Advantages of forged railings
The manufacture of forged railings for stairs is now in high demand. This is an opportunity to acquire a unique, unlike anything else art object in the interior, which will also be very functional:
- metal copes well with any loads - this is very important for flights of stairs, which carry the load of floors and are subject to intense mechanical stress due to heavy traffic;
- wrought iron railings for stairs will last up to fifty years or more;
- they do not deform, do not dry out or crack due to changes in temperature and humidity, like wooden ones, and do not begin to loosen and creak over time;
- the metal lends itself well to processing, so it allows you to implement any design solutions;
- it fits all known interior styles and finishing materials.
The only nuance that can spoil the impression is sensitivity to moisture. It’s worth knowing about this before ordering steel fences - they must be treated with anti-corrosion compounds or coatings. Therefore, for manufacturing, it is necessary to contact trusted, experienced companies: in such companies, all technical standards are strictly observed so that the product lasts as long as possible.
Advantages and disadvantages of forged products
Forged elements stand out from other interior items with their uniqueness, originality and beauty. Stairs with metal ornaments are considered the best options for mansions, cottages and private houses. Attractive patterns make any room impressive and respectable.
In the design sketches, the relationships between lines, volume and fastenings are carefully thought out. Using this drawing, an experienced craftsman can easily imagine what the future staircase should look like. Graceful details with curved lines will emphasize the good taste of the home owner.
Such fencing has a number of advantages.
The main advantages of stairs with wrought iron railings:
- Aesthetic properties.
- Resistant to temperature changes.
- Corrosion resistance.
- Ergonomics.
- Long service life.
- Combination with various materials.
- Easy care.
- Possibility of individual order.
Railings made by forging are distinguished by their versatility; they will fit perfectly into any stylistic direction and will become the main accent of the interior. Metal railings look beautiful not only with the base of the stairs, but also with the elements surrounding them. For example, even simple wooden stairs can be transformed with the help of sophisticated wrought iron handrails.
To increase moisture resistance, the metal is treated with special compounds. Finished products do not require complex care. To maintain their beautiful appearance, you just need to wipe them with a dry cloth. The material is painted as it fades.
There are also a number of disadvantages
Railings with forged elements have several disadvantages that should be considered before purchasing:
- High price.
- Long manufacturing process.
- Difficulties in installing finished products.
- Injury hazard.
It is recommended to entrust the installation work to specialists who can reliably fix the heavy structure. Some models may contain sharp parts that can easily cause injury. This nuance must be taken into account if fencing is planned to be installed in residential premises. If there are children or animals at home, it is best to choose forged models with rounded elements or additional wood decor.
Since forged stairs are heavy, they should be fixed to a solid base. It is possible to improve the characteristics of a product and extend its service life with the help of polymer coatings.
In this video you will learn how to install fences:
Installation locations
Forged stairs are installed on wood, concrete, brick and other types of surface. Interiors with such structures look amazing. Metal products can be used not only inside the building, but also outside.
In some places, stairs with wrought iron railings look especially impressive:
- Vacation home. A wide staircase in the cottage hall will add solemnity to the interior if it is complemented with massive handrails and voluminous balusters. The external structure leading to the upper floors of the building can also be supplemented with wrought iron railings.
- Duplex apartment. For city apartments with two levels, a spiral staircase, which takes up little space, is best suited. Railings made by forging usually look simple and laconic. Their ornament consists of intertwined thin rods that freely transmit light. A staircase with openwork decor looks light and airy.
- Public building. Elegantly patterned railings can often be seen in cafes. Such elements give the interior a romantic and charming look. In a respectable restaurant or hotel, the classic version of staircases with lush ornaments looks great.
Metal fences should be combined with the overall appearance of the room. The shade is selected in accordance with the color palette selected for the interior. Experts recommend giving preference to white, gray, brown or black paints.
Wood in the manufacture of staircases
Wood is simply a wonderful material for construction, and wood is ideal for making stairs. Natural material is easily processed, combined with any other material, various accessories, and most importantly, wooden products and design elements fit harmoniously into any interior. The wooden texture gives the object softness and coziness and comfort to your home.
Wooden stairs are all about differences in the hardness of the wood species. What types of wood are most often used to create stair support beams, steps, and fences? In the production of stairs, the types of pine, larch, beech, ash, and oak are used.
It is very important that all wooden elements are used in the construction of the interfloor block in the adhesive version; monolithic wood quickly undergoes deformation.
Any staircase space can be decorated with carvings and glass. But nothing compares to wrought iron railings, which give the staircase nobility and elegance.
How to choose forged railings. Their varieties
Even the simplest designs of forged railings emphasize the bright and original design of a country house, reflecting the taste of its owner. The choice of the appropriate option in each specific case depends on several factors. First of all, the general style of the room is taken into account. Also, do not forget about safety requirements.
The cost of manufacturing a wrought iron staircase project depends on the weight of the structure, the volume of parts and decorative elements, the complexity of manufacturing and installation, the method of decoration, and so on.
Types of forging
The forging process is quite complex and requires certain knowledge and skills. In addition, you must have special equipment and materials. Forged structural elements are created as a result of direct impact on a metal blank. According to the method of metal processing, forging can be hot or cold.
Hot forging
During the hot forging process, the metal is heated to a state of plasticity. After this, the creation of the required shape of the product begins. This method has several significant disadvantages:
- a lot of fuel is wasted;
- a blacksmith's forge is required;
- not suitable for all types of alloys;
- there is an increased risk of injury.
