White risers with black treads. Love that look.

I think nicer with white risers

I just saw your second picture. I think that is gorgeous. Would not paint.

It looks different because it's a different grade than your floors - the risers are veneered and the treads look to be 3 pieces glued up together. That said, I don't think it looks bad although I understand to your eyes it doesn't match. Painting the risers white will certainly remove some of the most pronounced grain and it's a classic look, never wrong IMO. Our old house had oak treads and white risers and we raised 2 boys in that house. For me it wasn't a maintenance nightmare at all. Were there scuffs from time to time? Of course, but most were easily removed with either a microfiber cloth or a Mr Clean sponge although you do have to be careful with those. And if they just looked too worn, it was easy for me to touch up the paint. Even painting all the risers was not a huge undertaking - started at the top, worked my way down and started right after the boys left for school. Dry by the time they were home and I'd tell them to be careful for a few days - not a big deal. I probably did the whole thing 3 or 4 times in the 24 years we lived in that house.

They are beautiful. I would not paint them.

Why is it not the same grade wood on the steps? Was it mistake or that's how it always works?

No, probably not a mistake - I would guess that it wasn't specified in your contract that it be the same as the floor and they used basic oak stair parts. The picture of your floors is small and has a glare that makes it hard to see any real detail so I can't tell if it matches or not - I'm going by what you said.

The stairs are red oak and so is the floor, but floor is rift cut. If that makes sense. Should I paint risers semi gloss like the trim and doors or satin???

Can I paint the risers white with regular trim paint?

I prefer white risers, but that's just a personal opinion. Neither white nor stain is right or wrong.

Just my opinion, but if you specified rift sawn oak for the floors you should have gotten rift sawn treads (maybe not per contract, but more what common sense says)... But all in all they are still beautiful!! Maybe mention it to the builder, but honestly I wouldn't paint them. I would maybe do a runner, that would tone them down a bit of the grain is bothering you.

I think white risers and stained wood treads look very sharp.
That being said, we're not having our risers painted because it felt like too much since we are getting a runner for our stairs. Commercial grade.

We don't have any carpet elsewhere, but really felt it would help with two footed and four pawed individuals' traction. And to protect the stairs to some extent.

I definitely can't do carpet on the.stairs, not my look at all.

Beats broken ribs ;)

My risers were painted with the same trim paint I had on baseboards, window trim, crown and any other trim. It was B/M Regal semi gloss. Holds up well.

I have no idea why my builder got me rift sawn hardwood. I don't like how it looks, not to mention that it doesn't match the stairs at all. What a disaster!

Rift sawn would be an upgrade (I'm pretty sure) so it's weird that you got it without asking for it! Wonder if it was a mistake in ordering.. That's really weird!

I like white risers. I think ours are painted in the same paint as the trim, but ours weren't initially stained like yours are. You may need to do some Kilz or something to help cover. FWIW...we had carpet on the stairs in our previous house, and I found it much more slippery than our oak treads in this house.

If you're not putting carpet on the stairs, make sure the treads are treated with anti-slip stuff.

Also, want to make clear that my post above, "Looks better with white risers" was not in response to the post above mine with the black risers. That poster and I posted at the same time. I was saying I think the stairs look better with white risers, not better than the black. I think the black risers are sharp as well, esp. with the wrought iron railing.

No, once you put the banister on you won't notice. White is a hassle to maintain.

If you do anything, do a tile.

I agree with Mama. I had white risers in my last house and two little girls back then. The white was hard to maintain with kids. Two boys now and that's why I did stained risers in this house.

When planning for white risers a lesser grade is used. Certainly not that beautiful oak that you have.

Did the floor contractor stain your stair parts? Or did someone else? Is there even a remote chance that a different stain was used on the stair parts than the floor? What brand and color of stain was used? Has the poly been applied to your floor?

Your second stairway picture looks a lot darker. The first stairway looks like a good match to the floors. If that is a true representation of the match..I think they look good together.

The problem is that the floor is rift and quarter sawn, while the stairs are plain sawn. The difference in the way the wood is cut led to the floor looking very different from the steps and risers, which also led to a different shading although one stain was used throughout. My builder didn't tell the stairs guy about the rift quarter sawn floor, which i don't know why he installed in my house to begin with. I have never seen it anywhere before and don't like the linear look of the grain on it. Soooo, what do I do? It's looking very inconsistent. I hate it.

Definitely talk to your builder, ask him how he will remedy it. See what his response is. I love (flat sawn) oak floors and would be upset with rift sawn as well, just like I like rift and quarter dawn on cabinets but not flat. It was a mistake on their part, hopefully they offer something that makes it easier to digest..

Floors and stairs are usually done by two different subs -- at least in my area. I like your floors with quarter sawn planks and NO SHORT BOARDS. (You may not be used to seeing this because it is an upgrade; was more common in upscale older homes.)

Is there room at the edge of your stairs to put the balusters ON your stair treads? I can't tell from this angle.

I like the floors. I don't like the stairs.

We agreed to restain the floors to bring the shade closer to the stairs color. We will do 50% Jacobean with 50 ebony, which will tone down the very brown floor. As for risers they will get painted white. Today is a better day. I am not used to rift quarter sawn, but replacing 2000 sq ft of floor is not an option. Hopefully, it will grow on me. Maybe with the darker stain I won't mind it as much. The stairs steps is very zebra looking, but by painting the risers white that too shall tone down a bit. Is it true that the second coat of stain doesn't get absorbed as much as the initial coat. I don't want a black floor. Has anyone done the 50/50 mix?

I would do white risers myself. Not only do I think it looks better but it defines the steps better, while I think unpainted it is difficult for some people (older folks) to clearly see the steps separately.

The second pic tibbrix posted is how I did my stairs. I actually used white door paint (oil based) so it would be tough. The porch and floor enamel probably is as resilient. I would use that door paint in the future on my kitchen cabinets if I have to repaint the cabinets.

Most people I have shown my stairs to like it. It makes the treads pop. It is also a lot easier to see where the treads are, they aren't camouflaged.