What is the best balustrading material for residential applications? This is a question you are likely to find yourself typing into a search engine if you're looking for protective barriers for your deck or balcony.
The truth is that there is no single correct answer to that question, and the best type of balustrade will be determined by several factors ranging from the local climate to the intended area of balustrade installation. In a bid to partially answer this question, here are a few facts you need to know about stainless steel balustrades.
They Are Suitable for Indoor Use
Stainless steel is not a material commonly used for the construction of indoor household fixtures. Think about your own house. Apart from kitchen sinks, how many other fixtures are made of stainless steel? Probably very few. Many homeowners might take this to mean that stainless steel balustrades are only designed for outdoor use, which is not the case.
An experienced interior designer will tell you that stainless steel fixtures are becoming increasingly popular in newer homes due to the sleek contemporary look that these fixtures help to achieve when used indoors. Staircase handrails and kitchen cabinets are a few examples of indoor household fixtures made of stainless steel that continue to be incorporated into interior home designs.
Different Grades of Steel Are Used
There are several types of stainless steel, commonly referred to as grades. The different grades of steel have different qualities that make them more suitable for specific applications. For example, steel balustrades intended for outdoor use are usually made of stainless steel grade 316, while those intended for indoor use are made of grade 304.
The main difference between the two is that grade 316 stainless steel has an additional compound known as molybdenum, which increases its resistance to corrosion and rust. This is an important quality because steel balustrades installed outdoors are constantly exposed to water and moisture, which makes them more prone to corrosion.
They Can Be Used Eith Other Materials
You do not necessarily have to settle for an all-steel balustrade for your deck or balcony. It is possible to incorporate other materials such as glass into a stainless steel balustrading system to achieve a more sophisticated look on your balcony.
For more information on stainless steel balustrades, get in touch with a professional balustrading or fencing contractor. They should be able to help you.
