Choosing the right wood for your staircase is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when it comes to your renovation - the timber you pick impacts how your stairs will look and how they hold up in everyday life.
You can find out all you need to know about the most popular wood options in Stair Crazy’s guide to wooden stairs, which will help you find the perfect fit for your home.
Types of wood for staircases
Oak
One of the most luxurious options on the market, oak makes excellent quality parts popular in numerous homes. Benefits of this timber include:
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Durability - Oak is a dense hardwood that can resist damage from heavy foot traffic, scratches and impacts.
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Versatility - This material looks great among most decors, from modern contemporary to rustic farmhouse styles.
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Timelessness - Oak timber’s natural grain and earthy feel never goes out of fashion.
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Increased home value - This wood is fairly expensive initially, but it only helps boost your property’s value.
See our blog post ‘Why Choose Oak? Explore the Benefits of Oak Stair Parts’ for a deeper look into the advantages of this timber.
Black oak
Black oak offers the same practical benefits as standard oak, such as exceptional strength, durability and increased property value, but has a dark finish rather than a light, natural feel.
The bold shade creates a statement look, drawing attention and making your stairs the focus of your home. Plus, black masks dirt well, meaning they stay looking clean even if you forget to clean them for a while.
White-primed
Another, more budget-friendly option is white-primed parts made from durable Brazilian pine coated with primer designed to be painted over. Thanks to their primed surface, these elements offer a smooth professional finish with no sanding or prep required.
Painted wooden spindles are very trendy, given they bring warmth and colour to spaces, and allow homeowners to create their own bespoke stairs.
Combining wood with other materials
Timber stair elements can also be combined with parts crafted from other materials, like metal and glass, to create a striking contrast.
Some of the most popular combinations include metal spindles topped with a beautiful, solid oak handrail, supported by a sturdy oak newel post. Or, the same oak components encasing ultra-modern glass panels as a substitute for traditional balusters.
How much are wooden stairs?
The price of wooden staircases depends entirely on:
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The timber type
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The size and shape of your staircase
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The scope of your project, and whether you’re just replacing a few parts or fitting a brand new flight
You can expect to pay more for oak and black oak staircase parts, complicated stair layouts and stairs with a higher rise. White primed wooden parts in a straight layout are the most affordable. We recommend getting in touch to find out more about how much your bespoke staircase could cost.
Which timber is best for my staircase?
Choosing your timber stairs comes down to a few factors - consider the following:
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Style preference - Oak, black oak and white-primed all offer a unique look and feel, so you need to select the material you find most appealing.
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Budget - if you have a flexible budget, you could afford to splash out on luxury oak components. If you need to keep things more affordable, white primed is your best bet.
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Lifestyle - Homes that experience high foot traffic, or if you have children and pets, can benefit from the resilience and strength of pure oak.
Whatever you decide, you can find a range of quality oak and white primed stair parts, including handrails, spindles, newel posts and treads here at Stair Crazy. For more guidance on which wooden stairs are best suited to your home, feel free to get in touch with our experts today.
