It is no secret to anyone that the magnificent staircase attracts special attention in the mansions. It can be made of any material. As a rule, stairs are built of concrete, since this material is characterized by high strength and a long service life. At the same time, such constructions have one serious drawback - they are cold. In addition, they usually do not look very aesthetically pleasing. How is a concrete staircase lined with wood? Let's consider this question in more detail.
Benefits of Wood Staircases
Let's dwell on this in more detail. Why do most often owners of private houses choose such an option as lining the metal frame of the stairs with wood? This material has many advantages, among which are the following:
- excellent decorative characteristics;
- high thermal insulation;
- simplicity in processing;
- ease;
- harmonious combination with other finishing materials.
One of the most bulky and heavily decorated elements in the interior is the iron staircase. Wood paneling will help correct the situation. This material, as a rule, visually smoothes the massive structure. The advantage of wood lies in the fact that with it you can decorate the stairs with various patterns. In addition, when using this material you will get a warm and comfortable surface on which you can walk even barefoot.
Wooden staircase in the interior
Before you consider how to do the sheathing of a concrete staircase with a tree with your own hands, we will figure out in which interior the use of such an option will be appropriate. Metal and concrete staircases decorated with natural wood will give the interior a luxurious and respectable look.
Stairs with wooden lining are often used in such interior styles:
- Provence
- chalet;
- country;
- classic;
- high tech;
- minimalism.
What else do you need to know about them? Metal and concrete staircases with wooden elements are distinguished by excellent performance and long service life. Structures of this type combine the main advantages of wooden structures with concrete or all-metal. Wooden steps make the structure more comfortable and safe for moving tenants. Depending on the wishes of the owner of the house, the frame can be either fully or partially lined with wood.
Wood species selection
Let's dwell on this in more detail. There is a large selection of breeds, with the help of which wood staircases can be trimmed. Most often used oak, beech or larch. Rarer finishes can also be used. But it’s better to choose practical and aesthetic options.
If you need a reliable, strong and durable finish, it is better to give preference to oak. The increased cost of this material is justified by its durability and resistance to wear.
A more budget option is larch. It is almost half the price of oak. When using this material, the staircase lining with wood becomes available for buyers, regardless of their financial situation. This is especially important when creating monolithic structures. Larch trimmings also have other advantages. These include:
- moisture resistance of the material;
- strength and reliability;
- nice smell;
- long term of operation.
In addition, larch has a beautiful texture and a pleasant orange tint.
Sheathing the stairs with wood on a metal frame can also be made of ash. This option will also cost you less than oak. The drawing on the material looks very natural, and the boards retain their strength over time. In addition, on sale you can find a wide range of colors, from the lightest to the darkest. The main feature of ash is the traced texture.
Another contender that can be used to finish a monolithic staircase is beech. It has a homogeneous fine-grained structure. The breed is characterized by pleasant light colors. The quality of the material remains at its best regardless of its value. The main distinguishing feature of beech is the noble appearance. In strength, it is in no way inferior to oak.
Mounting Features
So what do you need to know about this? Cladding a metal staircase with wood is difficult even for professional craftsmen. Many people mistakenly believe that the expensive part of the structure is to fill the very surface of the stairs. However, this is not the case. There are many other features here.
Let's look at the main ones:
- Cladding stairs with wood requires a fairly large material investment.
- An array cannot be attached directly to the steps, otherwise the structure will not last long.
- The minimum thickness of wooden boards should be 30 mm. Savings in this matter can lead to unpleasant consequences.
- When finishing, you will definitely need to perform edge processing, grinding the boards. This will require specialized equipment.
Expendable materials
Before cladding, the concrete surface will need to be leveled. For this, veneering is carried out. You will need not only wooden panels, but also sheets of plywood. It is not possible to fix the wood finish directly to concrete.
The master must have the following materials and accessories:
- dowels for mechanical fastening;
- adhesive composition;
- primer.
Before finishing work, the surface is cleaned of dirt and debris. Otherwise, it will not be possible to achieve strong adhesion to other materials.
Do not save on the purchase of paints and varnishes. It is recommended to purchase only those varieties that are highly resistant to moisture. Apply them to the surface of the finish at least twice. Each layer is applied with a short break and only after the previous one dries.
