My First Post!

I'm in the planning stages of a large hardwood install. Gonna put 5' solid oak on my 2nd floor and stairs. I have selected my wood, trim, thresholds, etc...but I'm not sure what to do about the stair treads. The supplier doesn't sell them in this prefinished color/design. Is my best bet getting unfinished and trying to match with stain? Not sure what other options I have. Thanks! Great website.

Ive yet to see some prefinished options be that viable. The cost is exuberant and they still wont guarantee a good match, so unfinished is the way to go.

I ran into the same situation, my prefinished flooring manufacturer did not make treads. The distributer said he could get prefinished treads that would match but they were quite pricey. There are tread manufacturers that might be able to match your stain/finish color but getting them unfinished and finishing yourself would be less expensive. Have to weigh the time it will take you to do the finishing vs buying prefinished. I finished my own oak treads. I bought them unfinished at a local lumber yard....less expensive and better quality than HD or Lowes.

We might leave the carpet on the stairs so the kids don't break their necks...if I leave stairs carpeted and lay hardwood on the 2nd level, can the carpet be "tucked underneath the stairnose that starts the second level? Any tricks to a transition like this? Thanks!!

How about hardwood treads with a carpet runner down the center to prevent tripping. I believe that the carpeting gets stapled to the riser right under the second floor landing nosing overhang. That's how I'm going to attach my stair runner.

I might just replace the carpet on the stairs. Seems like double the work and money to do hardwood treads and then a carpet runner.

I watched a youtube video on installing a carpet runner on stairs and it was a fairly easy process. By far the bulk of the work would be doing the hardwood stairs treads....I now understand why the pros charge what they do for installing hardwood stair treads. I wouldn't let the carpet runner scare me off.....if you can get the treads done the runner will be a walk in the park.

You will have to color match them yourself for the desired result.

I recommend you use a product made by Loba-Wakol called LOBASOL HS 2K ImpactOilColor. This is a two part floor finish, the first part 100% natural vegetable oils and the second part hardener. Get color right on samples before involving the treads.

Loba-Wakol.com is their website, and no I am not a factory rep. I am an experienced floor guy who leans toward products best in class, containing no solvents, water or waxes.

The stain is mixed in with the finish from the manufacturer and two coats are recommended by the manufacturer on stained wood such as stair treads and hardwood flooring. Following the second application you are done. There are a number of colors available.

The advantages of this product are many fold, but some that top my list is the stain is mixed in with the finish at the factory. All you have to do is mix in the hardener according to manufacturer specs. You can easily apply it with a paint pad, let sit for 60 minutes, then wipe off with rag(s), and, it is anti-slip rated. This info is all on their website. Be sure and read their technical paper.

The finish is a natural satin which is a bit more matte than standard satin sheens and beautifully warm, cozy and functional.

The care and maintenance is amazingly simple. It's been used in Europe for many years in both commercial and residential applications.

You may even choose to fore-go the idea of a carpet runner and save the expense.

flooringinstalls1

You can always use stairnosing and flooring on the treads and if you don't want painted risers, use the flooring there too.
I think I have a picture of a staircase done like that at my cheesey website.