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Home Decorating

Pine floor people, stair treads?

12 years ago

What did you do for your stair treads? Since our upstairs is the kids' spaces, our builder was planning to stain oak treads (for durability) to match our downstairs flooring. But if we go with the more natural shade of pine I can't imagine oak will look very authentic. Yet pine stairs will get destroyed. The risers will be white. What would an option be? Thanks!

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Comments (5)

lkplatow
12 years ago
We have pine stair treads and they've been fine. We've got kids and 2 dogs. Not sure why you're singling out the stair treads as especially vulnerable. Our pine floors are actually way more beat than the stairs (but I prefer to think of it as "patina", LOL!)
lazy_gardens
12 years ago
It was very common to mix woods in old houses based on purpose: pine for risers and oak for treads isn't unusual.
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Tara, I am not a flooring person either but was given the same info by my flooring guy. I just put down a QS oak floor which included three stairs. I think the original treads were pine. My floor guy said not to mess with it that he would stain it to match floor. Well I'm not too crazy about how it turned out. My trim Carpenter said he could cover it with oak but the floor guy said it should have been done before floor was laid. I wish now I would have just replaced them.
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User
12 years ago
We have pine stairs and they're fine. They're even painted. Though I will say, I personally don't wear heels on the stairs. Any other shoe or boot is worn.

Anyhow, I agree with Lazygardens about pine for riser and oak for treads. If the grain difference will bother you though, I'd go with pine.
2ajsmama
12 years ago
I have pine risers/stringer and oak treads. Not my choice (thought I was getting all oak) but I don't think it looks bad.

If you want more contrast, and have painted trim, then painted risers would look good too.

BTW, my DR is Brazilian Cherry so super big contrast with pine trim, stairs, and oak treads, furniture! You can just barely see them at the bottom of the stairs in this pic:
babs711
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks guys. I think he was concerned with the pine on the stairs because of kids and the narrow portion of the stairs just getting worn out with the soft pine. Oak would be more durable. I'll feel it out and talk to the flooring person and see what he thinks too. Thanks!

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