Marble has always been considered as a valuable material for use in homes and other building projects. It has been a sought-after material because of its beauty, strength, and resistance to fire and erosion.

Ancient civilizations made good use of marble in their buildings, monuments, palaces, churches and statues. This durable stone is commonly utilized for flooring, countertops, backsplashes, and staircase steps and treads.

Basic Facts In Designing Staircases

Staircase steps consist of a sequence of risers and treads. Treads are the sloping part between intermittent steps and risers are the part your toe bumps. Treads and risers should be structurally sound, flat, dry, clean, and smooth. They may be an exterior or interior applications. When designing steps and staircases, it is important to ensure that the dimensions of treads and risers are regular.

The steps should be uniform, as uneven staircase steps can generally make people trip up. In order to fashion uniform steps evenly, you need to divide up the total height of the stairs to determine the height of the riser. Stair treads are generally custom-fabricated from large stones such as marble, and risers are generally custom-fabricated but occasionally are simply cut from field tiles.

The Use Of Marble For Stair Treads And Rises Is Increasing

Due to its immense natural beauty, marble is used widely for making treads and risers in stairs. Some materials are called "unfading", which means that these flooring materials would be able to hold their basic color even after many years of exterior use.

Others materials are "weathering" or "semi-weathering", which indicates that they will change color when used outside. A marble stones' weathering characteristic is primarily an aesthetic consideration. Artfully designed doors, stonework and pillars can add an air of elegance to homes. In making a unique and classical expression, some homeowners choose the classic design element of a grand staircase as a centerpiece in foyers.

According to some home design experts, standard stairways for maybe an 8-foot high ceiling and probably with 14-foot risers, would cost anywhere between $5,000 and $15,000, and more homeowners are going to this high-end option. Experts observed that in many cases people are designing their own stairways to compliment their personal taste and preferences, saying "It's not just in how the stairway looks; it's how they're crafted as well".

Maintenance Tips For Marble Stairs

When marble tiles and materials are placed outside, is not meant to be shiny, it will not resist. In restoring a marble stair's gloss and shine, it is very possible and you will get a surprising result when done professionally. You can also do it yourself if you have the tools such as grinders.

Sand down a marble tile with the roughest grit to remove old material quickly until you are left with a smooth even finish. then you move up in grit, one number at a time (for example 40, 60, 80, 100, 200, 400) until you get the finish you are looking for. With marble tiles, when you get to 400 -800, you will start to see the shine. After doing this, apply a penetrating sealer to the tiles.

The best way to keep marble stairs clean and constantly shiny, is to incorporate removal of dirt, grit, and other materials that are brought in from outdoors. Most of these substances can cause very minute scratches on the surface of your marble, over time can become noticeable. It would be best to make sure that the surface of the marble is cleaned using a damp cloth, soft broom, or vacuum as regularly as possible.

Cleaning up liquid spills immediately is a good practice, especially if these fluids are acidic in nature. Fruit juice, as well as coffee and red wine may cause permanent spots, since they have a tendency to stain. Even if you've sealed your marble, it's a good idea not to take any chances, and quickly clear spills right away. In addition, remember not to use bleach, vinegar, or any harsh acidic-based cleaners, as these solutions will will degrade the surface of your marble over time.