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Choosing which materials to use for your balustrade can be a hard decision, as each material can bring a different style to your home. This guide will help you choose which materials to use for your balustrade, including the benefits and features of each.
Wooden balustrades are often known as traditional balustrades, providing the home with a classic feel. There are many different woods to choose from, which include the following:
Hardwoods
Softwoods
A traditional oak staircase.
Glass panels from the Fusion range
Providing a modern, elegant appearance, glass balustrades feature toughened glass panels, which feature glass that is typically 8mm to 10mm thick. The process of toughening glass involves subjecting it to a high heat, around 700 degrees celsius. This is known as quenching. Quenching creates a strong layer on each sides of the glass, locking in tensions in the core of the glass. Glass then becomes four times as strong.
You can read more about the parts of a glass balustrade here.
Metal staircases provide a unique design that is the perfect line between traditional and modern. We offer stair parts in the following types of metals:
You can read our full guide to different metal stair parts here.
Contemporary iron balustrade
…you want to take advantage of the rich colours and tones that different types of wood can offer. Wood can be used to create both contemporary and traditional finishes. In Victorian or Edwardian properties, where you can want to retain a period aesthetic, wood balustrades are your best choice.
If you want to paint your staircase then go for a white primed wood.
…you like a contemporary, minimalist feel or want to create more light in your property. Glass balustrades can radically change the feel of an open-plan room, making it feel less cluttered.
Glass is very easy to clean and requires little to no ongoing maintenance. Robust safety glass is always used. Glass panels can look fantastic with wooden hand or base rails and metal brackets.
...you like a striking contrast between contemporary and traditional, or an industrial look. Metal stair parts can be used in combination with both wood and glass. Metal can also add a modern, industrial look to a traditional looking staircase.
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Wood | Glass | Metal |
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Aesthetics |
Owners of older period properties may want to retain a traditional style, in which case a wooden balustrade is often favoured. Lighter woods or woods with white finishes can work in contemporary properties too. |
Tends to suit contemporary décor, or can make a striking contemporary feature in a more traditionally styled home. Glass works well for smaller spaces and open-plan layouts, while it can brighten up darker areas. |
Tends to suit contemporary décor, or can make a striking contemporary feature in a more traditionally styled home. The reflective quality can help to increase light. Metal can be used in conjunction with both wood and glass, giving your balustrade a contemporary edge. |
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Finishes |
Most woods can be varnished to emphasise the natural grain. Some can be finished with paint. |
No finishing required. |
No finishing required. |
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Durability |
As a general rule, wooden staircases are very durable and will last a long time. Some woods are more susceptible to scratches and nicks so may not work in a busy, family household. |
The safety glass used is incredibly robust, making it a safe choice for the home. Glass is naturally less likely to get scratched or nicked compared to wood. |
Metal is naturally very durable. |
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Cleaning and maintenance |
Easy to clean and maintain. Depending on the wood it can be polished and may need retreating with varnish over time. Treatex hardwax oil can protect and enhance wooden surfaces with just two coats. |
Very easy to clean and requires little to no maintenance. |
Very easy to clean and requires little to no maintenance. |
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Cost |
A range of prices available meaning it can be very cost-effective. For example, a spindle can cost from as little as £1 up to £75. You can choose a less - expensive wood and still benefit from the sophisticated look and feel of this material. |
Glass is only used for panels as a replacement for spindles. If you need few panels it can be a very cost-effective option. Panels range from £28 to £111. |
Like wood, a good range of prices available, from approximately £4 to £120. |
If you’re sure that wood is the material of choice for your staircase, then our Guide to Wooden Stair Parts gives you all the information you need to compare the benefits of different types of wood.
There are pros and cons to choosing a softwood or hardwood balustrade, with the main difference being the cost — hardwood is usually more expensive, making softwood a more cost-effective choice.
There are a few other points to consider, including:
Click on the images below to find out more information on each type of wood. This can help you choose your preferred hand rail, base rail and newel post wood shade.
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Looks great in its natural form, with a distinctive tiger stripe that often features yellow flecks and rays.
Rich colour ranging from pale brown to deep chocolate with a visible dark brown grain. Grained texture is tight and straight.
Reddish-brown, close textured hardwood.
Straight, regular grain with minimum knots in attractive pale brown, sometimes with a red tinge.
Knotty wood, ranging from creamy white to yellow with brown knots.
Straight grain and pale colour without knots.
Can be left white or finished in a colour of your choice.
For detailed comparisons of different types of wood visit our Guide to Wooden Stair Parts.
Glass stair parts can be used to give the effect of a seamless finish without any other materials on show or can be used in combination with other materials. You can choose between a variety of shapes and sizes of high quality glass panels.
Here are some popular glass panel designs:
You can use glass panels alongside an ungrooved handrail or a glass grooved handrail. Ungrooved handrails can be used alongside glass clamps to hold the panels in place. Glass grooved handrails feature a groove, which allow toughened glass to be fitted.
If you’re looking for wider panels or have an unusual staircase configuration, we recommend having bespoke panels made to fit the space you are renovating. This can be done by fitting the frame that the glass will sit into and then making a template for the glass out of plywood. This template is then provided to the glass manufacturer to ensure an accurate fit.
The Richard Burbidge stair part systems combine wood, metal and glass and are in stock at Jackson Woodturners. You can view details of the Richard Burbidge range of stair parts here.
Black metal
Black wrought iron Edisto spindle
Brushed nickel
Fusion brushed nickel landing spindle
Chrome
Axxys chrome landing spindle
Brass
Antique brass petal wall bracket
You can find out more about combining wood with chrome or brushed nickel by reading our Guide to Axxys Stair Parts and our Guide to Forge Stair Parts - both ranges fuse wood and metal to stunning effect.
