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Red Oak is the most common species used for wood stair parts in the United States. This wood is plentiful, easy to use, and one of the easiest wood species to stain. It has a coarse open grain and ranges in color from hues of pink, to light brown, to shades of green.

Also available: Quartersawn Red Oak

Hard Maple is a tight, finely grained wood that is highly flexible. This species is usually white with brown streaks, and is the ideal choice for premium wood stains. Maple is hard, durable, and makes an excellent material for stair parts.

Hickory is a beautiful wood with exaggerated grain. Hickory comes in a variety of colors and is often used in rustic designs. This species is a favored choice for high traffic areas because it is the hardest of the domestic hardwoods. It is also slightly more likely to warp than other woods. 

Ash is a hard, highly figured wood with a closed grain. This easily stained wood has a similar pattern to Oak, though it is more pronounced. Ash takes stains well and is often used as a lower cost alternative to Red Oak. However, it is not as easy to work with as Red Oak.

White Oak is a harder, more water-resistant cousin to Red Oak. Often slightly gray or green in color, its grain patterns tend to swirl. It also has longer grain bands than Red Oak. White Oak is the easiest of the hardwood species to stain, and is frequently used for building furniture.

Also available: Quartersawn and Riftsawn White Oak

American Cherry is the most prized wood for making heirloom quality stairs, cabinetry, and furniture. This tight-grained wood is usually light brown or pink, but ages to a beautiful auburn. American Cherry is soft, yet durable.

Quartersawn boards are created by first cutting a log into quarters, and then creating a series of parallel cuts perpendicular to the tree’s rings. The grain is relatively consistent, making it a preferred choice for woodworkers.

Walnut is a premium wood for building a naturally dark stairway. This species is also called American or Black Walnut and is rarely stained due to its beautiful natural hue. Its tight-flowing grain is easy to sand and polishes exceptionally.