Whether you’re building a new home from the ground up or reinventing part of an existing one, you’ll want to consider what types of materials to use for various components, including the stairs. In many traditional and contemporary homes, the stairs serve as a primary focal point, and homebuilders and buyers alike are increasingly using the stairs to inject a serious dose of their own personal styles into their projects and homes.
If you’re among the many who opt to use wood for this purpose, you’re not done with the decision-making just yet – you now have a multitude of wood types to choose some. Oak is an undeniably popular and persevering wood type that is commonly used for steps and staircases, and it comes in a number of varieties. Two of the more notable types include red oak and white oak, but the two types are rarely, if ever mixed together within the same home or project. Because both types take on different appearances once adorned with a stain or clear coat, they can look odd or mismatched when used near one another, so your best bet is to opt for one variety or the other.
Red Oak: An Overview
Red oak has a straight grain, large pores and, as its name suggests, a reddish hue, and the wood itself tends to give off an appearance that ranges from light to medium-brown. Once stained and sealed, red oak becomes increasingly durable, making it a popular choice for projects involving:
- Cabinetry
- Stairs
- Furniture
- Flooring
Many people also opt for red oak because it gives off a pleasant, woodsy smell, and it also accepts staining and glue easily, making it ideal for many types of projects and practical applications. It’s also broadly available and relatively affordable, which further enhances its presence within American homes and businesses.
White Oak: An Overview
The heartwood of white oak is not entirely different from that of red oak, as both offer light-to-medium brown shades, and both have straight grains. Instead of giving off a red hue, however, as red oak does, white oak offers something of an olive tint, and instead of having large, visible pores, like red oak, white oak’s are smaller.
White oak is often preferred over red oak when it comes to wood needed for outdoor use, as it stands strong against rotting in comparison. For this reason, it’s a popular choice for outdoor staircases, and it’s also extremely durable, which only enhances its appeal among homebuilders and buyers. Common uses for white oak include:
- Ships and boats
- Outdoor steps
- Decking
- Barrels
- Cabinetry
So, does red oak or white oak reign supreme? Ultimately, if you’re looking for something to use outdoors, opt for white. Otherwise, both options combine fashion and functionality while offering major benefits, so if you’re doing an in-home staircase design, simply choose the variety that best complements your existing home and style preference.
We carry all of the products listed in both varieties of wood: Red Oak Stair Parts, Red Oak Baluster, Red Oak Stair Treads, Red Oak Handrail, Red Oak Newel Post, White Oak Stair Parts, White Oak Baluster, White Oak Stair Treads, White Oak Handrail, and White Oak Newel Post.
NOTE: We’ve updated a previous version of this article that was published in May 2015.