CONCRETE STEPS BY THE PLATINUM TEAM
Choosing the building materials for structures is just as important as designing them. There are many available materials one could use for their next building project: wood, metal, stone, brick. But concrete is one of the most common building materials used, and for good reason: it’s affordable, accessible, and durable.
Improve the exterior of your home with the construction of steps. Concrete is an excellent material for steps as it is strong and durable and requires less maintenance. Some of the benefits of concrete steps are:
- Economic, Universal, Low Maintenance
Concrete can be bought almost anywhere, and is arguably the cheapest among building materials. Unlike wood, stone, or marble, broken concrete can easily be repaired or replaced, while other materials are costlier and would require one to buy from the same source in order to preserve uniformity. Concrete does not require constant or regular polishing and cleaning, nor does it need special maintenance methods; one could simply pressure wash or mop concrete stairs to clean them. - Durable and Fire Resistant
Concrete is a safe option. It can handle heavy loads and high impact, whereas other less durable and more expensive materials such as stone, wood, or marble could break, bend, or crack. Additionally, concrete is fire-resistant, which is why it is often used for fire exit stairwells. Unlike metal/steel, concrete does not rust when exposed to moisture, nor does it warp, expand, or splinter like wood. Concrete can handle vibrations just as well, and is effective in soundproofing, making it ideal for hospital or school staircases. Concrete can retain heat, making it easier to heat stairwells and reduce the cost for heating, and can withstand almost all climates and seasons - Easily Installed and Molded
Concrete is easy to use and easy to mold, and does not require skilled or specialized labor. This makes concrete both convenient and versatile. It is also much easier to fit handrails into concrete. Furthermore, concrete can be reinforced with steel bars to improve its durability and handle heavier loads and impact. Other companies offer precast concrete steps to allow fast and effortless installation and construction of concrete stairs. Precast concrete steps also eliminate the huge disadvantage of concrete-step-making, which means waiting for concrete to harden and limiting construction when it rains. Concrete also allows the embedding of pipes within it. - Customizability
People often worry that concrete seems plain and dull, but it can easily be customized. One could also opt to cover the concrete with tiles, or simply paint them over. Concrete stairs can also be coated with epoxy to be more durable, and aesthetically pleasing. Concrete on its own may look plain, but it is relatively more customizable than marble or wood, and could even be customized to look like marble (faux marble concrete). It can also be used with other materials, oftentimes to serve as durable base/foundation. Basically, concrete can be molded, colored, and textured to fit any design.
