The subject of my article today is the entrance staircase to the house.
Entrance to any dwelling usually involves a porch and an external staircase adjacent to it. This is understandable to everyone. And this element, except for its direct purpose has another function. Above all, it is a link between the plane of the house and the surrounding landscape design.
Therefore, the choice of outdoor stairs for the home is important. After all, no one wants to see the magnificent view of your home spoiled stairs, which does not fit into the overall architectural picture and design of the house.
Types of outdoor stairs
Usually these stairs are divided by the shape and size of the site, which it ends up with. Stairway span and platform, that is, the porch, should form a single whole and therefore are designed in the same style.
The given platforms can be:
- Correct shapes
- straightforward: square, rectangular;
- Incorrect shapes are curved. They can have several types: semi-circular, semi-oval, etc.
Staircases are also selected to form a single architectural ensemble. I want to note that the so-called curved stairs look much richer and make an impression of an elegant and beautifully decorated interior. Therefore, such constructions are used to equip expensive houses and cottages, often on several floors and erected of brick and decorated with rich facades.
Straight-line stairs are a more classic variant. They are perfectly combined with expensive multi-storey buildings and small houses of country type.
Features of their device
The most important difference between the staircases of external type and their internal counterparts is the conditions of their operation, which are caused by their placement outdoors. They are constantly exposed to atmospheric precipitation, rain, fog, and snow. As a result, the structural elements are destroyed several times faster.
In order to avoid this, it is necessary to carry out more frequent preventive maintenance work on the elements of the stairs and initially produce them from quality materials.
Of course, the entrance staircase to the house can be severely damaged over time and it is impossible to protect it completely from destruction. But to minimize the damage caused by such activities can be minimized.
Often to protect the stairs from the weather is the construction of a canopy or visor over it. It is clear that its design and construction must match the design of the stairs themselves, so that everything looks original and harmonious. For example, a simple canopy of iron will look ridiculous against the background of a massive staircase and vice versa.
Another feature of external staircases is that they are a separate structural element adjacent to the building, but not a part of it. And often, the houses erected in the early years give rise to precipitation, which is significantly different from that of the porch. This can cause distortion or even destruction of staircases.
Material for stairs
The choice of material is very diverse and depends directly on the preferences, imagination and material capabilities of the owner. Ladders and porches can be made of any building material, whether it is wood, natural stone or more modern foam block or gas block. The choice of staircase material depends largely on the style of the house and its design. Which material would not be chosen, it is necessary to take care of its protection from atmospheric influences in the first place. For example, external stairs made of wood must be treated with antiseptics for their protection, but on stone or brick stairs, it is desirable to apply special water-repellent protective mixtures. Such measures will significantly increase the service life of the stairs.
Safety of external ladders
In most cases, to make a staircase beautiful, on its steps installed ceramic tiles. This is beautiful, no one argues. But it is necessary to choose tiles thoughtfully. It should not be too smooth, otherwise in wet weather or at minus temperatures there is a high probability to slip on it and get damage. Such examples can be quite close by.
That's why tiles are chosen specifically for such cases - with a rough surface for outdoor work. Not bad if you use special anti-slip coatings.
As an option, you can use friction stickers, which are glued to the edges of the steps. They also prevent slipping.
You can use a more advanced option - heating the steps at low temperatures and in wet weather. This method is certainly good. But in my opinion, the easier it is, the better. And in this case, maybe I am wrong.
Another condition of traffic safety on the steps is that the fencing, our approach of railing. Their form and form are chosen to support the design and magnificence of the steps, as well because of the kind of material.
For powerful staircases made from stone or concrete fences are going to be appropriate within the sort of a solid wall with an end that coincides with the base of the building.
But the wooden stairs are excellent for handrail with light-weight hooklike railing.
Entrance stairs to the home is the primary issue an individual pays attention to once coming into the house. And this construction ought to be at a good level.