manufacture them is highly flexible. The handrails that are to be installed on the stairs for support can be easily bent to shape them into the desired design through heating. This level of flexibility allows designers to install elegant stairs and handrails in complex projects, including spiral staircases.
Steel stairs can be installed independently
If you own a commercial property and decide to add a flight of stairs inside or outside the building, the easiest way to do so is to build steel stairs. These stairs can be installed independently of the building structure because they can be constructed as self-supporting systems by the contract service of your choice.
Where there are landings or floors, stairs are structurally supported by them. If these are not provided, stairs can be constructed independently of the floor structure.
The process of installing steel stairs as independent sections of a commercial building is particularly easy because metal stairs can be easily manufactured in segments in a metal workshop and assembled on the construction site.
Final thoughts
If you have a multi-story commercial property, you need to install stairs to give people access to different floors and points of the building. While the building design may have taken stairs into consideration, it may be necessary to add additional stairs to improve accessibility.
When it comes to installing stairs in a commercial building, homeowners have the option of using concrete, wood, or metal materials to construct the stairs. Structural steel is believed to be the most viable material above all that can be used to construct stairs in commercial buildings thanks to the benefits discussed above.
