look at hard woods like ipe or tiger wood all decking materials have there pros and cons even composite

Use Trex and PVC material railings, looks great and more time for fun!

Materials to replace your staircase depends on your budget. You most likely can get the best value by using a combination of treated lumber and pvc (azek or equivalnet) blausters, railings, skirt and trimboards, which a good carpenter can make look fantastic. Please remember that All deck material requires maintenance, whether you use wood, pvc or composite. While you are doing the work, you might also consider, if you can and you don't violate any side setback issues, making the platform wider at the top so you have a little more room coming out the door. It appears a little tight.

Another shot of the front facade might help as far as style goes. I don't generally like a banister across the front of the door and the railing next to house doesn't seem right either. I'd rather see the steps go straight on:

Maybe a iron railing would be less imposing: and

Seems a shame to lose such a lovely stair but I guess the elements affect it too much to restore adequately. That said, there are some amazing marine-grade paint finishes available that would handsomely reward the large amount of sweat-equity required to bring the stair back to its former glory. If it isn't original to the home, I guess it matters less but I do think it's a pretty thing. Black iron looks great too but means a complete replacement of everything. I know Teak is available over there and it is extremely durable, but it releases oil that doesn't offer good adhesion for paint .... of course, the "type" of wood is less important than the finish, but local experts will know vastly more than me! BTW I am in Australia

Thank you all for commenting. We can not change the design due to setbacks. Plus, the steps go down to a side driveway, instead of directly into street. Here are a few more shots from other angles:

We have ipe on our Victorian’s wrap-around front porch, which matches the style of the house, but ugh… edges look shabby one year after refinishing.

Refinishing our front porch:
http://wp.me/p36IiD-Ka

Aesthetically wood might be nice -- first person suggested ipe… but my personal experience with the stuff is that it’s still in need of plenty of maintenance! I’d go with something like trex, if retaining a certain style isn’t an issue.

Interesting that you find ipe needs plenty of maintenance. We have had ours through hot summers and freezing cold winters - never had to touch it! (Admittedly all wood products have a lifespan - but ipe is meant to last up to 20 years)

Ipe will gray out over time it's like patina but on wood you can resand and bring it back to it original state . Like said they have pros and cons with would you will have to refiinish every 3 to 5 years if you use a stain on it , and clean every year or when needed . With composites and PVC decking you will also need to wash every year it will fade after about three years and keep fading some composites you can refinish with stain but others you can't

Maybe on an area where it’s equally exposed to the elements, the deterioration would be less noticeable…

We have a covered front porch, and the outer third gets hit with all-day sun/rain… the difference is very unappealing. (to me)

I had the identical problem. Any porch paint peeled and chipped as soon as a snow shovel was used. Replaced the frame with pressure treated wood and then applied TREX in a colour to match the house brick on treads. Added faux stone sheets to sides of porch to hide frame. Then added aluminum railings prepainted in beige. A no maintenance solution with a classy look. It has been two years and I am very happy with results.

Melanie Goldhar do you have any pictures you care to share? That sounds very nice. Would love to see how it turned out.

As an elderly person I find your steps to be quite daunting - they are steep and too many. The risers look to be 8"
high - using a 6' riser would look less forbidding. If there is room could you have an L shaped staircase with a
small landing half way up? As with most of the writers, I would go with trex as it is easy to maintain a clean look.

Rebuild in concrete?

Here is a photo of the steps. I agree with a landing half way if your architecture allows. Mine did not.

My understanding is that Trex gets so hot, you can't even hold the railings. Since yours would be in the sun all day, this could be a serious issue.

Not if you install a smaller graspable handrail just inside and under the wide tree piece, plus it's probably needed for code.

Sorry, trex piece.

What I take from all this discussion is that one size doesn't fit all . there's pros and cons to wood and composites . I would cost both of them out and see which makes the most sense for your situation

check out deckdepot.com for some railing ideas...I have used them a number of times and couldn't be happier with the products and service

trex and pvc is the way to go. We too are close to the ocean and we have keep up on the maintance factor to keep it looking nice, so we just re did ours with stone steps, pvc rails, and trex deck. ALL done and happy. Nor cheap deal but worth it in the long run...

I have trex steps in the sun all day and they are cooler than the flagstone path they march down to.

We have trex on our decks at our cabin. There is no problem with overheating.

Go with the trex. Function first. It would look great to continue the vertical lines below the landing into the rails for the landing, which will give you a sleeker look.

Look at Zuri - It is amazing close to the ocean and holds up well. I have seen it put near the ocean where the tide actually covers it twice a day with no fading and no wear. Excellent product.

http://zuri.royalbuildingproducts.com/

Trex is your best bet. We have lived in the mountains and by the beach....it can weather it all! Go with a color that matched the house and contrast with the white bannister.

Watched "Sarah's House" last night and saw a very nice use of combined brown and white for a stair. Balusters and risers, stringers etc. all white, with brown treads and handrail. Really looked beautiful and a clever use of standard "builder's range" products to great effect

We replaced a young but badly splintering and cupping cedar deck floor with the original Trex 15 years ago. We went with a custom iron rail in square stock. The rail has been repainted once but the deck only needs a good cleaning once a year. We don't have salt to deal with just Texas sun all day long. THe product does get hot but anything would in this place. We noticed TREX replacing board walks at the National Seashore on Cape Cod before we went with the product.

we replaced our deck with ipe wood with tile on the risers-look beautiful.

Update: I am interested in feedback on the attached photos. The first has white vinyl but has brown/black balusters. The second is a picture of a home nearby that also used darker balusters instead of stark white. Thoughts on how this would look in my front?

The black tubes give a business/commercial look, rather than a residential effect. The picture on left is more attractive.

Wire mesh panels are another option to consider. We invite you to browse examples in our Houzz Ideabooks and check out product information about McNICHOLS® Wire Mesh on our website: http://www.mcnichols.com/products/wire-mesh

There's the possibility of stone steps. It will last over time and is not much more of a cost then wood decks.

You can also play off your existing stone and with all the different types of stones and colors these days you can create a fun and beautiful look.

You definitely need a front porch or stoop with a roof. If you add a front porch roof that also covers the
steps, you might have better luck with wood steps lasting longer. Also,
instead of painting the steps, use treated wood lumber and treat with
CWF -- repeating treating them every few years as needed. Shed roof porch across the entire front of the home ... like this (gable over the door) extending the gable out over the steps, too:

http://www.front-porch-ideas-and-more.com/images/front-porch-pictures-4.jpg

If you don't want to add a front porch with roof, do consider removing the shrubs and building at least a concrete block landing about 6'x6' not more than one comfortable step below floor level. You can buy ready made concrete block steps so see what is available and know the height from the hard dirt beneath where the steps will sit or the pad/sidewalk you'll be pouring there before you decide on the exact height of your landing.

http://www.actonprecast.com/actonprecast/UserFiles/image/3%20Rise%20-%202.jpg

Try to aim the steps straight forward out from the house if you use the one piece step set.

http://www.deltactuckpointing.us/concrete/Concrete%20Steps%20-%20After.jpg

If you're going to build steps with concrete blocks, you could begin the steps on the side of the stoop and create a landing and then turn them steps forward.