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What are the Benefits of a Wrought Iron Spiral Staircase?

Dan Cavallari
Dan Cavallari

A wrought iron spiral staircase is an attractive, durable, and space-saving choice for a home or office building. By installing a staircase of this kind, a homeowner or builder can improve the aesthetic of a room or home without taking up excess space for a larger staircase structure, and since wrought iron tends to stay in style consistently, the fixture will be a long lasting visual appeal. Wrought iron is also very durable, though it may need some maintenance from time to time in the form of sanding away rust and repainting the structure.

Real wrought iron is very rare and very expensive, so most wrought iron spiral staircase units will usually be made from cast iron or even steel. If the wrought iron spiral staircase will be installed outside, the homeowner or builder may want to consider a steel unit; stainless or galvanized steel are resistant to weather damage such as rust and corrosion, whereas iron will be more susceptible to such damage.

Woman with hand on her hip
Woman with hand on her hip

Cast iron is sometimes used in place of true wrought iron. Cast iron staircases are made from iron that is heated and then poured into precast molds to cure into a structure. This makes the process of manufacturing the wrought iron spiral staircase much easier, thereby making the cost to the consumer much lower. The consumer then gets an attractive and strong unit that mimics the visual appeal of true wrought iron without having to break the bank. Since wrought iron is very often highly decorative, little will have to be done to enhance the beauty of the staircase.

Space savings is, of course, one of the greatest benefits of any spiral staircase. Unlike traditional staircases, a spiral staircase does not have a large footprint and can be installed in small spaces, making it an exceptionally good choice for smaller homes or apartments. These staircases are naturally eye catching, so when the spiral design is combined with the visual appeal of wrought iron, the staircase often becomes a centerpiece of a room worthy of conversation. The solid construction makes the staircase an ideal choice for safety and durability as well, though walking up and down the stairs may be difficult for some people, since the stairway can be somewhat narrow.

Discussion Comments

anon157555

I will take exception to the comment that a cast iron staircase will corrode. Maybe the writer should take a trip to New Orleans and see how the 150 year old cast iron railings and gates are doing after spending all that time exposed to the salt air. A steel staircase/railing would have disintegrated years ago. Cast iron will rust but will not corrode in one's lifetime.

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