Oak stairs: construction features and selection criteria

Speaking of a multi-storey building, one should not forget about such an important attribute as a staircase. It not only plays the role of a functional and practical product, but also acts as a beautiful addition to the interior. One of the options for home decor can be a staircase made of oak.
Material Features
When it comes to wood products, especially those made of oak, they need to ensure optimal conditions for use. If the room is subject to strong temperature and high humidity, it will affect even the highest quality wood. To avoid such complications, it is recommended to acquire special humidifiers, with which you can maintain an optimal level of humidity. It is important to ensure that temperature fluctuations are not very sharp.
The texture of the oak is very beautiful. It comes in a variety of shades: from light yellow to greenish gray. During operation, such wood darkens a little, due to which the product takes on an aristocratic look. Excellent middle and premium class stairs are made from this material.
Today, stairs are often made from solid wood, from stained or laminated material. Used and beech or ash.
Advantages and disadvantages
Stairs made of oak, are widespread. Today, they are involved not only in cottages and country houses, but also in various public buildings. The main advantages of oak construction are the following:
- at the heart of the product is durable and durable material;
- models are different;
- stairs are resistant to mechanical damage and the negative impact of the environment;
- maintain high loads;
- The color and structure are very beautiful.
Oak stairs are a classic product, so they will always be relevant, regardless of time.With the help of this type of wood, complex structures can be made. The material has a beautiful texture. It needs special treatment that will prolong the life and prevent rot.
Wood may have a different shade. The most common colors are reddish brown and light yellow. When it comes to installing stairs in bright rooms, they will use bleached oak. A variety of shades allows to make a ladder for various interior decisions. Oak can be tinted with a stain to impart a dark shade.
The main disadvantage is the high cost of the material, however, its advantages justify high spending. Oak, like other wood, needs to ensure optimal conditions of use and proper care.
Designs
Oak is used mainly in the manufacture of luxury wooden stairs. It is considered the most common material for the creation of such structures, as it relates to hardwood. The cost of such stairs is high, however, they have several advantages when compared with other materials.
Elite stairs include the presence of carved elements that are made by hand, which affects the high cost of the product. The design is selected depending on the size and features of the room in which it will be installed.
The following types of structures can be distinguished:
- in the shape of the letter "G";
- spiral staircase;
- ladder in the shape of the letter "C";
- simple construction
Do not forget that the staircase to the second floor, pillar, platform and steps must be comfortable, so it is very important to choose the right design. If it is difficult to determine for yourself, it is better to seek help from a specialist. As for the scale and decor, the product can be with gold patina or with forging, it can also be tinted or painted mahogany on its own.
Fabrication and installation
Oak is in great demand because its main advantages are strength, entailing a long operational period. Do not assume that oak can be purchased exclusively in one shade. Natural color is easy to adjust with a lacquer coating.
The presented tree species is characterized by the presence of a beautiful structure, which demonstrates the naturalness of the product.Despite the fact that the material itself is strong and durable, some manufacturers sell low-quality product. The loss of the basic properties of oak is due to the fact that it was poorly or improperly dried. That is why, choosing an oak for the construction of stairs, it is recommended to stop the choice on proven manufacturers. Pay special attention to customer reviews, as they will help you form an opinion about the product.
Pay attention to the fact that it is not necessary to try to drive a nail or screw into a oak board. Oak is a material of increased strength, so if you try, you will either spoil the nail or cause the board to crack. The same problem applies to screws.
Particular attention should be paid to varnishing.since even wood such as oak has its weak points. The tree is highly susceptible to rotting due to temperature fluctuations and increased humidity in the room. To prevent such negative effects, wood must be varnished. In the case of a ladder, the lacquer coating must be present exclusively on the product frame.For steps it is necessary to select an additional processing method in order to protect against possible mechanical damage.
Polyurethane varnishes are considered the most popular because they have the ability to withstand a variety of damage. However, before you start applying the coating, you need to perform a primer of wood. To do this, use a special varnish. Varnishing of the staircase is required in 3–4 layers.
Lucky come in various types, which allows to provide maximum protection for the product, and give it an attractive aesthetic appearance. Special coatings allow you to get a matte, semi-gloss, glossy or semi-glossy surface.
The manufacture of oak stairs is carried out in several stages. Particular attention should be paid to design., since it is on this stage that your further actions depend. If you do not have the necessary knowledge in this matter, we recommend that you contact the experts who will help with the design of the staircase, taking into account the particular structure of the building and the room.
Modeling is usually done through the use of special 3D programs.This way of creating a project is very convenient, since you have the opportunity to immediately see the layout of your future staircase and immediately understand how it will look in your interior. At this stage, you can make various adjustments, thanks to which you adapt the ladder to the maximum.
The oak staircase can be made and installed independently, however, for this you need to competently develop a drawing and get all the tools you need to work.
Stages of creating oak stairs:
- Measurements of the room are made.
- Based on the measurements and features of the room, the design is carried out, which includes the creation of a drawing and a sketch.
- Installation of the stairs.
- Finishing design.
Such ladders are usually made according to an individual sketch, since prefabricated structures are extremely rare. Some people who have the required knowledge in this area are engaged in the design and installation of their own. To do this correctly, you must be confident in your actions and be able to handle this material and tools.
The final stage of the construction of the staircase is its finishing.Finishing works provide for varnishing the structure, due to which wood protection is ensured. The varnish covering will allow to prevent rotting and to increase the operational period.
It is important to use the tiling of the stairs with your own hands in a private house., because it is this element of the staircase that wears out the fastest. Excessive wear is what causes carpet to be installed on the stairs. It is ideal if children or pets live in your cottage or country house.
Most often, a step size of 40 x 300 x 1000 mm is selected. Their production today put on stream. It is advisable to install the ladder on concrete and select only high-quality components.
Maintenance and Care Tips
Often when installing stairs in country houses and cottages, preference is given to wooden structures. Such a product will serve for decades, however, to maintain the strength and attractive appearance of the structure, It is important to consider the characteristics of the room:
- Temperature conditionswhich is particularly needed wood products.It should fit not only the person, but also your ladder. The optimal level is the temperature in the range from +10 to +25 degrees Celsius. This level can be ensured by means of special cooling or heating devices.
- Humidity level If the humidity is reduced, it will lead to the fact that the wooden product will begin to crack at the joints. Increased humidity also negatively affects the condition of the wood. Because of it there is a swelling of the elements of the wooden stairs. It follows from this that both the states under consideration lead to the deformation of the oak product. When it comes to excessive moisture, you can use special devices for drainage. In the opposite case, you can use humidifiers. Indicate the increased dryness of the air can creak steps. When the level of moisture content in the air is normalized, the situation will change and the creaking will disappear.
The main recommendations for the care of the stairs, made of oak:
- At first, after making the structure, you need to wipe it with an exceptionally dry, soft cloth.
- To update the protective lacquer layer, use a polish that contains wax.
- Chemical cleaning solutions should not be used as they will damage the coating. For wet cleaning on such a ladder, you should choose special products for wooden products.
- Many users note that cleaning can be done with the addition of warm beer. It perfectly cleans the coating without causing him any harm.
- If it is assumed that people will walk in shoes on the manufactured stairs, this will increase wear on the steps. It is recommended to install a special shock-absorbing coating. It will protect the structure from damage, even if walking on the steps will be in shoes with metal heels.
Please note: when troubleshooting and damage during operation is not recommended to fix them yourself. It is best to turn to professional workers who will be able to qualitatively and promptly correct an existing problem.
How to make a staircase of oak, see the following video.