Square balusters for stairs. Forged balusters for stairs

Balusters are beautiful column-shaped posts that are located between the railings and the base of the product, serving as fencing for balconies, stairs, terraces, etc. Most often, such a base is made of wood and decorated with carved decor.

This product has long been known in construction; it is one of the most ancient creations of man. Even the Romans created such columns with various mythical images on top. There are suggestions that in ancient times they also organized cults of worship of such balusters, although they were not yet called that.

If you decide to make your own stairs in a house under construction, you will have to get acquainted with balusters, their structure, types and types of fastenings. In this article we will talk in detail about the types of balusters, their advantages, and also describe step by step how to make and install them with your own hands.

Varieties of balusters

The appearance and design of balusters depend on what material they are made of. Exists a large number of various materials, which give even the most demanding consumer the opportunity to choose. They can be:

wooden;
forged;
metal;
glass;
stone;
plaster.

Wooden strips

Wooden balusters are considered the most popular in individual construction and, moreover, environmentally friendly. They are often made specifically for stairs in private homes. They have a natural and rich appearance and are quite resistant to external influences.
They mainly use solid birch, oak, beech, pine and ash. To make his staircase stand out from thousands of others, the master makes original wood carvings on the balusters.
The size of the columns in the base is basically standard - about 50 by 50 mm, and this is if you purchase the product ready-made. But you can order from the master the size that will fit perfectly into the interior of your staircase.
You can create an unimaginable and exquisite masterpiece from wood; in this craft, a person has acquired highest level skill. From natural material can be done different shapes balusters: round, square, oval, polygonal, in the form of a spiral and even in the form of branches. It is known from history that experienced master created flat wide balusters with carved fairy tale characters for Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy - this is art.
It is clear that if you have chosen a material such as wood for the manufacture of balusters, then the entire staircase should be made of the same material. This approach is necessary due to its specific properties. As is known, the array has the ability to change its shape and size under the influence of changing air humidity, therefore the entire structure can be deformed during operation. Therefore, to avoid such troubles, the entire product should be made from the same breed. After all, the effort and, importantly, the finances spent on your masterpiece can result in disappointment with its appearance and short service life.

Metal strips

Metal balusters are another pinnacle of art. This material is very strong and durable. With its help, you can create any, even the most intricate, shape, give the baluster a tracery, create exquisite branches with clusters, or simply forge graceful twisted spirals.
Such balusters are installed on metal base stairs, and the railings may already be of a different material, but usually to maintain the interior, as in the first case, it is recommended to make the entire product in one key.
Forged balusters for stairs are in no way inferior to the other two representatives. An experienced craftsman can also create any shape from them. A very strong and durable product. Such balusters also look luxurious on durable wooden stairs with subtle patterns and unusual shapes.

Glass stripes

Glass balusters are already art modern technologies. This type of support posts on the stairs will bring lightness and airiness to your design.
You can create a unique ornament, pattern, or even a picture on the glass.
An interesting solution would be to illuminate such glass.
New generation craftsmen apply airbrushing and photo printing to staircase posts, which are made of thick, impact-resistant glass. When hit, this type of material has the same properties as car glass - it does not shatter, but turns into a cobweb, without crumbling.

White stripes made of stone

Stone balusters look powerful and impressive, creating the impression of volume and super strength. Such columns are rarely installed on stairs in private homes. They are mainly found in large, bulky buildings, such as the opera house, The Verkhovna Rada, where there is space, scope and status for them.

Let's consider individual species stones for making balusters and their features.

Marble strips

This is an expensive and noble material that tolerates temperature changes well, so such balusters can be installed both inside and outside the building.
In addition, it is very beautiful, so it is often found in opera houses and buildings where aristocrats lived in ancient times.

Granite countertops

This is a fairly durable material. Just like the first one, it can be installed both outdoors and indoors. Such support posts are not afraid of fungus and mold. Granite balusters are often used in architecture.

