Aluminum vs. Concrete, Wood and Steel
Concrete and wood stairs are low in material cost, but take more time to build and install than prefabricated metal stairs. In addition, both concrete and wood have to be sealed regularly to protect them over time. This ongoing routine maintenance adds cost over the long term. It’s also impossible to remove and relocate concrete and wood stairs when the structure they are attached to needs to be moved.
Steel stairs can be installed more quickly than wood or concrete, but they are heavy to ship and move and not so easy to modify. Again, ongoing maintenance is an issue; the steel has to be painted (and repainted) to protect the metal from the elements.
Aluminum stairs, on the other hand, offer several key advantages. Aluminum produces its own natural layer of aluminum oxide that protects it from the elements. If scratched or scuffed, the oxide layer will automatically repair itself. The stairs can be used as-is and need no scraping, sanding, painting, staining, or additional finishing to maintain their appearance.
Modular walkways, ramps and stairs can be put together quickly. They arrive ready to assemble without welding, and can be adjusted to conform to slopes and site variations. They can be disassembled, moved and reassembled in a new location or reconfigured as required. As a result of aluminum’s high strength-to-weight ratio, aluminum stairs are lightweight and less costly to ship than steel systems.
Advantages of aluminum stairs and ramps:
- Adjustable height
- Lightweight but durable
- Portable and reusable
- Rust and corrosion resistant
- Will not split, rot or warp
- Slip-resistant walking surface
- Virtually maintenance-free
- OSHA or BOCA, ADA, local, federal and state code compliant
- Infinitely recyclable
- 6061 and 6061-T6 Aluminum
The common grades of commercial 6061 aluminum are 6061-0, 6061-T4, and 6061-T6; however, tempers up to -T9 are produced. At Hydro Extrusions, we produce 6061 aluminum in a wide selection of tempers for use in standard and custom solid and hollow shapes, rod and bar products and seamless and structural pipe and tube, for use in an extensive variety of applications.
6061-T6 aluminum properties include its structural strength and toughness. It also offers good finishing characteristics and responds well to anodizing. 6061 aluminum alloy is also easily welded and joined. However, in its –T6 condition the welds may lose some strength, which can be restored by re-heat-treating and artificially aging.
Sustainability
Aluminum is one of the most sustainable materials in use today. The Aluminum Association estimates that nearly 75 percent of all aluminum ever produced is still in use today.
The metal can be endlessly recycled, losing none of its properties during the recycling process. And the recycling process takes only 5% of the energy required to produce virgin aluminum. This makes aluminum a valuable scrap metal when the time comes to recycle an aluminum stair or ramp. Building access products made from aluminum meet the sustainability guidelines of the U.S. Green Building Council and can qualify for LEED credits.
Hydro Extrusion is the world’s largest soft alloy aluminum extruder. Our facilities are certified to ISO 9001:2015 and feature in-house die making facilities to serve your custom extrusion needs.
Our REDD Team design, application, engineering, and manufacturing specialists are ready to assist you with modular aluminum stairs, ramps and walkways to meet your access needs.