Stair Parts

Walnut is back in vogue as a stair part.  Walnut has always been one of the most treasured woods for making furniture and fine quality millwork including stair parts.  Walnut has been a classic, but not popular for the past 20 years.  Now it is shifting back into the popular category.

Starbucks stores have jumped on the walnut bandwagon and every store that have been in around the world has been filled with furniture made in walnut.  The dark wood of walnut is a natural complement to the dark coffee in the coffee houses.

Walnut is a great stair part because it requires no stain to have a beautiful finish.  Walnut is one of the easiest woods to cut, shape and sand.  Installers love to work with quality woods like walnut.

The downside to walnut for stair parts is that it is not always available in long lengths and walnut often has lots of knots.  Stair supplies selects the best lumber possible and cuts around the knots, but it can be difficult when customers specify several pieces of handrail over 14 feet long.  Walnut is not as hard as other woods that are made into stair parts, but it will work well as a stair tread.  Walnut is 1010 on the janka scale and red oak is 1290.

Stair specialist can help you to determine the best wood for your application and the right stair parts for you project.  Call or contact us 1 866 226 6536.

Why do we have all of these annoying stairway codes when building and remodeling a house?  Why do we need codes for stairs?  Well after walking through Asia I have learned why.
Nearly every stairway that I  have ascended during my stay in Asia has some factor that would keep it from passing a code inspection in the USA or Canada.

The most annoying code violation that I experience is an inconsistent rise.  In the US code requires that there cannot be more than a 3/8″ difference in rise between any two steps on a stairway.  This helps a person walk up a stairway and be able to pick up their foot a consistent amount.  It is something that most people in the USA and Canada take for granted for their stairway.  Walking up stairs here I have stumbled or stubbed my toe numerous times because of the change in rise which can be as much as 2 inches on the first or the last step in the stairways.

Another common violation from North American standards is handrails on stairs.  A few years ago my very active and healthy mother-in-law was walking down a beautiful curved marble stairway in South America which didn’t have a handrail.  She stumbled (due to inconsistent rise in the steps) and fell breaking both bones in her leg.  She ended up with a surgery in a South American hospital, several pins, screws and plates in her leg.  She had an extra 2 weeks stay in a South America.  If the stairway had a handrail and a consistent rise to the steps this injury would have been avoided.

We have a new Wrought Iron Baluster on our website. We also have a new series, called the Venetian Series. This new baluster, 16.4.1 is the first item we have in that series. This 3/4″ X 44″ Baluster is almost Victorian looking but with a modern look to it. A beautiful addition to your stairs that looks good with any primed box newel.