A common question our customers often ask about stair treads is whether ours are solid or veneered.  WoodStair’s treads are solid glue-laminated as opposed to engineered or what many call veneered.

Solid Stair Treads are several pieces of solid hardwood that are milled to thickness, straight lined, then glued together.  While it may be possible, depending on the species, to find boards wide enough to make the tread from a single piece, laminated treads are actually a more durable and long lasting product.  The laminating process actually helps to insure that the treads do not warp or twist.  Individual pieces of lumber are grain matched and laminated together with the grain of individual pieces opposing each other.  This helps to insure stability.  Additionally, modern adhesives result in joints that are usually stronger than the wood itself.  I mentioned that the boards of solid treads are grain matched, because they are different pieces of wood there will be some variation and additionally in today’s market many customers often request more variation and even knots in the final product.  Treads typically finish at 1” thick but ¾” thick solid treads can also be used on stairs with subtreads.

Engineered treads or veneered treads are an imported product, typically from china.  They are created as an oak “butcher block” style which is then veneered top and bottom with a 1/8” solid hardwood layer with an attached solid nose.  The many laminations involved in manufacturing this product actually increases it’s stability and engineered stair treads actually exceed all of the American Woodworking Institutes standards for glue-lamination.  The only true downsides to the product itself are the fact that it is not made in the USA and that it is not a true solid stair tread.

Currently WoodStairs.com offers solid laminated stair treads in both the standard 1” thickness as well as ¾” thickness upon request.  Additionally, we regularly manufacture stair treads in custom thickness such as 1 ¾” and 3 ½” for open riser staircases and spirals.  We have numerous lengths of stair tread material in all of our standard wood species and can always provide customizations as our customers require.  Finally, if you want the look of solid treads but don’t have the budget we offer a variety of False Tread and Riser Caps as well.