Here’s why a stainless steel balustrade remains the balustrading choice that protects the environment, is low in maintenance and saves you money
If you’re in the market for a balustrade for your new building, you have many aspects to consider. How the balustrade material will affect the environment. Whether the product will be low in maintenance. And in today’s uncertain economy, price plays a large role in your decision. Stainless steel balustrades may have been around for over 30 years, but it remains a classic for many reasons.
The impact a stainless steel balustrade has on the environment
Simply stated, none. By choosing stainless steel instead of mild steel as the material of choice for your balustrade design, you’re inherently specifying a material that is environmentally friendly. In addition it is also 100% recyclable which has a positive effect on the environment because there is no requirement to extract new minerals from the earth each time you manufacture stainless steel. What’s more is that there is no negative effects to the quality of the material. Stainless steel is not coated with toxic materials compared to mild steel and it will not produce toxic run-off like mild steel does when it starts to corrode due to exposure to water and environmental elements. These toxic run-offs contaminate the ground and water that it is exposed to.
The life cycle of a stainless steel balustrade
Due to the non-corrosive properties of stainless steel. When used as the material of choice to fabricate a balustrade, you are ensured of a life time of durability and quality. By using the correct grade of stainless steel for your application, you contractor must be able to prove the origin of the stainless grade and should also provide you with a lifetime guarantee on the stainless steel material itself.
Why a stainless steel balustrade is low in maintenance
Stainless steel demands very little maintenance due to its corrosion resistant properties. No corrosion protection is required. When a stainless steel balustrade is manufactured correctly to ensure that welding and drilling is finished to standard, stainless steel balustrades will require a quick and easy wash with a gentle soap and water mixture. The rule of thumb is to wash your balustrade as often as you wash your windows to keep dust and environmental particles from collecting on the rails. It is important however that a contractor is qualified and experienced to work with stainless steel, as the alternative could result in untidy welding and drilling and these poorly finished areas become collection areas for dust and environmental particles to collect in that will eventually cause what is called ‘tea-staining’. This is not rust, but it will require a tougher cleaning regimen and could require the owner to call a balustrade contractor in to fix and clean the untidy surfaces. The challenge is that when stainless steel is fabricated poorly in the beginning, it is very hard to repair it afterwards.
Why a stainless steel balustrade will save you money
The initial cost of stainless steel is more than that of mild steel, however when the life cycle of stainless steel and the minimal maintenance costs are taken into account, then a stainless steel balustrade will save you money in the long run. It is crucial for a quantity surveyor to take long term maintenance and life cycle costs into account when budgeting for a balustrade design.
The safety of a stainless steel balustrade
All balustrade installations are required by law to come with a Form 3 Engineers sign off to ensure the structural safety of the system. Stainless steel will offer you a life time of safety and durability if it is installed by a professional and if it is designed and tested in consultation with a registered, professional, structural engineer. Although, if a mild steel balustrade is specified at the beginning of the project and the balustrade contractor supplies a Form 3 Engineers sign off for the installation, it is crucial that ongoing checks and maintenance are done to the mild steel balustrade as corrosion will undoubtedly affect the structural quality of the balustrade system and if not maintained properly could result in failure of the balustrade, causing serious injury or even death. It is very important to consider the maintenance and the costs thereof when buying a mild steel balustrade because of the initial saving on the project. No maintenance to a mild steel balustrade will result in failure of the balustrade.
Now that environmental concerns, maintenance and price has been addressed, there is nothing stopping you from having the latest design in a stainless steel balustrade for your new building.
Here’s what one of our recently satisfied clients have to say about their balustrades:
“Building a new home from scratch is not an easy task. The burden of making sure that everything is done properly and correctly by all parties involved takes its toll on one’s physical & mental wellbeing. That is why when I encountered Yash & Hendri from Steel studio, it felt like a huge burden had been taken off my shoulders. While searching on the internet for installers of steel balustrades for my new home at Waterfall City, I came across Steel studio. I spoke to Yash who immediately allayed my fears & worries. He was entirely professional and extremely polite and helpful. Yash came over to my place, gave me a quotation & ensured that I was getting the best service available from the industry. We had steel balustrades installed on our balcony outside, on our staircase inside the house as well as glass balustrades installed around our pool area. We had an additional security gate installed to prevent our little kids from accidentally falling down the stairs. The entire process was quick, easy & extremely convenient, thanks to Yash & Hendri. And it was the cheapest of all the quotes I had received from other installers & manufacturers of steel balustrades. Well done guys & keep up the good work”. S.Desai, October 2018
Choose a stainless steel balustrade that last forever. Speak to one of our qualified sales executives on 011-608-1963 or email sales@steelstudio.co.za. Let us help you design a balustrade that will not only achieve your aesthetic requirements but will also ensure your safety.
PS: Always go to an expert when working with stainless steel. You’ll be glad you did.