Oak FAQs
Because oak stair parts come unfinished, you’re able to choose whether you want to add a painted, varnished, or waxed finish. You should polish the wood as often as possible to maintain a good glossy coating. To do this, first dust the wood with a microfiber cloth to remove loose dirt, and then polish using a soft, non-abrasive cloth and hardwax oil to keep the rich colour and shine.
Because oak is a hardwood, it’s extremely durable, strong, and resistant to scratches and dents. Oak could be the correct choice for you if you’re looking for a long lasting wood to invest in a property that you’ll be living in for years to come. This way, you can rest assured that your staircase wont get damaged and worn out easily over time. This can be particularly important if you have small children that might spill drinks or drop items onto the wood, or a pet that might scratch the wood with their claws.
While in the short-term, a lightweight wood like pine could be a cheaper option, when considering oak’s durability and resistance to dent or scratches, it could become the more cost-effective option over a long period of time.
Whilst oak is a slightly more expensive option, it has a unique classic appearance that can bring a touch of elegance to any home. Oak stair parts have a wide array of benefits, including:
• Durability
• Strength
• Natural beauty
• Long-lasting
Whilst the cost of stair parts varies depending on the material, style and finish, here is a list of prices you can expect to pay when replacing a range of different oak stair parts:
• Oak stair spindles £4 - £23
• Oak handrails £11 - £200
• Oak base rails £18 - £146
• Oak newel posts £18 - £125
Hardwood is a popular choice for stair parts due to its strength, durability and luxurious appearance. Below are some further benefits of hardwood stair parts:
• Easy to clean
• Low maintenance (making it a brilliant choice for stair treads, risers and balustrades)
• Sturdy and wear-resistant
• Looks great with a natural varnish, rich stain or painted finish
Having bespoke staircase parts allows you to re-create a stair part with the exact measurements and design you have in mind. At Jackson Woodturners, we offer a bespoke woodturning service which allows us to copy existing or damaged spindles, newel posts and bases. Read more about the service here.
Before purchasing your oak stair parts, you should also consider whether you want to combine oak with other materials such as metal and glass. Here are some of our top tips for combining oak with different materials:
• Glass - Oak and glass go particularly well together and are most commonly used to combine modern and traditional themes.
To read more, take a look at our article, ‘Designing An Oak And Glass Staircase | What You Need To Consider’.
• Metal - Oak can also be paired with various metal spindles to create an eye-catching staircase. You can connect metal spindles to ungrooved oak handrails, as a spindle foot can screw directly into the rail.