Planning a wooden staircase renovation is a very exciting time. Of course, one of the most important decisions you will make is choosing the type of wood that your new staircase will be constructed from.
Here at Abbott Wade, we have over 25 years of experience in helping our customers choose the best materials to create beautiful staircases that match their tastes, needs and budget.
In this blog, we’ll discuss the factors you need to consider when choosing your timber, along with the merits of different types of wood for your staircase.
Considerations when choosing the type of wood for your staircase
Natural wood is an extremely attractive material for any staircase. However, all types of wood are not created equally. Aside from differences in the grain and colour of the timber, there are practical elements to consider when choosing the best type of wood for your staircase.
It’s important that wooden staircases are constructed from wood that has a fairly dense structure. It should also be able to withstand changes in temperature and humidity without warping significantly.
Some of the most common types of wood for staircases are ash, maple, walnut, oak and sapele.
We’ll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using these materials for your wooden staircase below.
Ash wooden staircase – This is a strong and flexible wood with a beautiful texture. However, it is easily damaged by humidity, and can also be difficult to process and polish.
Maple wooden staircase – An extremely strong and light coloured wood, wooden staircases made from maple are easy to stain and maintain. However, like ash, maple is not particularly resistant to humidity, and can be prone to cracking.
Walnut wooden staircases – With its striking, even texture, a wooden staircase made from walnut is sure to impress visitors to your home. However, this type of wood can be very expensive.
Oak wooden staircases – High strength and attractive grain make oak wooden staircases one of the most popular options with our customers. Oak is highly durable and resistant to warping, and whilst it can be prone to splitting, regular maintenance with a hardwax oil should prevent this.
Sapele wooden staircases – Closely resembling mahogany in appearance, the grains of sapele are less uniform than other types of wood, creating a marbled effect. Sapele wooden staircases are easy to maintain and are resistant to moisture.
What types of wooden staircase do Abbott Wade install?
We believe that the best types of wood for staircases that meet the needs of our customers are oak and sapele. We are able to supply and install these staircases in designs to meet a wide range of requirements, at prices that we’re sure you’ll agree are very competitive.
To see some beautiful examples of oak and sapele wooden staircases that Abbott Wade have installed, take a look at our dedicated wooden staircases page.
Get in touch
For help in deciding the best type of wood for your staircase, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly and knowledgeable team.
You can give us a call on 01744 634442 or send us a message using our online contact form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