Sandstone strips

The main difference between this material is its color - it has a bright texture and a wide color palette. The material can be installed polished or untreated. Also durable and hardy.

Plaster strips

Balusters made of this material can often be found on the facades of historical buildings. This material is also quite durable, but less durable than marble. The basis for such balusters is necessarily a frame made of reinforcement; it is installed in forms, and then they are filled with plaster or concrete.

Advantages of balusters

Serve as room decoration.
Perform the function of protection and safety.
Made from environmentally friendly materials.
Wooden balusters give the structure additional rigidity, thanks to the built-in metal frame inside the product.

Disadvantages of balusters

When installing wooden balusters on a staircase or other piece of furniture, you must take care of their subsequent careful care. Since wood is a soft species, the support posts may not be sufficiently resistant to damage. Therefore, it is periodically important to open the top surface with varnish and try to keep the air temperature and humidity in the room relatively stable, without sudden changes.

If one of the elements of the product is damaged, then you may encounter difficulties in replacing it, since removing one baluster from the entire structure is not so easy. And it’s even more difficult to get the same color; most likely, you will have to varnish the entire structure after installing a new baluster.

How to install balusters on a staircase with your own hands

Let's start installing wooden balusters on the stairs. In preparation for this stage, you already have a ladder and sufficient quantity balusters, so now you can start installing them yourself. There is no need for many years of experience in this matter; the main thing is to have some skills in working with a classical instrument and strictly follow the instructions. Let's consider step by step steps installation of balusters to a wooden staircase.

First we make markings on the steps of the structure. The distance between them should not exceed 15 cm so that the child cannot stick his head between the columns.
If the staircase has a wall on one side, then measurements should be taken at the free edge.
Otherwise, the balusters should be installed symmetrically on both sides.
If the staircase is located in the center of the room, then supports are installed under it at an equidistant distance.
If the staircase structure is twisted with turns, then markings for the balusters should be done on each side separately.
On each step we make a hole for special fasteners.
In the center of the baluster we make a mark that will serve as the center of the axis.
We screw the fastening elements of the baluster into the prepared fasteners with the lower part, and screw the base of the column onto the upper component.
For greater strength, balusters are installed at the edges of the stairs larger diameter, and from the outside the structure looks complete.
We stretch the thread between the outer pillars to see the angle of inclination.
If the balusters do not fit at this level, they are cut down a little to fit the handrails.
Then we gradually fasten each baluster.
Now we lay support strips on the balusters, preferably made of the same material, so the staircase will look more harmonious. We secure the handrails with self-tapping screws.
We attach a railing on top of this plank. This can be done using construction adhesive and secured at the edges with nice bolts.
Then we coat the balusters and railings with varnish in 2–3 layers, so it will last longer.

Installation of balusters on metal stairs

Installation of metal balusters is much easier. The kit already includes a whole set of parts and fasteners that can be attached to any base, be it wood, concrete or stone.

First, we also make markings on the steps of the stairs, as when installing wooden balusters.
Then we fasten the columns using brackets, hinges, screws or bolts.
Then we attach the support to the balusters.
A wooden railing is glued to the top of the support. To prevent rapid rubbing, coat them with a special varnish in 2-3 layers.

Installation of glass balusters

Installation of glass balusters is carried out using fasteners made of wood or metal. Often they are attached to hinges or inserted into already prepared metal places, which in turn are secured to the base with screws. Glass balusters are installed on vertical posts, which are fixed between the railings and the steps of the stairs.

Although glass balusters are made from durable glass, you should still approach their installation and operation with care and thrift.

Installation of stone balusters

This installation must be taken care of at the stage of manufacturing stone balusters, and it is necessary to decide what kind of fastening the structure will be. More often, manufacturers install protruding metal pins at the top by 5 cm, and at the bottom by 10 cm. Then they are welded to the base and railings if the staircase is made of metal. When concrete structure On the steps of the stairs, special holes are made into which pins are inserted, and then they are filled with concrete.

