Choosing the right materials for your balustrade

At Jackson Woodturners, we understand how difficult it can be to choose the right material for your balustrade. This is because each material can bring a different style to your home. In this article, we’ll help you choose the right balustrade materials for your home. So, what factors do you need to consider when choosing which materials to use for your balustrade? 

In our opinion, the main factors to consider when choosing the material for your staircase include: 

• Aesthetics of your home
• Available finishes
• Material durability 
• Cleaning & maintenance 
• Cost 

Keep reading to learn more about the features and benefits of each balustrade material. 

Generally, most balustrade materials will give a charming, characteristic touch to your home. However, when it comes to factors like maintenance, cost and practicality, the real differences are uncovered. 

Wood

Wooden balustrades are often known as traditional balustrades, providing the home with a classic feel. Below, we outline the different types of wood to choose from:

• Hardwoods - White Oak, Walnut, Sapele, Ash, White Primed wood like birch or poplar
• Softwoods - Pine, Hemlock

We recommend that you choose wooden balustrades if you want to take advantage of the rich colours and tones different types of wood provide. Wood can be used to create both contemporary and traditional finishes. For example, if you were looking to retain a period aesthetic in a Victorian or Edwardian property, wood balustrades are your best choice. Alternatively, if you wanted to paint your staircase, we suggest that you go for a white primed wood. 

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.

Hardwood VS softwood 

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.

We’ve outlined a few other points to consider: 

• Softwood tends to be a more environmentally friendly choice than hardwood, as the trees grow much quicker and can be easily managed on timber plantations. Hardwoods, such as oak, take far longer to grow and are harder to cultivate.
• Some hardwoods, such as sapele, only grow in certain locations, whereas softwoods like pine can be grown in a variety of locations, which makes the wood more readily available and more affordable than hardwoods.
• Hardwoods tend to be more durable than softwoods so are less likely to dent and scratch or show other signs of wear and tear.
• Softwoods like pine and hemlock can be easily painted, allowing you to choose the finish of your choice for your décor. Although hardwoods can be painted, they are more expensive than softwood so most people prefer to retain their natural beauty.

Click on the images below to find out more about each type of wood. This will help you choose your preferred hand rail, base rail and newel post wood shade. 

Glass

Providing a modern, elegant appearance, glass balustrades feature toughened glass panels, which incorporate glass that is typically 8mm to 10mm thick. You may be wondering how the glass panels are made? Here’s how - 

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 side of the glass, locking in tensions in the core of the glass. Consequently, the glass becomes 4 times as strong.

Glass is a perfect choice for those wanting to create a contemporary, minimalist feel. It’s also a great option if you are wanting to create more light in your property. In fact, glass balustrades can radically change the feel of an open-plan room, making it feel less cluttered. On top of this, glass is also very easy to clean and requires little to no ongoing maintenance.

*Top tip - Pairing glass panels with wooden hand base rails or metal brackets looks fantastic. 

Read more about the different parts of a glass balustrade here. 

Metal 

Metal staircases provide a unique design that is the perfect line between traditional and modern. We offer stair parts in the following types of materials: 

• Chrome - Chrome is a plated metal where a thin layer of chromium is applied to the surface of the metal. This addition helps prevent corrosion and provides a highly reflective surface.
• Brushed Nickel - Brushed nickel is perfect for simple yet modern styling of your staircase. Suitable for a large variety of tastes, brushed nickel is used in many of our stair part ranges.
• Black Metal - All of our black metal parts are designed from mild steel which has been powder-coated with a matt black finish. We offer black metal stair parts in both stylish contemporary styles and traditional styles.
• Brass Plated - Brass is commonly paired with timbers such as ash, pine and oak. Adding brass plated stair parts to your staircase creates an elegant, high-class appearance.

Metal balustrades are ideal if you are looking to create a striking contrast between contemporary and traditional, or an industrial look. Metal stair parts can be used in conjunction with both wood and glass. In fact, metal can add a modern, industrial look to a traditional looking staircase. 

Read our full guide to different metal stair parts here. 

Wooden balustrades

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.

Hardwood vs softwood

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:

• Softwood tends to be a more environmentally friendly choice than hardwood, as the trees grow much quicker and can be easily managed on timber plantations. Hardwoods, such as oak, take far longer to grow and are harder to cultivate.
• Some hardwoods, such as sapele, only grow in certain locations, whereas softwoods like pine can be grown in a variety of locations, which makes the wood more readily available and more affordable than hardwoods.
• Hardwoods tend to be more durable than softwoods so are less likely to dent and scratch or show other signs of wear and tear.
• Softwoods like pine and hemlock can be easily painted, allowing you to choose the finish of your choice for your décor. Although hardwoods can be painted, they are more expensive than softwood so most people prefer to retain their natural beauty.

Wood colour guide

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.

White Oak	Walnut	Sapele	Ash
Pine	Hemlock	White primed wood

White Oak	Walnut
Sapele	Ash
Pine	Hemlock
White primed wood

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.

Hardwood VS softwood

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.

