Installing a brand-new staircase? Maybe you're looking to revamp your current balustrade by replacing old or worn stair spindles, newel posts, and handrails. These elements come in a vast range of material types and finishes, with two of the most popular material choices being white-primed timber and oak. Each offers its unique benefits, but which is the most suitable match for your home or project?
Throughout this blog, we explore the advantages of both white-primed and oak stair components to help you decide which to invest in.
What's the difference between white-primed and oak parts for stairs?
Although both are timber materials, there are several differences between the two.
White-primed stair parts
As the name suggests, white-primed staircase parts are timber components coated in a white primer that provides a smooth base for a final layer of paint. There's no need to smooth and sand pre-primed stair parts, as they arrive prepped and ready for painting. White-primed spindles, handrails and newel posts can be made from a variety of different woods, such as Brazilian pine, which offers great quality and durability, giving you peace of mind that your new fittings will stand the test of time.
Benefits of white-primed stair parts
Primed stair parts are budget-friendly
Economically, pre-primed components are a fantastic choice due to their lower costs, making installing a new staircase or simply refreshing your existing one a highly affordable task - especially in comparison to oak, which is more expensive.
Whether you need a full set of new spindles or a new handrail, you can do it on a budget with primed stair products.
They're primed for painting
One of the most significant selling points of a white primed finish is its readiness for painting, which is perfect if colour is essential to the overall style of your staircase. Thanks to the prepped surface of each spindle or newel post, you can easily create your bespoke look by colouring your stairs to your unique tastes - from vibrant pinks and bohemian turquoise to contemporary grey or black, the choice is entirely yours.
Or, you can simply leave them as white stair parts if you prefer a clean and modern look that makes your stairway feel brighter.
Can be repainted for a cost-effective refresh
Regardless of how careful we are, or how many times we tell our family to take their shoes off at the door, our stairs can become grubby or marked. Handrails are especially prone to marks and dirt, as they're frequently handled for stability on the stairs. But not to worry – with this type of finish, you can simply repaint when it's time for a touch-up.
Oak parts
The hardwearing hardwood oak is a highly popular, traditional and luxurious building material that's been trusted by architects for hundreds of years, and is highly rated by interior designers. Oak stair components may have a lacquered or unlacquered finish, depending on your preferences, but aren't typically primed for painting.
Advantages of oak stairs
Extreme durability
Oak is a highly strong and robust hardwood that is highly resilient to impact damage, scuffs, and scratches. Stair parts manufactured from this hardy material have a long life span thanks to their sheer strength, which makes them worth the investment for your property. For this reason, and the longer process of sourcing this particular timber, oak stair parts are more costly to purchase than white-primed.
Timeless finishes
Oak never goes out of style and offers a neutral appearance, which is a testament to its delightful natural grains, sheer beauty and luxurious feel. With stair components made from oak, you can be sure you won't have to revamp your staircase even if you switch up your interior decor, as it looks the part among most, if not all, aesthetics.
An array of designs to choose from
You won't be short of style choices with oak stair parts - there's an array of brilliant designs to suit a range of home aesthetics! Choose from twist spindles for an eye-catching modern feel, classic handrails for a sophisticated ambience, and pyramid newel caps, among many others.
Which option is best for me?
Both white-primed and oak stairs are superb choices for your renovation project, with each offering exceptional home style results. But one overall will outweigh the other in terms of suitability to your property and pocket.
If you're working on a budget, white-primed elements are ideal due to their lower costs. This type also makes the most sense if you desire to paint your balustrade, rather than having an exposed timber finish.
However, if you're looking for a more opulent and expensive finish, oak is a fitting choice you can't go wrong with, given its unrivalled premium feel. We're huge advocates of traditional oak given it's alluring appearance, strength and longevity - resulting in durable parts that won't let you down.
Speak to our team
Are you thinking of breathing new life into your worn staircase? Or maybe you're looking to install a brand-new set of stairs? Whatever you need, you've come to the right place - we stock a vast selection of white-primed and oak elements for staircases.
We're crazy about all things stairs, and are passionate about helping our customers select the best products for their home!
If you have any questions or would like more information about our products, please get in touch by calling our friendly team on 01942 365 509, or emailing us at info@staircrazy.co.uk, and we'll get back to you ASAP.
