Hardwood Stair Styles

Types

• The most common wood stair styles are straight staircases, spiral staircases and circular staircases. Straight styles feature stairs built straight up or down. Spiral staircases can be built leading into either direction, based on customer preference. They are also ideal for homeowners concerned about conserving space and spending on a budget. Circular staircases typically cost more than either straight or spiral stairs, and are usually custom-built. Other styles include standard winder and quarter landing staircases.

Features

• The diversity of wood species and finishes provides a wide selection of choices for different areas of the staircase. Some of the components that can be used to customize the look of your wood staircase include the treads or actual steps; the risers, which fall directly below the steps; handrails; caps; newels; and balusters, which connect the handrails to the treads. Other features include the balcony, volute and rosette.

Wood

• Some of the wood species common for staircases include red oak, white oak, sapele, pine and beech wood. When choosing a timber, think about the look and feel you want to achieve, as well as the other wood species used in your furniture, walls and floors. For example, sapele is a dark hardwood, while pine is lighter in appearance and ideal for paint or varnish finishes. Ash wood is another choice for lighter wood colors. Other dark wood options include cherry oak, mahogany and walnut. Although the frame of the staircase may be wood, finishes can be done in metal, such as aluminum or steel. Additionally, stairs can be constructed using rubber or gratings to create a base for carpeting.

Considerations

• Consider whether the location of the staircase will affect the style or level of customization. For example, a wood spiral case may be more appropriate than a straight staircase in an area such as the attic or basement. Cost is also a consideration when choosing a wood stair style. According to The House Designers, straight stair styles ranged from $1,000 to $2,000, while circular stair styles reached as high as $25,000 at time of publication. Hardwood stairs are also susceptible to dirt and mud due that gets trapped in cracks and grooves that appear naturally on the surface. During installation, stairs should be covered with red rosin paper or cardboard to preserve the appearance and texture of the finish.