Ladders from marble: features of material and design

Ladders from marble amaze with the beauty and reliability. This detail of the interior is able to emphasize the excellent taste and viability of the owner of the house. The features of the material and the design of staircase structures will be discussed in more detail in this article.

Ladders from a natural stone are widely used both in private houses, and in public places. Marble is a unique material in its properties and appearance. The surface of a natural stone has a unique pattern, which is not repeated on the material, even if the rocks are mined in one deposit. Therefore, it is impossible to meet two staircases with absolutely identical marble steps.

Compared to granite, marble has a lower hardness, so stairs made of this material are mainly installed indoors, not outside.

Marble designs have a number of positive qualities.

• The material is harmless to health, as it is completely eco-friendly.
• Long service life. With proper care, the ladder will last more than a dozen years, while the appearance and characteristics of the cladding of the steps will not change. Products from white marble begin to grow old only after 100 years.
• A large variety of colors and unique patterns on the tile will allow you to choose the right solution for any interior design.
• High resistance to mechanical stress and abrasion.

• The material is not subject to deformation, as well as resistant to chipping and cracks.
• Natural stone is well combined with a variety of materials: wood, glass, metal, and so on.
• Resistance to corrosive formations and decay.
• High strength.

Despite impressive advantages, marble stairs have their drawbacks. We single out the main disadvantages of such constructions.

• High price, which, in turn, is due to the high quality of the rock, as well as the cost of its extraction and processing.
• Making a staircase from marble alone is extremely difficult., because the material requires special processing. For this reason, it is necessary to choose a suitable design from ready-made options, and you can order the production of the necessary ladder from professionals, which will be very expensive.
• Natural stone visually looks quite cumbersome. Such ladders do not differ in ease and most often occupy a lot of space, and therefore are not suitable for all rooms.

• The surface of the marble steps is rather slippery.especially if it is wet. In order to minimize the risk of traumatic situations, special anti-slip tapes should be glued to the coating of natural stone.
• Material is afraid of aggressive chemicals, abrasive particles and various acids.

Artificial marble in many respects is not inferior to natural stone, while it is much cheaper.

Among the advantages of such material are the following:

• high strength;
• long service life;
• products from an artificial stone do not change color throughout all term of operation;
• resistance to decay;
• a wide range of different shades;
• on the surface of the steps of artificial marble is difficult to leave a scratch.

A uniformly colored surface of an artificial material can be both an advantage and a disadvantage - it all depends on the taste of the buyer. Natural stone has a unique pattern that is not repeated on products made of marble. In addition, artificial stone texture is more like plastic.

Various components can be used for the production of artificial stone and various manufacturing techniques will be applied.

There are several types of this material.

• Cast marble The composition of the cast stone includes natural marble chips and various binding components.
• On the basis of gypsum. Oselkovy marble is made by mixing gypsum, pigments, adhesive composition and water.The resulting mass is poured into molds, and after hardening, the surface of the artificial stone is polished.

• Chipped stone can be produced in the form of tiles of various sizes.
• Flexible marble, which has a liquid consistency, is made on the basis of crushed stone and acrylates. This material can be used to repair marble steps in case of damage.

For the manufacture of stairs using not just mined marble in its original form, and already processed material. The appearance and structure of the surface of the stone depends on the used method of processing. The main technologies are mechanical and thermal effects.

Machining involves exposing the surface of the stone to various tools.

The main methods of mechanical action include several options:

• Cut stone is the very first stage of working with rock after its extraction. Marble is divided into slabs and sent for further processing.
• Grinding stone allows you to get a matte finish that has anti-slip qualities.This type of processing is excellent for the manufacture of marble steps and is used as the final stage of exposure to the surface of the stone.
• Acupressure allows to form a convex relief on the surface of the stone and create various patterns. Such processing is subjected to marble in the manufacture of balusters or railings.

• Polishing surface allows you to form a perfectly smooth and shiny coating. This type of processing well emphasizes the natural pattern of marble and its shade.
• Bunching is a technique of artificial aging of marble. With the help of a special tool, the outer layer is unevenly removed from the surface of the stone, forming chips on the surface.

Heat treatment involves exposure to stone high temperatures or pressure. And also to this method include the processing of chemicals and acids.

Another type of heat treatment is crystallization. This method is also used to improve the strength of the material. The surface of the stone in this case is affected by special chemicals.

Ladders from a natural stone will decorate with themselves an interior practically of any design. Not only the steps of the structure can be made of marble, but also other elements, such as balusters and railings.

Stairs on a metal frame are less bulky and fit well into the modern interior. Dimensional marble staircase with wrought metal railing visually looks easier.