Training
What is she like? Any finishing work begins with the preparatory phase. This applies to both the work surface and the tools used. They must be collected in one place. The list of necessary equipment is not so big.
It includes:
- screwdriver;
- Sander;
- milling machine;
- plumb with a level;
- jigsaw;
- hacksaw;
- hammer;
- electric drill.
Technology
This aspect should be given special attention. How is the staircase trimmed with wood with your own hands? With this type of work, beginners can also cope.
The work includes several main stages:
- The surface of the stairs is cleaned of debris and dust, and then primed. It is recommended to use a deep penetration composition. It will help increase the density of concrete and strengthen the adhesive properties of the adhesive.
- According to the size of the steps, a substrate should be cut out of moisture-proof plywood. Its thickness should be 1-1.5 cm. It will help to achieve the effect of smoothing the surface, and will also absorb moisture from the concrete surface.
- The steps are treated with special glue or moisture resistant mastic. Cut elements are tightly applied to the base. Additional fixing with dowels and screws may also be required.
- A wooden cladding is attached to the substrate using liquid nails. Work should begin with the lower steps. On the tread, it is advisable to put some kind of load on top. This will ensure a secure fit. If necessary, you can also glue the ends.
- At the final stage, the installation of fences - railings and balusters. The fastening of these elements is carried out using screws. Upon completion of the installation, it remains only to seal the joints with putty or polyurethane foam.
Installation of treads
An important stage, without which the sheathing of a concrete staircase with a tree does not do, is the installation of treads. Special moldings and profiles, as well as self-tapping screws, become irreplaceable assistants here. This will help to secure the products. A groove should be made in advance using a milling machine. From the back in the groove set the upper edge. The riser is fixed flush with the bottom. Metal corners are installed on the side of the tread. If possible, steps should be isolated. For this, even polyethylene will do. This material will help create additional protection for wood and concrete from negative environmental factors. Steps along such a staircase will be almost silent.
Profiles and moldings
Why are they needed? Do-it-yourself sheathing of the metal frame of the staircase with wood can be done using special moldings and profiles. A molding is called a patch strip, which is used to decorate the edges of steps. This element is necessary when finishing the stairs with laminate. With the help of molding it is easy to connect two planks of laminate laid on the base. He hides the joint of two lamellas. Coated mounting involves the use of self-tapping screws or special glue.
The function of edge molding can also be performed by L-shaped or staircases. They are made of various materials: steel, aluminum, brass. Popular options are painted in bronze, wood or gold. In addition to the decorative function, metal products perform a practical one: they protect the surface of the finish from wear.
Quick step
Beginners who are interested in lining a metal staircase with wood with their own hands will be attracted by the technology developed by Quick Step. They suggest using special profiles for concrete stairs called Incizo. This is a unique product that can be used to create seamless compounds. The material can be used for various staircases, regardless of their technological features.
If the sheathing of stairs with wood is carried out using these profiles, no additional preparatory work will be required. You will just need to lay the parquet boards on the elements of the steps.
Subtleties of facing
Let's discuss this aspect in more detail. How is the metal frame of the staircase trimmed with wood? To perform the cladding work yourself, you need to know about the main nuances of this process:
- Work always begins with a lower riser.
- Self-tapping screws are not recommended to be screwed into a concrete base from the very beginning. It is better to finish the whole staircase, and then fix them.
- The risers are installed at the very end. For their fastening, special corners or boards are usually used.
- Additional elements, such as profiles, must be pre-installed in the grooves. The owner can independently control the location of the structure.
- The gaps and joints between the riser and the tread should first be puttied, and then docked with each other using a corner. Putty should be the appropriate color.
- Turns will be easier to arrange if you saw tiled material. Details should not only be glued together, but also additionally fixed with screws and self-tapping screws.
Conclusion
In this review, we examined in detail how a concrete staircase is lined with wood. Initially, the design is inherent in good performance, but its appearance leaves much to be desired. To give the staircase aesthetics, the decoration of steps and other structural elements with wood is used. Thanks to a wide selection of shades and structures of this material, very unusual results can be achieved. Such a staircase can decorate even the most modest interior.