You know you’re going to renovate your property with a new staircase and you’ve got a healthy budget set aside for the project. You’ve seen the results that stone can achieve, but you wonder for a moment if you could get the same results out of wood or concrete.
You may find it a tempting way to save money on your budget by choosing cheaper materials, but you’ll regret it in the long run. Here are our top five reasons why you should choose a stone staircase over any other:
1 – The Look:
It’s hard to match the grandeur that can be achieved by a sweeping stone staircase, particularly a graceful curved staircase. As the centre piece of your entrance, you can really ‘Wow!’ your visitors as soon as they walk through the door. Take our above Moleanos staircase as an example; with the right lighting and layout, the eyes are drawn immediately to follow the path of the stairs.
2 – The Longevity:
Geometric Staircase, St. Paul’s Cathedral with additional post-processing / CC BY-SA 3.0
As a material, solid stone lasts longer than any of the competition. It’s sturdier and, chances are, that if you invest in a stone staircase it’s likely to outlive you. Above is the Geometric Staircase at St. Paul’s Cathedral, which is more than three-hundred years old and features a traditional cantilevered spiral staircase.
3 – The Value:
A stone staircase is also an excellent investment in your property itself. Thanks to their timeless appeal and endurance, adding a stone stair is a sure-fire way to increase your property’s value. The above Moleanos stone staircase goes as far as using matching stone flooring to both unify the design while adding as much value as possible with an amazing entrance.
4 – The History:
Tulip Stair, Queens House, Green Which with additional post-processing / CC BY-SA 3.0
Stone staircase design uses techniques that have been passed down for centuries. We put these to practice every day in ways that combine traditional and modern techniques. Having a stone staircase in your home is a way to blend the past and the present in a way that can tie together all the aesthetic elements of your property. The Tulip Stairs (see above) is purported to have been the first stone cantilever staircase installed in England. Since then, the technique has been widely applied the world over to great success.
5 – The Feeling:
Specifically, that lovely cool feeling you get when you walk barefoot down your stone staircase – especially soothing when you have matching stone flooring. After this week had the ‘Hottest Day of the Year’, this small sensation is not to be overlooked!