Exterior Iron Spiral Staircase
Adding an exterior iron spiral staircase to the outside of your home provides not only a practical entrance, but also adds a beautiful touch of unusual decor to what might otherwise possibly be a plain, drab area.
Where To Buy
Spiral staircases can be found fairly easily at places like Home Depot or Lowes. These are typically made of steel, however, with wood or wood laminate steps. You can also order spiral staircases pre-built in kit form online in Southern yellow pine, red oak, and other woods.
But there is something about a decorative, wrought iron staircase that adds a special touch not found in staircases built from steel or wood. Most may think of wrought iron spiral staircases as reminiscent of turn-of-the-century homes in New Orleans or similar locales, but with the new creative use of wrought iron, very artsy, modern looks can be achieved as well.
Kits for Spiral Staircases
You can purchase wrought iron exterior spiral staircases in kit form online as well as at a few specialty companies throughout the country. There are some things to look for in the purchase of this type of exterior staircase to make sure you know exactly what you are getting. Here are a few tips:
Kits
If possible, purchase a kit that is not really a kit. That is, some manufacturers make and sell spiral staircases with the main spiraling sections of balustrade (the highly decorative pieces) all in one, solid, welded piece. This is to avoid the screws, nuts, and bolts found on other kits that not only pose a massive installation headache, but also can loosen and fall off over time.
- Look for pre-formed, pre-fitted handrails. Avoid handrails made from plastic tubing.
Preassembled Kits?
Find a manufacturer that sells staircases custom-built to your own specifications if possible (and affordable). If you can additionally have the company pre-assemble as much of the staircase as possible at the factory and then ship it to you, you have avoided a lot of time and effort in putting the thing together from scratch at your home.
Wrought iron spiral staircases can go a long way toward adding a unique appeal to your home as well as making entering and exiting sort of an event. So go ahead and check them out. You may soon find yourself with your own iron spiral staircase you can show off any time you want!
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