I would suggest doing the sides of the steps in hardwood. Forget the laminate and install a carpeted runner down the middle. You do not want to come down shiny wood stairs in the morning with socks on. Makes for a great way to die.

"You do not want to come down shiny wood stairs in the morning with socks on. Makes for a great way to die."

Ignore this sensationalism....

We have had far LESS slippage on our hardwood stairs than we did when they were carpeted. Wood makes for a firmer footing.

The only thing that was bad for a short while was the noise... but we all got used to that.

We have had far LESS slippage on our hardwood stairs than we did when they were carpeted. Wood makes for a firmer footing.

Yes, it does. I live in a split level--had plush carpet on the three steps connecting levels. I skidded down those carpeted stairs several times before I ripped the carpet off (several years ago) and finished the oak treads that were underneath. Not one skid since!

Lumber Liquidators had red oak treads for around $30 each.

StairpartsUSA has red & white oak treads for less than $8 per foot.

Oak Treads

Here is a link that might be useful: Lumber Liquidators

So is there a special product for use on hardwood treads to make them less slick, or will any floor finish do?

Mine are gloss poly'd red oak.... nothing special.

The slipperiness factor probably depends a lot on what you've got on your feet. I'd expect shoes with smooth soles to slip more on carpet and feet with socks to slip more on hardwood.

I used an oil finish on my stairs. I wanted something easily renewable because the stairs are next to the backdoor where we let the dogs in. Lots of mud, sand, snow, rainwet feet, etc.

Being able to refresh the finish makes a lot of sense for stairs.

I'm paying $40 for 48 inch oak treads, and really don't want to cover them with a carpet runner for wear and slip issues if I don't have to.

So I'm thinking I'll live with them nekkid for a while, see how that goes.

But I want to stack the odds in my favor. I'd like to stain them with my custom color, but some finish over that.

Does waterlox go over stains, or would I use a tung oil product?

Courtesy of another GW'er, I've found another source for hardwood stair treads at a much more reasonable price.

Orubuis--I don't remember the specific product that I used on my stairs but it was some kind of penetrating tung oil. Wasn't Waterlox because I haven't used Waterlox yet. But Waterlox can go over stained wood--that much I know. Just be sure it's an oil-based stain.

Another factor with wooden stairs is the noise issue. For that reason you may want a runner. My stairs are back stairs & get tons of abuse. So, yes, they have scratches. But the finish isn't worn thru, chipped, peeling, etc., all the things that can happen to film forming finishes like varnish, poly, etc. And they're easy to sweep down and clean with just a swipe of a rag vs hauling out a vacuum and living with the plain nastiness of carpet, esp. with the location & use of my back stairs.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hardwood Lumber (stair treads)