We’ve outlined a few other points to consider: 

• Softwood tends to be a more environmentally friendly choice than hardwood, as the trees grow much quicker and can be easily managed on timber plantations. Hardwoods, such as oak, take far longer to grow and are harder to cultivate.
• Some hardwoods, such as sapele, only grow in certain locations, whereas softwoods like pine can be grown in a variety of locations, which makes the wood more readily available and more affordable than hardwoods.
• Hardwoods tend to be more durable than softwoods so are less likely to dent and scratch or show other signs of wear and tear.
• Softwoods like pine and hemlock can be easily painted, allowing you to choose the finish of your choice for your décor. Although hardwoods can be painted, they are more expensive than softwood so most people prefer to retain their natural beauty.

Click on the images below to find out more about each type of wood. This will help you choose your preferred hand rail, base rail and newel post wood shade. 

White oak

This material looks fantastic in its natural form, featuring a distinctive tiger stripe that often contains yellow flecks and rays. 

• Strong hardwood that will provide sturdy support
• Can be varnished to enhance the natural look or stained and painted as required. Our Treatex Hardwax Oil is designed to enhance the appearance of your wood.
• Considered a high-quality material and thus more expensive than alternatives. 

Walnut

Rich colour ranging from pale brown to deep chocolate with a visible dark brown grain. The grained texture is tight and straight. 

• Rich colour means it looks particularly good when varnished
• Works well in busy homes as dark woods hide scratches and chips well
• Since it's much darker than other woods, it can make a dramatic focal point when used for stair parts. 

Sapele

Reddish-brown, close textured hardwood. 

• Great strength and durability
• The ribbon-like striped grain looks great when varnished or polished

Ash

Straight, regular grain with minimum knots in attractive pale brown, sometimes with a red tinge. 

• Similar grain to oak
• One of the toughest hardwoods, able to absorb shocks without splintering

Pine

Knotty wood, ranging from creamy white to yellow with brown knots. 

• Resistant to shrinking and swelling, but can be prone to scratches and dents
• Over time it can gain patina, which gives it an aged look. Some people find this desirable, others may want to rectify the problem
• Versatile wood suitable for painting, staining and varnishing. Very easy to stain
• Pale colour makes it perfect for hallways with neutral tones
• One of the most sustainable woods available

Hemlock 

Hemlock is a straight grain, pale coloured timber without knots. 

• Non-resinous North African softwood
• Similar appearance to pine but without knots so provides clean-looking finish
• Stronger than many hardwoods and its high density means it will not split or break while being worked
• Ideal for staining and painting

White primed wood (Birch or Poplar)

White primed wood can be left white or finished in a colour of your choice. 

• Knot-free and can be sprayed white for a high-quality, even finish
• Birch in particular is extremely strong and resistant to warping, making it an ideal choice for stair parts

*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.

In the world of modern architecture and interior design, metal balustrades have emerged as a versatile and elegant choice for homeowners and designers alike. Take a look at our range of exquisite metal balustrades available below: 

• Distinctive black metal spindles make a great alternative to wrought iron, which is better suited to outdoor use and can also be heavy and expensive.
• Black metal provides a nice contrast against a wooden base and handrail and can be used to achieve both a modern and traditional look, depending on the style of the property.

• Matte finish as opposed to the high-shine finish of chrome.
• The matte finish hides dirt better than chrome.
• Suitable for both modern and traditional staircases, so opt for statement spindles or subtle detailing on wall brackets, sockets and end caps to add a contemporary twist to a traditional staircase.

• Chrome is a great choice if you want a highly polished finish.
• Chrome is reflective so can help brighten dark spaces.
• Used in conjunction with wooden handrails and spindles creates a sophisticated, industrial aesthetic.

• Luxurious gold shade.
• Often the metal of choice as it creates a sophisticated, warm feeling in the home.
• Brass can be effectively used to add detail to a balustrade, through brackets and decorative end caps.
• For a subtle effect, antique brass has a more muted colour with a less polished finish.

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.

Transform your staircase with our gorgeous stair balustrades at Jackson Woodturners. Explore a range of options from the warm, rich tones of wooden balustrades to the sleek, modern look of glass balustrades. We offer something to complement every style! 

At Jackson Woodturners, we encourage the use of various materials for your staircase. Our wooden balustrades beautifully complement our glass panels, offering a perfect blend of traditional and contemporary styles. Whether you're aiming to maintain your home's classic charm or create a more modern atmosphere, our team of professionals is here to bring your vision to life.

Get in touch with our team of stair experts today to learn more and start transforming your staircase!

How do I choose the right material for my balustrade?

We recommend that you consider factors such as: 

• Style of your home
• Budget
• Maintenance requirements
• Level of transparency or openness you desire.

What are the advantages of wooden balustrades? 

Wooden balustrades offer a classic, warm look that suits both traditional and rustic interiors. On top of this, they are also versatile, customisable and can be stained or painted to match your décor.

Are glass balustrades safe? 

Yes. Modern glass balustrades are designed to meet safety standards and are made from toughened or laminated glass, ensuring strength and durability.

How do I maintain different types of balustrade materials?

The maintenance requirements for your balustrade will vary depending on the material. Wooden balustrades may require periodic staining or sealing, while glass balustrades are easy to clean with glass cleaner and a soft cloth.

Can I combine different materials for my balustrade?

Absolutely. In fact, we recommend that you combine materials such as wood and glass as it can create a unique and visually appealing balustrade design. 

What should I consider when choosing a balustrade supplier?

Before choosing a supplier, we recommend that you consider the following:

• Experience
• Reputation
• Portfolio 

You’ll want to make sure that the company you select offers quality materials, expert advice and excellent customer support.