The optimal height of the fence must be chosen to prevent both an adult and a child from falling. Balusters must be reliable protection, therefore their height should not be less than 90 cm from the base of the stairs to the railing.
In order for the design to be accurate and proportional, it is better to use a level with a laser beam.
For structural strength, balusters should be fastened to reliable elements, that is, those that have threads and can be tightened well, even after long use. And the so-called passive fastener, also called a dowel, can become loose over time, and it does not have the ability to screw.
For wooden balusters, the method of twisting the screws at an angle is used, while slightly recessing the cap. This method allows you to fill the places where the screws are screwed in with wood wax after finishing the work. Thus, the attachment points will be invisible and will take on an attractive aesthetic appearance, creating the effect of a solid structure.
The distance between the columns of the stairs should not be more than 15 cm.
Installation should begin with fastening the outer balusters.
To select balusters for stairs, look on the Internet or in specialized magazines for photos of their design options in order to have an accurate idea of the result you want.
If you are planning to save a little money, there are also many video tutorials on the Internet on how to install and fasten balusters to stairs made of different materials. There are even entire sections on making gypsum balusters with your own hands.

The shape of balusters is often one of the determining factors in the design of a room. Take the process of selecting such columns very seriously and over time you will understand that the work spent on selecting balusters was not in vain. In principle, it does not have of great importance Whatever baluster material you choose, the most important thing is that it is reliable and safe. Professionals strongly advise against opting for balusters made of aluminum hollow pipes, which are very unstable and unsafe. They are used mainly for stairs of short length and height or in public institutions. Good choice and easy installation.

Wooden balusters have been known since the mid-19th century. Volumetric vertical parts, carved from wood, were used by ancient craftsmen to decorate the porticoes and pediments of houses. They not only performed a decorative function, but were used as posts or fencing for balconies.

Light window casing peasant hut repeats the portico, and eight twisted balusters are equipped with capitals. If stone craftsmen have become famous in other countries, then we have wood carvers.

Nowadays, with the increase in the volume of individual housing construction, the need for wooden, artistically designed balusters is increasing every year.

Wood for balusters

Wooden balusters for stairs for their production require wood that is correctly selected and prepared in equipment special for these purposes. Three types of wood are determined by hardness:

Soft (linden, alder and aspen);
Hard (oak, birch, pear, walnut and maple);
Very hard (yew, hornbeam and boxwood).

Each felled tree of these species must be considered as a source of raw material for obtaining beautiful balusters. If we cut a trunk at different angles, we will get cuts with different unique textures and specific color scheme. Almost balusters can be made from any type of wood.

Linden wood is soft and uniform. There is little water and it does not crack or warp when dried. During processing hand tools The viscosity of linden is used to construct massive pillars on the stairs.

Aspen is from the willow family. Soft, unusually white, clean and uniform wood is used for decorative overhead balusters. Practically not affected by worms. Resistant to impact sunlight. When dried, it almost does not crack.

The hardness of birch wood is average, very durable, quite elastic. Has a relief and reflects in different sides. Products made from Karelian birch are especially valuable.

Carved wooden balusters made from such birch have a unique texture. Used only in heated rooms. On outdoors quickly begins to rot. The high cost of harvesting wood from oak and beech does not allow large-scale use in construction. Staircases made from red wood have a unique look.

Oak wood is hard and not afraid of water. Products made from mahogany wood are considered expensive and almost eternal. Hardwoods include apple, cherry, walnut, cherry and rowan. Usage garden trees in the manufacture of balusters is limited by their size and shape of the trunk.

Flaws and defects divide wood into nine groups. Knots are a defect that reduces strength and complicates processing. A small amount decorate the texture. Mushroom colors are a sign of the beginning of decay.

A defect such as chemical coloring only spoils the appearance of the tree. Oxidation of tannins in wood occurs. This defect appears if logging was carried out by floatation or if the material was rapidly dried.

