Outdoor stairs of any house - this is first of all a functional part, the main function of which is to provide comfortable, safe and fast movement of guests, as well as an important element of the decor of the room itself and its "business card". Therefore, for every homeowner it is important that the stair landing has not only an attractive appearance, but also was safe.
From what kind of coating for outdoor stairs, directly depends on the comfort and safety of their operation, functionality, aesthetic appeal, durability and resistance to changes in weather conditions. And what to pay attention to when choosing a coating for outdoor stairs and what material to favor, tell the experts of the Ukrainian company Polyroot in this article.
Basic requirements for the coating on the outdoor stairs
Unlike the exterior finish of the facade of the house, the color, texture and material of which can be replaced at any time, exterior stairs are an unchangeable element that is used for quite a long time. That is why, when choosing a coating for the outdoor stairs, it is quite important to choose a material that is highly resistant, durable and long-lasting. It is also important to choose a coating for outdoor stairs that meets such criteria as: resistance to changes in climatic conditions, intensity of use and anti-slip properties.
Climatic conditions
Street stairs are exposed to a variety of climatic factors, and therefore the coating for street stairs must be sufficiently resistant to:
- increased amount of moisture;
- negative impact of sudden temperature changes;
- excessive amount of any precipitation, in particular: snow, rain, hail;
- the impact of ultraviolet radiation.
It is therefore worth choosing a waterproof coating for outdoor stairs that does not absorb moisture. Because from excessive amounts of moisture, the coating can swell or, conversely, sag, and the surface will develop fungus or mold. It is also important that the coating under the influence of the sun does not lose or change its color and does not crack.
Intensity of use
The external stair landing, in addition to the impact of weather conditions, is also subjected to constant and intensive load. And in order for the coating of outdoor stairs as long as possible to maintain its appearance and perform protective functions, you need to choose materials that are characterized by high resistance to various damages, durability and reliability.
Safety (anti-slip properties)
Guaranteeing comfortable, safe and fast movement on the external stairs is almost the most important requirement for the material. Therefore, the material from which the coating for the external stairs of the house is made must necessarily have anti-slip properties to prevent slipping, accidental falls and injuries, especially during rain, snowfall or ice. Also, when choosing an anti-slip coating for the stairs, it should be remembered that budget materials over time can lose their properties and they will need to be dismantled and lay a new coating. Therefore, you should immediately choose a durable and reliable coating.
Types of popular coatings for outdoor stairs
For many years, owners of private residences and even commercial premises have been using the well-known ceramic tiles to cover street stairs. However, in addition to tiles, there are many other types of coating, each of which has its own advantages and features, but no less effectively performs the functions.
For example, quite popular materials for finishing outdoor stairs of the house are natural stone, concrete, rubber and decking board from dpk.
Further in the material we offer to learn more about the advantages and disadvantages, as well as the differences of each type of coating for outdoor stairs and what kind of material provides maximum safety, durability and practicality of use of steps.
Ceramic tiles
Let's start with the most popular type of coating for street stairs, namely with ceramic tiles or porcelain stoneware. This coating is characterized by durability and reliability, as well as excellent resistance to high humidity and rapid changes in air temperature. Also manufacturers of ceramic tiles offer anti-slip tiles, the outer surface of which has a special relief and embossing, which reduce the level of slip.
In addition, ceramic tiles are quite easy and quick to install on stairs of any size.
Natural stone
The next material that is commonly used to finish outdoor stairs is natural stone. Natural granite, marble or basalt, in addition to the attractive appearance, are characterized by a number of quite significant advantages, in particular:
- withstand heavy loads, do not squeak and have increased wear resistance;
- are able to withstand the effects of high temperature, and therefore do not ignite and do not change their shape;
- resistant to high humidity and rapid temperature changes;
- do not require painting and regular restoration;
- are available in a wide variety of natural patterns and colors;
- durability of operation.
However, in addition to these advantages, natural stone has several disadvantages, including: the high cost of material and installation, as well as a low level of noise insulation and lack of anti-slip properties.
Concrete
Concrete, as a coating for outdoor stairs, is a very popular choice among many homeowners. Since concrete mortar is considered to be one of the most budget-friendly and reliable types of coating. Apart from this, the main advantages of concrete also include:
- long service life, as concrete is the most durable material;
- resistance to heavy loads and excessive moisture;
- fire resistance of the material.
However, concrete staircases also have a number of disadvantages, namely: the need to use preliminary drawings and a large amount of time spent on pouring the stairs with concrete mortar.
Rubber flooring
Rubber tiles for steps and entrance areas are characterized by:
- high shock-absorbing properties;
- excellent anti-slip effect;
- good noise absorption coefficient;
- high resistance to temperature fluctuations;
- long service life.
Also rubber coating is perfect for metal or wooden as well as cement base of stairs, easy to install and does not require special maintenance. About the fact that the rubber coating loses color and rubs off rather quickly.
Terrace board
A relatively new, but quite reliable, safe and durable material for covering stairs on the street is a terrace board made of wood-polymer composite (WPC). And since the polymer composite board is made according to the innovative technology of combining wood ground into flour and high-quality polymers, the roofing material is characterized by the following advantages:
- aesthetic appearance, which resembles natural wood as much as possible;
- high resistance to the negative effects of sunlight,
- precipitation and changes in temperature regimes;
- excellent ability to resist the development of mold under the influence of high humidity;
- good resistance to color loss under the influence of ultraviolet radiation;
- high strength, reliability and resistance to excessive load and mechanical damage;
- long service life, which on average is more than 25 years;
- environmentally friendly and safe composition of raw materials, without the addition of harmful substances or chemical compounds;
- the stair coating does not need to be painted or varnished over time;
- easy and quick installation of terrace boards on any staircase base.
Why you should choose a terrace board of Polyroot manufacturer
Polyroot company is a Ukrainian manufacturer of wood-polymer composite. Production is carried out in Ukraine on modern equipment, which provides a complete technological cycle, and for the manufacture of the terrace board our specialists use only high-quality raw materials that meet European standards and requirements. It is due to innovative manufacturing technologies and the use of certified raw materials that Polyroot terrace board for street stairs is characterized by high resistance to extreme weather conditions, maintaining its quality characteristics, reliability, strength and durability.
You can buy a terrace board from dpk in the network of stores of our partners or order the required amount of materials with delivery in Ukraine by leaving an application on our website. Managers of the company will quickly contact you and help you choose the optimal amount of decking to cover the street stairs of your home and the necessary accessories for installation.
