Care for Stair Parts

There are a lot of things that can happen to you stair parts. They can get broken, get cracks, get spilled on, et cetera. And, your stairs being a very vital part of your home’s functionality and aesthetic value, needs constant TLC to make sure it looks and works pristine all the time. Here are your top three responsibilities for taking care of your stair parts:

Dust


It’s not just unsightly, it’s also a health risk to have dust on your stair parts (allergens). If your home is usually open most of the time, then it’s understandable that dust will eventually find its way to your stair parts. Bonus stress points if you have stair parts which have moldings and designs that make it difficult to clean. So the solution: clean regularly. Once-a-day dusting is advisable.

Polish

Dust-free stairs are good to look at but you can still improve its looks by polishing it. Polish acts as another level of material protection for your day-to-day stair usage. Just make sure that what you’re using is actual furniture polish (especially for wood balustrades and wood stair treads). Use a microfiber cloth for best results.

Protect

From the very beginning, you must make sure that you protect your staircase. Use tread ends for a safer treading and to protect the corners of your steps. For your balustrade, railings and posts, use a protective stain for steel and varnish for wood.

See, taking care of your stairs is as easy as ABC! All you need to remember is to maintain the regularity of your dusting, polishing and protecting. Cheers for good looking and long lasting stair parts!

Safely Buying Stair Parts Online

There is no doubt that internet shopping has now taken the world by the storm. What can you ask for? You can still buy the same stuff that you want, in the comforts of your own home, while spending basically the same (sometimes even less!) of the same amount! 

The only downside of internet shopping is that you can’t inspect the item personally. For clothes and small gadgets, this may be okay. You just have to work out the trust issues there. But for home implements such as furniture and stair parts, you might want to inspect a little bit further if you’re going for online shopping and shipping facilitation.

First off, look at the credibility of the staircase suppliers's website. The best determiners of credibility are the registration numbers to your government’s trade industry regulatory office, customer testimonials and even “Likes” on their Facebook page. You can also try leafing through their company history and their corporate profile (with the mission, vision and philosophy). 

Once you are sure that they are credible, look for the terms and agreements in shipping and payment. Demand for a receipt. An e-receipt will be okay for the mean time, but demand the actual receipt once the items arrive. 

Lastly, try to see if they have online support. Ask questions, talk to someone who represents the company and gives out his/ her full name. From there, you can gauge if the site is really credible. 

And don’t forget to ask for referrals! Usually they’re the best determiners if their stair parts are quality products and if they give out great customer service. 

Beauty of the Balustrade: Unity

The design of your baluster may very well have a flow when they are lined up in uniform - the thing we all know as the balustrade.  However, some baluster designs seem tacky or are just plain boring when they are finally put together.  Avoid the possibility of having something which doesn't work when lined up together by taking several baluster pieces and putting them side by side.  Sort of "rehearse" the pieces and see which of the designs you have shortlisted for your grand balustrade is closest to your desired outcome.

Some people when they go shopping for stair parts tend to overlook the reality that some things look different individually as opposed to when they are put together.  They think that picking out one baluster that looks nice individually will actually have the same effect when installed as a balustrade.  Do not be one of these people and be more attentive of small details.  You are highly encouraged to be more conscientious about your decisions in the home.

You might be surprised that some designs which may seem very simplistic individually may give you a pattern that looks great when you put them all together.   It is all about uniting a design and making it work with the other stair parts and the rest of your home. The beauty of a baluster is only appreciated when it serves its ultimate function.  It has to give sense to a whole, which in this case comes in the form of a balustrade.

Choosing Between Steel or Wood Stair Treads

So now you cannot choose what material to use for your stair treads.  Do you want a metallic tread so that it lasts a long time?  Do you want it to be made of wood so that it becomes "timeless", however it may be susceptible to the elements like wood deterioration and termites?  Whatever your concerns are they are LEGITIMATE concerns.  It may be a difficult choice especially if you have an aesthetic goal in mind.  This is understandable, at the same time, you have to be practical and understand the pros and cons of getting wood or steel.

Clearly the advantage of getting steel is that it is a lot more durable than wood.  Make sure that your stair treads are stainless steel to begin with.  But this may not be aesthetically pleasing, if you have a home that uses a lot of wooden elements.  So pay attention to this.  Moreover, if you use steel with poor quality they are more than likely to rust.  This means a lot of maintenance on your part.