Tree gnawers and grinders can reduce a tree to a rotten state. Cracks in the trunk appear from swaying by the wind or from severe frosts. There are cracks from excessive shrinkage. Resin and resin pockets are considered harmful defects for the manufacture of balusters.

Making balusters

The production of balusters begins after selecting and sorting the blanks according to the required strength, size and moisture content. The humidity of the workpieces should not exceed 12% -15%.

If finished products has cracks, then the wood has not been dried to the nominal moisture content. The master will determine the moisture content from the chips from the plane. Dry shavings should break easily in your hands. In large-volume industries, an electric moisture meter is used.

According to the type of processing, the production of balusters is divided into types (in the photo of wooden balusters in our gallery you can see the main types and their use in the interior):

Processed only on lathes;
Made on lathes followed by milling;
Carved balusters. CNC machines are used.

A catalog of beautiful balusters is created at each enterprise. The use of balusters is varied, ranging from creating fencing for flights of stairs to decorating facades and canopies of various buildings with decorative posts.

For these purposes, factories are interested in creating a set of wooden balusters of different purposes and shapes. For example, corner, starting, finishing and ordinary for stairs made of different breeds and forms. The shape is designed by artists using the historical heritage of wood carvers.

The sizes of balusters are different. This determines the slope flight of stairs(standard 45%). Ideal option For the customer it is considered to order the work to be completed on a turnkey basis. To work with your own hands, the customer will need to do everything himself, from the design to the purchase of tools and machines.

Conclusion

The production of balusters for stairs is a whole industry industrial production. Ready product provides employment to transport, carpentry and retail businesses. Markets have everything you need to make stairs.

Photos of wooden balusters

Balusters are short posts that are made using threads. Their main purpose is to support railings of balconies and stairs. The shape of the balusters can be different, it all depends on design solution and interior design. This addition can decorate even the most inconspicuous staircase.

Overview of the main varieties by material

Balusters for staircases made of wood are made from different species, and quite often they are decorated with dotted figured elements. The following grades are usually used for balusters, which determines the types of elements:

birch;
pine.

The cheapest are pine balusters, while those made of beech or oak are much more expensive.

Baluster sizes

Balusters for wooden stairs should be installed according to certain rules. Among others, it is worth highlighting the need to provide clearance between elements, which is usually 140 mm or more. The most suitable is 950 mm.

The supports should be fixed at two points - at the base of the stairs and in the area of the railing. The area and cross-sectional thickness of balusters play a decisive role in the issue of structural safety. This means that the issue of choosing the dimensions of the described elements should be approached seriously. After all, they perform a load-bearing function. Balusters are usually chosen depending on the style of the room.

Classification of wooden balusters by grade and their description

Balusters for wooden stairs can be classified by grade. The highest is grade A, which involves a uniform selection of texture and color. This material provides a transparent finish with medium or light tint. Therefore, slight changes and minor differences in texture are possible. Such products may have eyes, healthy knots and closed cracks, but their diameter should not exceed 5 mm.

Balusters for wooden stairs can be made in grade B. In this case, we are talking about products with a partial selection of texture and color. The blanks are tinted in dark shades. Changes may be contrasting, textural differences are possible. In one batch you can find products that will have eyes and healthy knots.

In grade C you can find balusters that are not selected according to texture and color. Knots can be dark or light, but their size should not be large. On inside products you can find dead knots. Individual balusters sometimes have fragments of sapwood. It is permissible to putty knots and cracks at the manufacturing stage.

Reviews of balusters in three quality categories

Balusters for stairs made of wood, the description of which will be useful to read before purchasing the product, are offered for sale in three quality categories. Consumers leave their reviews about each of them. By choosing products in the Economy Plus category, you become the owner of products that are subjected to milling and partial machine grinding during processing. According to consumers, it is better to purchase such balusters for stairs that will be installed in corridors or hallways.

