What is the best wood to use for stairs?

A new wooden staircase can transform your hallway and give your entire property a lift. Even replacing the handrail will make a world of difference to the appearance of your home, and of course, it’s much faster and cheaper than installing an entire set of stairs.

However, choosing which materials to use is not always easy. We take a look at some of the different types of wood available for building stairs.

scandinavian pine

Also known as European redwood, this pale yellow softwood is produced on renewable plantations, making it a good environmental choice. Attractive and affordable, with a knotty appearance that adds character, pine is ideal for anyone on a budget. And of course, if you intend to carpet or paint your staircase, you may feel there is no point in spending on expensive materials that will only cover up.

southern yellow pine

This is the largest, hardest, and strongest type of pine; in fact, harder than many hardwoods. Southern Yellow Pine is a durable, sustainable, and cost-effective wood with an attractive golden color and a distinctive large grain pattern. Grown abundantly in the southern US, it is ideal for stairs, floors, and furniture.

hemlock

An attractive and versatile softwood with a soft sheen, hemlock has a straight, light-colored grain that can be varnished a rich gold color. Plus, it’s virtually knot-free and easy to work with. This makes it a great substitute for more expensive woods like oak or ash, so it’s worth considering if your budget is tight. Hemlock can also be stained, varnished, or painted.

Oak

There are various types of oak, with white oak being the best choice for stairs. Prized for its strength and durability, it has a beautiful knotless grain that never seems to go out of style. In fact, white oak is so dense that it is almost waterproof, which is why it is used to make, among other things, boats, wine barrels and outdoor furniture.

Another advantage of white oak is that the grain is very stable, with little variation in pattern and hue. This makes it easy to combine new stairs with existing oak accessories such as skirting, floors and doors. It also very easily accepts wood treatments.

There are two main sources of white oak: the United States and Europe. American white oak is more widely available, and therefore less expensive, with a straight grain and pale biscuit color. European oak has a slightly darker golden honey hue with a distinctive wavy grain pattern.

Ash

This premium hardwood is even stronger than oak, with a mostly straight grain and attractive colors ranging from cream to pale brown. The most abundant type is the American white ash. Heavy, hard and very resistant to shock, it is an excellent step for stairs. Because it has an open grain, ash is very flexible so it can be shaped to produce a variety of curved stair parts.

sapele

This reddish-brown hardwood resembles mahogany and is actually in the same family. With a distinctive tight interlocking grain, it provides a strong, cost-effective alternative for use on furniture, floors and cabinets, as well as stairs. Sapeli is harder and more stable than mahogany, with a dense structure that is highly resistant to rot and almost completely waterproof. This makes it ideal for both outdoor and indoor use.

idigbo

Originally from West Africa, idigbo is a pale yellowish-brown hardwood with a variable grain that can be straight, slightly irregular, or interlocked. It is often chosen as an inexpensive alternative to oak and can be stained, varnished or painted. Although idigbo is not as durable as oak, it offers a good level of strength with little shrinkage and can be shaped to produce attractive curved stair parts.

Nut

There are several types of walnut, but the most used in the construction of stairs is the American black walnut. Strong and stable, this premium hardwood has a mostly straight grain and ranges in color from dark chocolate to pale brown. Black walnut is expensive but versatile and extremely strong. It can be carved into elaborate shapes, making it ideal for intricate stair components such as balusters, scrollwork, and newel finials.