If you’re building a new home or remodeling, chances are you’ll need a set of stairs.

If so, have you thought about using metal stairs instead of wood?

Many modern and contemporary homes these days are starting to use metal stairs instead of wood. Metal stairs have three main benefits for the homeowner:

• Strength

• Tranquility

• Versatility

Metal stairs are much more superior than wooden stairs! Most stairs made from wood use a douglas fir 2×10 sidewall or stringer that is notched and the true strength is more like a 2×6 sitting upright. This is more than enough for most homes, but in comparison to metal it is inferior. A metal ladder can easily support the weight of the entire house! You can literally drive a truck over them and they won’t budge. This makes them feel strong and secure because they are.

When it comes to wooden stairs, noise is an issue, especially if you live in a dry climate. Wood contracts and expands during different seasons and weather. In winter time they detach from the low humidity and make a lot of noise when they shrink when walking on them. Just having a glass of milk at midnight can wake up other people. This is unavoidable with wooden stairs because shims and wedges are used to hold the expanding and contracting stair treads. In the summer they can be quite a lot, but they are very squeaky during the winter. Metal stairs, on the other hand, are solidly welded and make almost no noise.

Metal stairs are highly versatile and can come in a variety of finishes and accent materials, including wood steps and handrail caps. The growing trend these days is to use a metal core for stairs and then top them off with wood, stone, or glass. This creates a beautiful modern and contemporary look that can be adapted to any style of home. Not only do they look great, but their strength is superior to wooden stairs. For example, a 1.5-inch glass staircase thinks it will support 1,800 pounds! That’s enough strength to support an SUV going up a set of glass stair treads. When a staircase uses metal as its support structure, it also allows the designer or homeowner to choose any accent or combination of accents they like. For example, a home might use wood stair treads and then add a marble handrail top for a highly custom look that is not only beautiful but also highly functional.

The biggest downside to adding metal stairs to your home is the cost! They are more suitable for luxury homes that have a generous budget. The price can easily be 4 times the amount of a lower end wooden ladder.