On sale you can find balusters of the “Prestige” category. They are milled and worked by hand, and also sanded. Such products are more expensive than previous ones, but, according to consumers, they are of higher quality. The most durable and attractive appearance are balusters of the VIP category; during processing they are milled, sanded by hand, and the parts are finished separately. All elements are worked out as carefully as possible in the factory, therefore they are most often preferred by consumers.

Cost of wooden balusters

The size of the baluster for wooden stairs will affect the cost. For example, products with dimensions 50 x 900 mm will cost 85 rubles. a piece. In this and subsequent cases, the cost is indicated per pine element. With an increase in size to 80 x 80 x 900 mm, the price increases to 300 rubles. a piece. If you need to purchase a baluster with dimensions 100 x 100 x 900 mm, then one element will cost 360 rubles.

Today, the following forms and types of balusters for wooden stairs are distinguished:

Cylindrical - classic, simple support posts, topped with symmetrical threads of various diameters, made either manually, or on a lathe.
Thin and straight, unpretentious in design sharpening rails, having the shape of a narrow ellipse or quadrangle in cross-section.
Curly carved balusters, usually made from expensive wood, by hand. Very stylish and efficient staircase components.

Thus, you can mount a staircase using the dimensions of balusters for wooden stairs required for your designed structure, completely independently, armed with simple carpentry, fastening and other traditional tools.

Please note: for reliable installation of wooden railings to stairs, it is recommended to use only metal fastening hardware with intense impact, as they eliminate the possibility of loosening the fastening directly during operation. It is absolutely unacceptable to use inert parts such as nails, wooden dowels, self-tapping screws as fastening elements for fixing wooden balusters, handrails, strings (in areas of high loads).

You can order forged metal balusters from the Technolux company. We are pleased to offer a wide range of sought-after products, which are created by experienced craftsmen.

The presented metal balusters for stairs, railings, gratings and other structures have gained popularity due to their ease of installation, high quality and optimal cost. It is also important that each baluster has a design thought out to the smallest detail. Any product can become a full-fledged decoration entrance group or an entire architectural ensemble.

Relevance of using the presented products

Manual artistic forging Today it is not available to everyone! That is why the presented steel balusters are deservedly popular. They are inexpensive, but at the same time they are not inferior to those created by hand forging.

The presented metal products are of high quality and can be easily welded. They are fundamentally different from fragile thin-walled models, which can break and be subject to destructive environmental influences.

Product characteristics

Steel balusters are used quite widely. Representing a low rack, it provides support for railings of stairs or balconies.

The main functions of this element:

Fencing.
Decorative.

A steel baluster, as a fencing element, is more reliable than a wooden one.

In addition, the steel baluster looks impeccable.

With its help you can:

Emphasize the style of the object.
Showcase all the interior features.

In addition, balusters allow you to focus attention on certain design elements of a home, office, or other building.

Any baluster can be used not only indoors, but also outdoors. Often the products are used to decorate balconies and small architectural forms.

Baluster always attracts attention. It looks especially good if combined with other metal parts. A correctly selected baluster is the most important element interior and exterior.

Advantages of ordering products from our company

A wide range of balusters for stairs and other structures. You can easily select products that meet all your wishes and financial capabilities. Our customers like all balusters for home decoration or other objects.
Optimal cost of balusters. We do not inflate the price of metal products for stairs and other structures. Thanks to this, balusters are available to all customers without exception. Hardware Designers and architects, as well as private individuals, order from us.
Help from a specialist when choosing balusters. Our designer is ready to answer all your questions about balusters for various stairs and other structures. He will help you select the right steel products.
Convenient catalogue. Thanks to it, you will quickly find your way around the assortment of balusters for stairs, fencing, other structures and small architectural forms.
The presence of large balances of products in the company's warehouses, which allows us to satisfy the demand of large buyers without forcing them to wait for the next batch of goods. You can receive any balusters in the shortest possible time.
A wide range of related products necessary for the manufacture of metal products. We are ready to provide you not only with a large number of balusters, but also electrodes, metal, mesh, etc.