For the manufacture of enclosing structures often use the following materials:

• natural and artificial marble or other stone;
• various metals - mainly alloyed steel, aluminum and cast iron;
• expensive woods;
• fences made of glass.

To give the staircase a complete look, it is recommended to use marble baseboards for decoration. Such products are of the following types:

• Straight plinths are fixed after the main structural elements are installed - steps and risers;
• solid models are mounted at the very beginning, and only then the steps are placed under the plinth;
• curly.

As you know, the stairs made of natural stone are quite expensive. The more marble used to make the structure, the higher its final cost will be. It is not necessary to use ready-made steps from a large piece of marble.

There are several equally attractive finishing options:

• marble tiles;
• lining of natural stone;
• fake diamond;
• marble crust coating;
• cast marble

The marble tile is a finished product of a square or rectangular shape. For finishing of steps use a floor tile covering. Laying tiles is carried out on concrete stairs.

Covers are a base covered with a thin layer of marble. Lining glue on the tread and risers. Visually, such a coating is difficult to distinguish from the steps of a monolithic stone.

Artificial marble is made on the basis of concrete.Such a material can be used not only for the manufacture of steps, but also for balusters. Artificial stone is significantly cheaper than natural material.

The coating of crushed marble can be purchased in the finished version or make it yourself. To do this, it is necessary to mix in equal proportions dry cement mix, stone flour, crushed marble of three different fractions. To give the mixture the desired shade, you can add special dyes.

Water is gradually added to the mixed components. The solution must be constantly stirred. The finished composition will look like a thick and solid mass. For coating on the steps it is necessary to build a formwork.

Steps of cast stone is made on the basis of natural crushed marble or high-quality quartz sand. Polyester or acrylic resins can be used as binders.And also dyes are added to the composition of cast marble.

From this composition it is possible to make products of any kind by pouring a mixture of appropriate forms. A protective layer based on epoxy resin is necessarily applied to the surface of the material.

At first glance, it seems that marble stairs are designed for interiors in classic styles. However, a large assortment of prefabricated structures and the ability to manufacture custom-made stairs, taking into account the requirements of the buyer, make it possible to choose a suitable option for modern interiors. Designs from natural marble are most suitable for private houses, but some options will perfectly fit into the interior of a multi-level apartment with double light.

• Classical style is primarily characterized by clear geometric forms in the interior and luxury. Furniture and decorative elements should be made of natural materials, so the marble staircase will perfectly fit into such an interior. Decorative elements of the stairs in this case should have symmetry and not overload the structure.

• Baroque style on the contrary, it requires a large number of decorative elements. Marble staircases in the living room with wrought walling or balusters made of natural stone with a bas-relief will be appropriate here. Steps can be made of white marble or light beige shades.

• In modern interiors, for example, in the style high tech, not massive ladders from black or white marble will look well. It is best if the design will combine natural stone and metal or glass.

Caring for natural marble is not particularly difficult. However, it is required to periodically conduct a series of care activities. The stone is resistant to moisture, and therefore will not be damaged by frequent wet cleaning. Before washing the steps, it is necessary to remove solid particles from their surface with a dry soft sponge or cloth.

First, a dirt-repellent mixture is applied to the surface, which penetrates deeply into the structure of the material, and a thin protective film is formed on the surface.Then the marble is rubbed with wax, which, in turn, creates another protective layer and gives the material an extra shine.

In the case of dirty stains on the surface of natural stone, they must be immediately removed. If any liquid spilled on the steps, it can be wiped off with a damp cloth, or use a solution of soap and water.

There are situations when it was not possible to remove the contamination immediately after its occurrence, as a result of which hardly visible traces are formed on the surface. In this case, it is necessary to prepare a special mixture, the composition of which will depend on the type of contamination. The mixture is applied to the contaminated area, covered with film and left for several hours.

Traces of markers or inks can be removed with a nail polish remover. In the fight against greasy stains on the surface of the marble will help absorbent powder mixture, for example, starch.

In places where the natural stone comes into contact with the metal fasteners of the ladder structure, contamination in the form of rusty tracks may appear.Such stains must be removed with the help of special store tools designed to clean natural stone.

• Staircase made of natural stone in a spacious bright hall.

• Illuminated marble staircase with glass envelope is ideal for modern interior styles.

• The variety of shades of natural stone allows you to choose the appropriate version of the stairs for any interior.

• The beauty of the marble staircase can be emphasized by lighting. For example, spotlights can be installed on the wall at the level of steps.
• Screw construction of light marble in a Mediterranean-style interior design.

On the features of the installation of marble steps, see the following video.