Balusters are ... Balusters made of wood

Baluster - a decorative column, which serves as a support under the handrail of the stairs. Virtually all modern railings are manufactured using this element. In addition to the aesthetic function, the balusters perform a purely practical one - they make the movement along the steps safe. They can decorate the railing of not only stairs, but also parapets of terraces, verandas, balconies and arbors. About what they are and how to mount, let's talk further.

Varieties of balusters for the material of manufacture

Balusters of modern staircases can be made from a wide variety of materials:

• Of stone. This is the most expensive and yet durable kind of balusters. Looked at such elements are simply gorgeous and used in rich interiors in combination with stone stairs.
• Metal. In most cases, this is also not a cheap kind of staircase. In this case, they can be made of steel (chrome or painted), bronze, cast iron.
• Wooden balusters - this is the most common and inexpensive to date kind of fencing staircase. Despite the not too high in comparison with the stone and bronze variants, the cost differs in an unusually aesthetic appearance. Wooden balusters are usually made of birch, oak or pine.

Baluster as an element ensuring safety

Balusters - this is, above all, an element of the fence, which ensures the safety of movement on the stairs. Therefore, the installation of these columns should be carried out, observing the standards prescribed by SNiP. Thus, the distance between individual balusters according to the rules should not exceed 15 cm. In particular, it is important to comply with this recommendation in those houses in which children live. At such a step, they will never fall down the stairs and will not be able to push the head between the pillars of the handrail.

The height of the handrails according to SNiP should not be less than 90 cm. It should be taken into account when choosing the length of such elements as balusters for stairs. If the house is inhabited by people of great height, the enclosure of the staircase may be higher.

Advantages of using wooden balusters

Wood - the material is ecologically absolutely clean. Therefore, balusters from it can be used on staircases installed in apartment houses, without any restrictions. In addition to ecological purity, wooden fences are characterized by sufficient strength and durability. Of course, like bronze, cast iron or stone, they do not serve, but with the proper processing of wood, the period of their exploitation can last for decades. The only thing that needs to be finished is handrails and balusters made of wood with an environmentally friendly material. It can be varnishes on water or oil basis or different kinds of waxes and mastics.

In the case of using wooden balusters on the street (on porches, terraces or verandas), the material must be treated with antifouling compounds.

What can be the shape of wooden balusters

Wooden baluster is a very important element of the interior of the house. Sometimes it even happens that the entire design project of the room is built around this element. In most cases, the baluster of the staircase has a complex shape. In this case they can be cylindrical, rectangular in section or flat. In the first two cases, the emphasis is on the shape of the baluster. Individual parts of the support column can have a spherical, volumetric teardrop, cone-shaped and other configuration. Flat balusters are often decorated with carvings. In any case, they look very aesthetic.

Decoration of pillars of handrails

In our time, handrails and balusters for stairs are covered with protective means, leaving the natural texture of the wood visible. In this case, their shade depends on this particular breed. In this regard, they provide the designer a wide field for the manifestation of creative abilities. As for the combinations of materials, beautiful wooden balusters are combined only with wooden steps and handrails. If the staircase is made of concrete or metal, the risers and treads in this case are usually lined with boards.

However, there are exceptions to any rule. Nowadays, sometimes original designs are developed using a combination of wooden balusters with other materials.

Balusters made of wood in the exterior of the building

In the exterior of the buildings wooden balusters can look no less spectacular than in the interior. Of course, in this case, they usually have a simpler form, but still often become a real "highlight" of the design of the building and yard. Terrace, veranda or porch, decorated with beautiful balusters, will inevitably attract attention and cause admiration of the guests and the owners of the house.

Cost of balusters

How much can a wooden baluster cost? The price of this element of the ladder depends primarily on its design. Support pillars of complex shape are more expensive, simple - cheaper. In general, the price of wooden balusters can fluctuate on average from 100 to 500 rubles apiece. Bronze, stone and even cast iron variants of pillars of handrails, of course, are much more expensive.

A very simple way to make a variety in the interior of the house or in its exterior is the use of such an element as a beautiful handrail. Balusters made of wood, in addition, are not too expensive. It is definitely worth using such an element in interior design or in the yard.