Wooden stair treads will also become an issue if you picked out the softer woods.  Ask your dealer what wood is the most durable.  As stated above, they are very susceptible to deterioration but there are ways to restore it.  The great thing about wood is that it goes well with both steel and other wooden elements.  So you take your pick.  Just keep in mind the overall feel that you want.  The material of your stair treads can make all the difference.

Carpeting Your Stair Treads

If you love carpeting, you will find that carpeting your stair treads is a great way to compliment its look and make it feel a lot more efficient.  Carpeting adds traction ergo, it makes for a good surface.  This might make you laugh, but at least if something falls down the stairs, it will not damage the object as much.  So more traction, more adhesive quality at surface contact.

So what about carpeting your stair treads?  This will be such a great compliment to your home.   Carpets are classy and cleans up a look.  They also give the feel of being somewhere high end.  Think of all the hotels you have been to?  Remember the carpeted hallways, elevators, and yes, staircases?  They give that feel that you are somewhere really pleasant.  Same goes for your home when you start carpeting key areas like the stair treads.  You surely won't regret this decision if you are willing to maintain it.

Speaking of maintenance, the thing you need to pay attention to when it comes to carpets is the accumulation of lint.  So make sure to vacuum it every now and then to free it from dust, soot and other allergens.  People are psychologically predisposed to like carpeted areas and with good reason.  They are soft and they give a feeling of security.  Feature this mood along your stairs and get compliments for it.  Carpeting your stair treads is a great idea.

Let Your Imagination Run Wild with Newel Posts

Imagination and newel posts - do these two words fit?  The answer is yes.  What is there to imagine?  Well, let us just say how we spend time around the newel posts.  How we bond with our home with the little parts it features.  Imagine the times when your kids stood at the corner of the stairs by the newel posts and had that smile for you?

It is a smile that is sincere because their surroundings make them feel good.  Some may laugh at this notion saying that it cannot just be the newel posts.  There are other reasons why people would smile.  Yes, that may be true.  But you as the homeowner will have this ammo forever: the fact that you bought the best damn post you could find.

Do not limit yourself, therefore.  Get around and look for the shape and pattern that you think is befitting the theme of your home.  This may seem like a struggle at first, especially when you are moving in and the home just looks bland at the onset.  That is never a problem if you know how to warm up a place.  What you should be looking after is the designs you want to work with.  What are the designs that inspire your imagination?

With that, you then ask yourself, if these are the designs which inspire you what does it say about me?  You are actually running a retrospective in your head.  Truly, it can be rewarding to pick the perfect newel posts.

What is there to Like with Newel Posts?

Many people overlook the value of the newel posts in their home.  What we do not know about it is that it is one of the most important parts of a staircase.  It is so important that we fail to notice it.  This happens in every day life.  So when it comes to designing your home, do not commit the same mistake of not paying attention to this detail.  In the first place, newel posts are the foremost support of the staircase.  

Think of it as sort of a joint in our body.  Without this joint, bones will not coherently function and will lose its structure altogether.  Imagine installing balusters without newel posts.  Not only is this notion funny, but it is quite frankly, absurd.  You never knew something is important until you take it out of the equation.  Do this with everything else in your life and start looking for those parts.  Same goes with this particular piece.

To really get to know what is so great about this staircase part is to really examine what it is all about.  Look at how the designs were implemented.  Think of the artisan who made it and imagine what was in his or her mind when they did the concentric carvings on the posts.  Think of what these designs mean to you?  Are they in any way enticing you?  Inviting you?  Does it turn you off?  These are legitimate questions when it comes to design.  You want it to be just perfect so you get the perfect newel posts.

Harmony in Your Balustrade

A balustrade is what you call a group of individual balusters.  It is expected and aesthetically pleasing to keep each baluster uniform.  Otherwise, it would look really funny and someone might have a bad day looking at your odd looking balustrade.  You might also end up having a bad day because someone made fun of them or made snide comments behind your back. (Unless you are total eccentric and could not care less about what people say.)

In any case, assuming you are a conventional homeowner, we want to keep some harmony in elements within the home. Yes, we all know there is a reason for things. Like the fact that a staircase can do without balusters if you wanted it that way.  But why keep the balustrade?

