If you’re building a new home or remodeling, chances are you 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 owner:

• Strength
• Tranquility
• Versatility

Metal ladders are much more superior than wooden ladders! Most stairs made of wood use a 2×10 Douglas Fir 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 compared 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 move. This makes them feel strong and safe 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 are released from the low humidity and make a lot of noise when they shrink when walking on them. Just having a glass of milk in the middle of the night can wake other people up. This is unavoidable with wooden stairs because shims and wedges are used to support the expanding and contracting stair treads. In summer they can be quite, but they are very squeaky during winter. Metal ladders, on the other hand, are solidly welded and make almost no noise.

Metal stairs are very versatile and can come in a variety of finishes and accent materials, including wood stair treads and handrail caps. The growing trend these days is to use a metal core for stairs and then finish them off with wood, stone or glass. This creates a beautiful modern contemporary look that can be adapted to any style of home. Not only do they look great, but their strength is superior to wooden ladders. For example, a 1.5 inch glass staircase thinks it will hold 1800lbs! That’s enough strength to support an SUV climbing a set of glass stair treads. When a staircase uses metal as a supporting structure, it also allows the designer or homeowner to choose any accent or combination of accents they desire. For example, a home might use wooden stair treads and then add a marble handrail cap 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 low-end wooden ladder.