Cold forging
When cold forging, there is no need to heat the metal. To create a specific shape, the structure is welded, bent, and pressed. This method is much better in terms of safety and ease of work, but it also has weaknesses:
- a large number of blanks is required;
- a damaged workpiece cannot be restored.
Railing yourself
To decorate your home, railings made of cold or hot forging can be ordered or you can do everything yourself.
Before you begin, you should prepare your tools. Since hot forging requires a special workshop, it is better to use cold stamping at home. For it you will need a welding machine, a protective mask, electrodes, a set of levels, a grinder saw, a protractor, a ruler and a tape measure. Next, a sketch of the future staircase is created on paper or in a 3D program.
The frame, which is the contour of the fence, is welded by a machine. Decorative elements are formed by hammering them. Once all the parts are ready, you can begin assembling the structure according to the pre-drawn sketch.
Forged stair railing elements: options
The design of forged railings depends on the shape of the stairs:
- for screw (winder) models - spiral shapes;
- for a staircase with a turn - repeating the shape of the staircase, they bend along with it at an angle of 90 or 180 degrees;
- for a flight of stairs - the most common option, represented by linear spans without bends, spirals or turns.
Features of stair railings - forging
When creating a wrought iron fencing project, you must adhere to several recommendations. First of all, the height of the railing should not be less than 0.9 m. The distance between the posts should not be more than 30 cm. If small children live in the house, it is better to reduce this distance to 20-25 cm.
If you frame a forged structure with wooden railings, this “softens” the product and makes it less dangerous. Another important requirement is the mandatory fixation of the stairs.
Features of forged structures
The reliability of forged stairs is determined by several factors. First of all, the strength is influenced by the chosen material. In addition, the presence of many decorative elements connected to each other forms a kind of frame, the loads in which are evenly distributed over the entire plane.
Protection from weather conditions is achieved by treating metal elements with special compounds and further painting. As a result, even those railings that decorate the external staircase are reliably protected from rust.
Practical luxury
Using samples of wrought iron railings in the design of stairs is an ideal way to realize your fantasies in room design. The plasticity and versatility of metal creates virtually no obstacles to the artistic realization of ideas. Openwork lace, natural elements, ethnic motifs, geometric patterns - all this and much more can be successfully combined on the way to your dream.
Along with beauty and grace, forging is characterized by safety and reliability. A properly installed product can last for decades, remaining intact and undamaged.
Where is it appropriate to use wrought iron railings?
Forged staircase railings can decorate any interior, but in some cases their installation is especially important.
For large country houses, the ascent to the second floor can be made as formal and impressive as possible by installing a Y-shaped front staircase.
A two-level city duplex apartment does not have a large area, so installing massive structures here is irrational. Instead, you should pay attention to spiral staircases.
In public establishments (restaurants, cafes, hotels and the like), wrought iron stair railings can become a signature feature. They will create a romantic atmosphere, adding sophisticated charm to the interior.
Rococo
The Rococo style is distinguished by the elegance of its design, while the composition is performed asymmetrically relative to the center line of the composition. Straight lines and symmetrical patterns do not appear at all in the design of forged stairs, but floral motifs and images of birds are present in unlimited quantities.
Baroque
Straight lines are also not typical for Baroque. According to the unanimous recognition of the masters, this style is one of the most difficult to perform, as it requires strict adherence to the canons.
Wrought iron staircase railings are distinguished by their richness in combination with a large number of decorative elements. The most common images are leaves and flowers. They intersect harmoniously with complex geometric patterns.
Classic interior
Beautiful, classic interiors will benefit from added luxury. For them, it is recommended to select openwork forged railings with symmetrical monograms. The most common stylistic elements are sculptures and columns, and in the design of fencing rods, floral and plant motifs are preferred - bunches of grapes, laurel leaves and the like.
Grunge and vintage
When choosing a staircase for a room made in vintage or grunge style, you cannot do without wrought iron railings under any circumstances. The most popular designs are those with patina and other coatings that create the effect of an antique or worn-out product. Patterns are chosen from old motifs. Looking at them, you can easily feel the spirit of bygone eras.
Modern styles
Modern styles are noticeably diverse. Each of them is characterized by distinct features that must be taken into account when creating individual elements, such as, for example, patterns of forged railings.
Designs made in the Art Nouveau style are characterized by a clear ornament and symmetrical arrangement of artistic elements. The design can use both volumetric and flat parts, but they should be placed exclusively linearly.
The Empire style is characterized by monumentality and integrity, which can also be seen in the elements of artistic forging. In the finished pattern you can easily detect a military theme, represented by images of shields and pikes.
For art deco, forged railings are made using ethnic motifs, stepped and zigzag shapes, maintaining the symmetry of the pattern. The wide lines characteristic of this style create the effect of rapid forward movement.
If patterns for forged railings are created in high-tech style, not only metal, but also other materials, such as glass, can be used for decoration.
Forged railings for stairs with winder steps
For stairs with winder steps, the production of forged railings becomes somewhat more complicated. This is due to the fact that the fence must clearly follow the curves of the structure. This, in turn, requires a lot of experience and skill from the master.
Despite the fact that such models have a higher cost, it is better not to skimp on stylistic design. By adding ornate and openwork elements to the design, you can create a spectacular and airy image that will look harmonious with this type of stairs.
