Whatever the building, but the staircase in it, one way or another, is present. This can be an attic option in a private house, a high porch in a large building, or an interstorey staircase in a country house, office or any other room.
But, one way or another, any multi-level structure is equipped with handrails, which we first look for with our own eyes for the convenience of lifting.
Now very often you can find chrome-plated stair rails, which is not surprising. After all, the times when this part fulfilled only its functional purpose have long been in the past. They were replaced by aesthetics, beauty, style and design of any room, which makes one think about the design of street staircases and the interior.
In any administrative or residential building, you can find stainless steel railings with wood or glass inserts, with original additions in the form of decor and even painting, and all of them, in addition to strength, have a number of advantages:
- Chrome handrails for stairs differ from wood or others in their durability and strength. This coating is resistant to any whims of nature and does not change its appearance from frequent contact with hands.
- Such fences can be used anywhere - in office premises, in apartments with several levels, in kindergartens, in country houses, saunas, swimming pools and any entertainment complex.
- If you wish, you can buy railings of any shape or make them to order, and even the price that is available to almost everyone should not scare away such luxury, since any high-quality handrails are simply necessary for stairs, and if they are additionally made in a colorful design, then this is good news.
And no matter what kind of staircase you have in your house or office - spiral, stone or wooden, chrome plating of some details for it will only add a colorful look and elegance, and the interior of any room will look slightly different than before the alteration.
How is chrome plating of parts
Any chrome tube or handrail looks just great and is pleasing to the eye. The details of the handrails and fences, rubbed to a charming shine, give the staircase a simply enchanting appearance and make it the main detail of any interior. So how do the craftsmen achieve this and where is the instruction for applying chrome to any part you like?
In practice, mainly two methods of chrome plating are used:
- Diffusion method - the smallest particles of chromium are applied to the surface.
- Electrolyte method - application of chromium under the influence of electrolyte.
Note!
After applying chrome plating, any surface becomes much harder and additionally receives protection from corrosion.
Application process
The technology has the following structure:
- thorough cleaning of all parts from excess dirt and dust;
- preparation of the entire process;
- immersion of parts in a container with an electrolyte solution;
- connection to the electrical network;
- exposure of parts in solution to the desired state.
Advice!
If you decide to carry out the chrome plating process with your own hands, then it is imperative to follow all safety precautions, since this process is quite dangerous for inexperienced craftsmen and can cause harm to health.
Differences between chrome and stainless steel
Many people, oddly enough, do not see much of the external difference between stainless steel and chrome plating. So what's the difference here?
The chrome-plated railing of the stairs shines very brightly and has a pleasant mirror shine.But, looking at it from the other side, the physical qualities of chrome are in many ways inferior to steel handrails and railings.
Most often, all sorts of alloys and black steel and any coating are chrome-plated, especially on stair railings, over time, it is erased from frequent contact with human hands. Sadly, it is no longer possible to restore this layer and you have to change it completely, or remove the part and give it to specialists for restoration.
Steel coating is not afraid of shock or temperature extremes and will last for many years, but it costs much more than chrome and therefore is used much less often. Mainly in large institutions, office buildings, theaters and stadiums.
Note: chrome, although not durable, is much cheaper and can be replaced with a new one at any time.
Steel handrails are installed for centuries and it is simply not profitable to use this product at home from a financial point of view and from the point of view of decor, which is difficult to change.
How do you put it all together?
Chrome stairs are always not only pleasant, but also of high quality and beautiful. How does the assembly of all structural parts go together? Balusters made of steel or metal are assembled quite simply and even a beginner can do such a process. They are not welded, like some other metal products, and are easily attached to each other.
All individual parts of the railing structure are inserted into one another and are securely connected with the help of special screws and rivets. For naked joints, there are rings that decorate the entire model, and at the same time hide unnecessary elements of the staircase from the general view.
Any railing with chrome finish can be easily changed to a new one and you don't have to be a professional. The photo shows that chrome is in perfect harmony with the furnishings of the apartment and complements some of the interior elements with its brilliance. (see also the article Interior of a hallway with a staircase - ideas and rules)
If you wish, you can easily change the entire style in your home by ordering or buying new handrails or railings that play an important role in the decor of any room.In the video presented in this article, you will find additional information on this topic.
Output
Chrome-plated railings and railings can be installed anywhere - indoors or outdoors. They differ from wood and plastic in high wear resistance.
It is thanks to these technical characteristics that they can often be found in crowded places - at the airport, in a shopping center, at a train station or in a bank. This coating does not undergo any corrosion, and is completely neutral to weather conditions such as rain, snow, frost or bright sun.
