While polished concrete floors are becoming more and more popular, polished concrete stairs are less often seen. Properly installed and polished, a concrete staircase can transform the look of a building. Split level spaces can be made to look great by connecting the polished concrete floor to the upper level in a seamless way.
To install a concrete staircase formwork is created to pour the concrete into. Once the concrete has begun to harden, the surfaces are hand trowelled. This continues the surface appearance seen on the floor. After a period of curing time the stairs can be polished at the same time as the floor.
These pictures were taken at a residential property where we installed polished concrete stairs. The form of the steps is mirrored on the reverse of the staircase. Low level lighting was installed on both side walls. This helps to create layers of light which refract off the polished surface of the staircase.
Polished concrete stairs are an impressive architectural feature. They provide a focus for rooms and add to the modern aesthetic concrete creates. They are an investment of time and money, though, and should be added to architectural plans at a very early stage.
A staircase can be built into a wide variety of shapes, including curves and corners. It is suitable for residential or commercial buildings, provided there is enough space to accommodate it. Before it is decided upon, we suggest that any clients ask their architects or designers to provide them with 3d renderings of how the building will look.
A polished concrete staircase can help to transform a building into a modern, dramatic space with immediate visual impact. If you, or your client, are interested in polished concrete stairs as part of your project please contact us for more information.