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Stair Supplies

Oak Staircases

by Andrew Kozlov

While oak is a notoriously intractable material to build with, finished fine oak carpentry looks beautiful. Given that oak is such a tempestuous material, you really need to take care with your staircase measurements before you proceed with installation. Particularly when you're putting together the spindles and rails, take care not to dent or splinter the delicate grain.

Oak is classified as a hardwood, since it comes from the deciduous oak tree. Oak is a relatively porous building material--it's classified as one of the so-called "hard" hardwoods. In other words, it responds significantly to changes in humidity and temperature levels. Since oak reacts to temperature and humidity changes, it can be difficult to measure correctly for your staircase.

Creating an Oak Staircase for the Ages

For instance, let's say that you've constructed your oak staircase during summer, when the humidity level is rather high. In the winter, when there is less moisture in the air, the oak may shrink and thus, you could have some structural or stability problems with the staircase. Given these engineering considerations, it's critical to design your staircase in coordination with a professional stair manufacturer.

These caveats aside, however, oak is considered far and away one of the most precious stair building materials. Whether you finish the oak with a light stain or resin or let the natural wood breathe, you're in for a wonderful treat. Many classic mansions and houses were designed to showcase long and splendid oak staircases. These structures might creak and settle depending on the weather.

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