It gives harmony to the staircase and consequently your home.  It gives it that air of grandiosity and taste.  Each baluster is carved out with the intricate design of your choice.  These designs may blend in naturally in to the interior of your home.  However, some have that quality which is unforgettable.  It really depends on you what your intended effect is for your home's interior and overall character.

Moreover, harmony has also something to do with keeping the stuff that works. This allows that flow of positive energy that you want to come naturally from your home.  What does not work is when something gives you that feeling of incompleteness. Having a staircase that is complete with balusters is a harmonizing element in this particular structure.

Have Fun Memories with Newel Posts

What is it about newel posts that seem so endearing?  Ever had that prom picture of your son or daughter at the bottom or the top of the stairs?  In the shots how did your staircase look like?  Does it look attractive?  Some people hold on to parts of the stairs to strike a pose.  Sturdy and well  crafted newel posts attract these poses for pictures, thus you are making memories out of a simple piece in your home.  It applies to everything else.  When we touch things and we associate inanimate objects in our home to a certain memory, then we begin to feel good about them.  We begin to associate the positive feelings to these parts of our home.

Aside from making memories, we build stories about our home.  This is where little Johhny slid down the stairs.  This is where they put a mistletoe and mom and was caught kissing dad near the stairway.  This is where Anne you used to hang out to sit and think about things.  There are endless ways to share family stories because of the little features in our home.

Beautiful homes have character because they build history, memory and above all, emotion.  It seems farfetched that newel posts could draw such a positive effect on families.  Nothing is impossible if you have the right imagination. It pays to make sure that everything is perfect with the stairs design of your choice in order for it to turn out not to be obtrusive but more conducive to family events.  This is a creative way to record family events.  Pick out the right newel posts and you are sure to have fun memories.

Appreciating the Newel Posts

Newel posts are underappreciated, to say the least.  It is obvious and we see it in every staircase.  We know what it does: it basically supports the handrail.  They mark the points where the balustrade begins and ends.  In other words, without newel posts, your staircase piece would be incomplete.  That incompleteness will only be felt if you imagine a staircase that will not put newel posts on the expected corners.  You might end up saying, "Wow, something is missing."  You may never have thought that taking out this one piece would make all the difference.

Appreciating the little things requires one to really look in to the details and the craftsmanship put in to every piece of work.  Look at the symmetry, the lines and curves carved out.  What designs do they emulate or remind you of?  Moreover, are these designs attractive to you?  People have different tastes and sensibilities when it comes to artisanship.  

Try to find out what is yours by paying attention to what it is that things are made out of and how.  Without knowing, perhaps you will go through life buying this and that without really considering whether or not it fits with your sense of what is aesthetic.  What is aesthetic is a personal when it comes to your home.  Do not be easily swayed by charlatans that tell you that this is the in thing.  What matters is that what you are picking out something which speaks to you, something tasteful.  Developing a taste for craftsmanship is the first step to appreciating your newel post.

Fine Wooden Balusters

You can make your home all the more attractive with wooden balusters.  It is interesting how such a small part of the staircase can make all the difference in terms of support and aesthetics.  What little we know about architecture also says a lot about what little we know about wooden balusters. They are an important piece of architectural design.  Its design value and function combined says a lot about how important it is.  As a set, a balustrade can put together the most elegant staircase.  There are minimalist and modern designs out there depending on what you feel is most suitable for your home.

The kind of wood that use for your wooden baluster is like picking out the kind of fabric you want to be tailor-fitted to your cloths.   In different parts of the globe, the kind of wood used varies.  Each wood has a certain smell and character.  In western countries, the use of Oak, Cherry, Birch, and Maplewood are predominant.  In Asia, wood like Mahogany and Narra are more commonly used.

Whatever you choose for your balusters will also translate to the kind of design you desire.  The quality is not only in the type of material you use but also in the design.  How it is sculpted and carved out will also communicate the aesthetic you get from your balusters.  Your home cannot do without these small details if you want your staircase to be just perfect.  After all your staircase won't be a staircase unless you have the perfect wooden balusters.

