Top Designs for Steel Stair Railings

If you are planning to build a home, add on to your existing home, or your home could just use some sprucing up, there are a million ways you can achieve it. One of the best ways is to add some flair to your current steel stair railing with the materials found at Wasatch Steel. Here are some of the top designs that people today are using to bring their staircases to life.

Open Staircases
Your stairs don’t have to create dark corners where spider webs gather, if you have a smaller space or you just want to preserve some light and open area where your stairs are, you can build stair railings and staircases that let in the light. On these more modern designs it is often recommended that you use a clean and simple stair railing. Find the perfect pieces of steel with straight lines and beautiful finishes at Wasatch Steel.

Metal & Wood
Another design trend that many people are incorporating today is to match steel stair railings with wood designs. You can find spindles from Wasatch Steel, then top it off with a wooden railing, or use steel in between wooden balusters for a mix-and-match look that is both elegant and refined. If you have a more modern home, using a simple wood railing on top and basic, clean steel spindles below helps you preserve the minimalist look of your dwelling.

Metal & Glass
For an even more “modern” look, consider combining steel railings with glass. This chic design gives your home a minimalist quality that lets all the other elements in the room stand out. In addition it keeps the staircase looking clean with the ability to see through the glass all the way to the other side.  
Contemporary or Artistic
Stair railings can provide you with a great way to express your artistic side. In fact, finding steel spindles at Wasatch Steel is easy for the artist and the novice alike because we have an array of pre-fabricated and custom-designed spindles to choose from. You can come in and browse our huge selection or tell us what you would like your spindles to look like and we can customize them to your preferences. Whether you prefer whimsical or classic, modern or stately, we can help you find the one that best fits with your home’s artistic touches.

All Natural
Another popular design that many homeowners use is nature, and Wasatch Steel has a huge selection of spindles, railings, and balusters that express the nature lover in you. Whether you like trees, leaves, flowers, or other similar patterns, you can get them at the steel supermarket.

Before you build your next staircase, make sure that you visit the steel supermarket to browse through the selection we have and find the perfect design to complete your home or outdoor living space.

Which Stainless Steel Finish is Right for You?

There are many different types of stainless steel out there, and they provide a variety of different appearances, looks, and functionality depending on what you need for your project. If you are considering building with steel from Wasatch Steel, one consideration that you should also take into account is what kind of finish you will have on your steel. There are a lot of different choices when it comes to finish and it can impact the surface appearance as well as the steel’s ability to hold up in your environment, so here is a quick guide.

#0 (Zero) Finish
The number zero finish is an unrefined finish for steel and is only used in cases where the steel will be protected so it’s not subject to high levels of erosion, and where the final appearance is not as important.

#1 Finish
Cold-rolled metal is usually finished with a number 1 finish, and can be used as a “final” product if you are planning to have it for an industrial purpose. This leaves the steel looking dull and somewhat unpolished, much different from the stainless steel products that many consumers prefer. The mos common is 1D, a mill finish.

#2 Finishes
Number two finishes are extensively used for a wide variety of different applications. Finishes like 2D are mostly used for industrial applications, but 2B and 2BA are brighter and offer a better surface though still not completely blemish-free. They are still mill finishes, meaning they are standardized but not necessarily consumer-ready.

Other #2 finishes that require a little bit more processing are the mechanically polished and brushed finishes, including:
2G: uniform and one-directional surface with low reflectivity
2J: polished by belts or brushes and used for internal architecture
2K: smooth and reflective surface that is good for architecture, particularly building exteriors
2P: highly reflective and smooth, like a mirror, achieved with buffing and special polishing compounds.

Textured finishes that include designs are:
2M: texturing or design on just one side of the steel
2W: rolled or pressed patterns on both sides of the steel

#3 Finish
When you want a beautiful and complete look you will often use number three finishes, which are ground with abrasives so they have a completely uniform texture and look throughout.

#4 Finish
For products that will hold up under significant wear and tear, a #4 finish is preferred. It doesn’t provide you with the bright, polished “mirror” look of some other steel, but it does include great corrosion resistance. For that reason it’s beneficial for kitchen appliances.

#6, #7, and #8 Finishes
These three higher-level finishes can give you either a satin look (#6), a mirror-like surface from buffing tools (#7) or a completely blemish-free mirror surface (#8) for products that must have the highest level of cosmetic appeal.

Painted Finish
One other option is to get a color finish with paint or other coatings. Products at Wasatch Steel are great for painting because steel can hold color well over a long period of time. If you’re looking for something you can paint, talk to the experts at Wasatch Steel today.

6 Places You See Steel Every Day

We use a lot of different things on a daily basis, but there are few materials in life that are as important as steel. It affects our daily lives in so many different ways, and has become so prevalent in our society that you may not even notice it anymore. While we live and breathe steel at Wasatch Steel, we thought you might be interested to learn six ways that you probably use steel regularly, if not every day.

1: Vehicles
Just about everyone owns a vehicle these days, and if you have a car, truck, van, or other mode of transportation, chances are it is made of steel. It has been used in car manufacturing since they were first built in the early 1900’s, and today about 60 percent of the average vehicle is made of steel. The reason car manufacturers like steel is its light weight (for better MPG) combined with tremendous strength to protect the occupants of a car in case of an accident. Federal regulations require that the roof of a vehicle is able to handle at least three times the car’s total weight to protect in case of a rollover, and the only metal durable enough, light enough, and affordable enough is steel.

2: Residential Buildings
Many homes are built with wood frames, but today there are an increasing number of homes being built with steel frames. Since pretty much all steel can be recycled, many homes are made of recycled cars or other materials. Steel can also be used in the roofing material, and metal roofing is designed to last about 3 times longer than traditional asphalt shingles.

3: Transportation
The roads and bridges that you travel on every day are often made of steel. It is the perfect material for transportation because it provides high tensile strength and can support a significant amount of weight without bending or breaking. The Golden Gate bridge, a famous landmark, was made with 83,000 tons of steel (although technological advancements today would only require about half that much).

4: Commercial Buildings
Many office buildings today are designed with steel beams for their support. These beams make it possible to construct very tall buildings that include large open spans without needing additional support structures inside. Steel from Wasatch Steel provides great strength capacity as well as durability so commercial structures last a long time.  

5: Stairs
If you’re considering building a staircase in your home, steel is often used for the stair railings. It can be molded and shaped into many different designs so you get beautiful and durable railings for your home.  

6: Artwork
Finally steel is often used in artwork and provides a great option because it comes in so many different shapes, patinas, colors, and sizes. It can be painted or shaped for whatever use you might need, creating some of the most beautiful and durable artwork out there.


To find the steel you need, visit the steel supermarket at Wasatch Steel today.