Not All Stair Treads Are Created Equal

We all know the importance of purchasing quality stair parts for our staircases, and treads are no exception. Of course, purchasing superior quality treads from a manufacture you can trust will make all of the difference in the life, durability, and beauty of your staircase, but you should also consider all of the types of wood available for your treads. Treads take the most abuse as they are the part of the staircase that we actually walk on, and they will be first to show signs of damage and wear. Choosing the right wood for your treads will make all of the difference in the life and beauty of your stairs.

The hardness of wood and it’s suitability for use on floors and stairs is rated by experts using the Janka hardness scale. This test uses a small steel ball to measure the resistance to wear and denting. The higher a number on the Janka chart a wood receives, the better it will stand up to wear and tear over time.

It is important to research your wood types. You should not only base your selection preferences on aesthetics, but durability and function as well. Be careful of names when selecting your wood as similarly named woods can rate very differently on the hardness scale. For instance, Brazilian Cherry is much harder than American Cherry. Some suggested wood species for treads are Brazilian Cherry, Sapele, Red Oak, Maple or Birch. Note that Poplar is not a good long term choice for stair treads. If you need assistance selecting a wood type, you can always speak with our experts. We would love to help.