Newel Posts for Your Home

What a lot of people do not know about newel posts is how much of it goes back to ancient times.  The craftsmanship has evolved since the production of staircases had come to the picture.  What some may consider a trivial detail in your home actually has a proud history of years of refined artisanship.  As far back as the medieval times, people carved out family emblems or tell stories through newel posts.

For a more contemporary version of this experience,  you may have a distant memory of holding on to one and remember certain events in your life that are related to your home.  All these details will bring out unexpected experiences that make life more enriching.

On top of being a catalyst for such experience, newel posts give your home a subtle touch of elegance. It gives it that unassuming air of beauty.  It comes in different shapes and sizes.  As a set, they provide a very satisfying fullness to your staircase and may even accentuate different elements in your home.  If it is made of wood, naturally, it gives it the classical look that is timeless and memorable.  It may even symbolize your heritage depending on the design you pick out.

Do you remember the shapes which remind you of medieval designs or Celtic designs?  That can easily be translated through something as simple as the little details.  Focusing on detail will make all difference.  Start looking through catalogs of only the best newel posts you can find.

Unique Stair Treads

Most homeowners would really want unique stair treads but they don't know what to put there. Some would think about the stair railings first, as it is the most visible part of the staircase. Really, the stair treads make up at least 60% of the entire staircase so if you want something unique, put it there. Here are some ideas:

Paint a Rainbow


No, you don’t need to recreate a kindergarten school in your personal space. We’re just suggesting a minimal injection of color into your stair treads. Try experimenting with pastel colors instead of just sticking with the neutral ones. You can use different colors for every step or use a single color as accent and just vary the shades.

Be Literary

Another way to dress up your stair treads is to have some literary etching on every step. It can be lines from a poem, haikus, sayings, or simply names of your ancestors. It could be a fun way of telling a story or representing a legacy.

Go Sleek with Carvings


If you want to be unique but you don’t want to be so loud, you can simply go with customized carvings on your stair treads. This is best if your treads are made of wood. You can design your own pattern or you can have ready made ones copied for your very own staircase.

See? Now you can get over trying to think of a good design for your balustrade. Pay a little attention to your stair treads, and, in the name of art, you might be surprised where they will take you!

Traditional Vs. Modern Stair Railings

There are a lot of homeowners who admittedly face this dilemma when choosing their home decor such as stair railings: traditional or modern? Most of them would go for traditional because the designs can stand the test of time. The others go for the modern ones, as they are the kind who want to be more relevant with the contemporaries.

Now don’t fret, this dilemma may be eased in no time. First you have to determine what’s the use of the entire space. Is it a residential space? Is it an office space? These things cover the basic themes so you’ll have an idea if you’re better off with the traditional styles or the modern ones.

Once you have that done, answer this question: What is the kind of impression that you want to give? It’s not enough that you know whether it is a residential space or an office space. You also have to determine  the entire aura of the environment your staircase is at. Is it traditional-looking or is it more modern looking? What are the materials that surround it? What is the room’s “general look”? Your stair railings need to be faithful to the theme of the entire space so that it won’t look like a sore thumb.

Here’s a quick tip: for those who are not fond of changing styles, go with traditional, if you’re not, then go for modern. Just remember that your stair railings have to be made of strong material; something for long term.

Beautify Your Stairs to Beautify Your Home

Did you know that if only you will beautify your stairs, you can also increase the overall value of your home? Read along to find out more of this good news.

There is no denying to the fact that the home is really one of the biggest investments that we will make in our lives. We really take a lot of time to make sure that everything is in its right place. We work with budgets. We deal with different professionals—engineers, architects, designers, laborers, etc.

If your home is a multi-level unit, here’s one investment that you might want to zero on: your staircase.
First and foremost, the staircase is usually put at the part of the home where it’s easily seen as soon as a guest comes through the door. That said, you know that you have an opportunity to either impress or disappoint a guest. Take this chance to wow him and build a really good looking staircase. Remember, when the time comes that you’re going to sell your home, the agent who will appraise it will also face the exact same view.

Another thing, you have to have a really sturdy staircase for so that your home can last longer. The stronger your staircase looks/ is, the better it is. Why of course, if the staircase is weak or is unusable, how can you get to the next floor, right? And the longer your home can last, the higher its value will be. A strong and sturdy staircase is always a classic.