I think this idea is exceptional. Thoughts? Bad timing, economy? Costs aren't too high. $20-40 per riser from what I saw.

http://www.decorativestairs.com/

I like the idea you can design your own.

You would have to be careful with design as far as resale. Like I'm not sure about the bears. But I think it's a pretty inventive niche, and good looking done right. Some people will have to have it. It would be cool if someone could set that up as an "add on" to existing staircases. Maybe with laser, Hmm.

I don't follow that. It can be the way I'm looking at it..they're only 1/4" thick.

Resale? Good point, but don't most people make major changes when they do buy?

My mind just started working....I was thinking wouldnt it be something to approach customers that you had already installed their staircases with the service of adding the artwork to their existing wood,( not installing additional wood, just performing the art).I like dreaming

On resale...I dont know if most people change out a hardwood staircase. I look at a home with hardwood staircase as a big selling point. But incorporating the right design is a great look. I just think you have to be very careful design wise. Like beware of trendy, gody, personel, has to be classy.

I take it those are just stenciled on? With maybe a finish coat over the stencil? Si or No?

no they are carved out. Ive seen them with lights behind them, pretty neat.

Hello Gentlemen, Tracy Sanborn here, creator of the Hardwood Decorative Stair Risers. I have followed your chat and very glad to hear you like the product in filling a direct need. I also wanted to make clear that these are 1/8" panels added to existing risers. They are carved both partially and completely through and hide a lot of damage on existing risers. They also eliminate the ugly black scuffmarks on white painted risers. If any of you have a need for your customers, we have dealer prices. We can also cut to size to help save you some labor time. Any questions, chat or call me direct. Tracy Sanborn

Hello Tracy, thanks for joining!

Thank you for clearing up the (1/8" thickness). I myself can see the great potential, now that I realize the risers can be added to an existing hardwood staircase,( like I'm getting out the list of all the customers I've installed stairs for

In the past I've installed alot of staircases in "exotics", Braz. golden teak etc. Are these species available?

I must say I'm a little foggy on your comment "cut to size". I cant remember ever installing risers that didnt vary, even ever so slightly, from one another.

Post about those in the past.
Never used them, but gave me great ideas, that no one seems wealthy enough to bite.

How funny. I am actually working on a job right now where the customer is doing some stenciling on the stairs we just installed. We already stained them, she is going to stencil, then we are going to finish. I am just worried about the paint she uses bleeding. If it were to, the stairs couldn't be refinished because they had bought the stairs on their own, the cheap Home Depot ones with the built in profile on the bottom of each tread. The wear layer is really thin.

Would spraying the finish on them help bleeding?

I think it probably would. I was kind of thinking about doing it that way.

I think I read somewhere like on one of Joe Boone's sites that applying a sealer coat before stenciling works best.

I read that also. With a sealer first your working with a smoother "canvas", and you dont have the porosity of unsealed wood.

I've seen some beautiful wall art out here,(hand work), people that have that talent should consider staircase risers.