Wooden staircases are magnificent in many households. The flexibility and design potential of wood works in any home from modern to rustic. But when it comes to selection, one must wonder what wood type is best for stairs?
Here are some suggestions on wood for your stairs:
- Pine
- Oak
- Birch
- Cedar
- Fir
Below, we will tell you why we selected these woods. Also, we will notify you of the different advantages of each wood type.
Why is Pine Good for Stairs?
As softwood, pine is an excellent wood to select for stairs in your home. Pine is a wood that is readily available and relatively inexpensive. It’s also easy to stain, which results in a wide variety of design opportunities.
The drawbacks come from the wood type we are dealing with: softwood. Softwood is much easier to scratch than hardwood. Pine is also pretty common, so this won’t be a unique part of your home.
Why is Oak Good for Stairs?
Oaks, specifically white oaks, are beloved because of their medium brown coloring. The unique color makes it a great talking point for your household. Still, it doesn’t make it easier to stain if you are looking for flexibility.
This wood is also solid with rot resistance, and it is somewhat easier to handle with woodworking tools. That means if you need to make any post-installation modifications, it will be pretty easy compared to other types of wood. Expect the “ease of use” features to come with extra cost.
Why is Birch Good for Stairs?
Birch trees typically range from a white color to a whitish-yellow color. The result may not be appealing to some preferences, but it provides a bright coloring to your stairs.
Birch is beloved because it is a heavy and strong wood that is better at scuff resistance. Because of this, they are in furniture and violin bows. They are also just as effective on the surfaces of your stairs.
Why is Cedar Good for Stairs?
Cedar trees are typically softwood that isn’t best for painting. However, these are excellent in outdoor projects due to their rot resistance and resistance against insects.
The wood also doesn’t require the typical pre-treatments, allowing them to shorten build time in the right situations. The deep color is also appealing to many groups.
Why is Fir Good for Stairs?
Fir trees are useful due to their ease of use in working with stains, glues, and nails. They also finish pretty well, making them usable as construction lumber for a large variety of projects.
Their use as construction lumber makes them a natural fit for stairs. Given they are a bit less common than pine, expect a bit of a price difference.
Final Thoughts
There are many different types of wood globally, but the five above are arguably the best wood types for stairs. Whatever you choose for your wood staircases, ensure you get the right professionals to ensure that it’s a good fit.