We have seen so many staircases in our life. Sure, they’re neat things; they help us get up from a building storey to another. Well, sometimes we dread them, when we’re clicking in heels or simply too tired to climb flights up. (Thanks to elevators and escalators, staircases don’t have our full attention now.)

When we’re thinking of getting a staircase built, we usually have design dilemmas. We can’t just whip out a picture at a magazine and tell our contractor to build an exact replica and just superimpose it in our home. We have to look into details, right?

One of the most baffling decisions that we will make is about the material that we use for our balusters. Balusters are the bars which hold the weight of the staircase railing. They are like support posts. They also can be decorated with carvings or other embellishments (for the more adventurous ones) and at times, they can really define a beautifully made staircase.

Two balustrade materials fight: iron or wood?

If you’re going for a classic, regal and old-fashioned look, wood balusters is a good choice for you. They can easily fit in at homes in the country, or zen-inspired contemporary homes or condominium units. Wood demands more maintenance though. You might have to use wood hardener often and polish it regularly. Also, you might want to keep a wood-repair liquid just in case.

If you’re more contemporary or going for vintage, iron balusters will serve you well. Iron is more sturdy and more amenable with contemporary design. They mix well with embellishments, other forms of metals and even glass. They do not need a lot of maintenance. Iron balusters are great for outdoor staircase material also.

You may visit Stair Warehouse for a quick look-see on the baluster choices.