Thread: Is Maple ok for Stairs

I worked at a staircase joinery in Sydney and the standard timber for stair treads (in fact for most of the components) was meranti, which was also known in the past as pacific maple.

I suppose it depends on what type of maple you're talking about as it's a generic name for many different species eg. Queensland Maple, Rock Maple, Rose Maple in Australia and there are many Asian, European and American types.

My guess is they are actually talking about meranti, because I don't think that any of the maples as such are very common in that application. If that's the case, it is a common timber for stairs but it will mark if people walk up it in stillettos or with stones stuck in their boots. If you finish it with a two pack floor finish it will probably stand up better.

I made these stairs about 25 years ago completely from pacific maple. The stairs have been in constant use as they are the only internal access to downstairs and the backyard, 3 children (now grown up), uncountable parties and virtually no damage and acceptable minor wear.
Stained with wattyl traditional cedar, the treads were finished with Estapol 2 pack epoxy and all other parts with Estapol satin,

Fletty

Originally Posted by fletty

I made these stairs about 25 years ago completely from pacific maple. The stairs have been in constant use as they are the only internal access to downstairs and the backyard, 3 children (now grown up), uncountable parties and virtually no damage and acceptable minor wear.
Stained with wattyl traditional cedar, the treads were finished with Estapol 2 pack epoxy and all other parts with Estapol satin,

Fletty

Is that a Jacobean Chair I spot right of photo.......and did you make the clock left of photo

Oh stairs down to the den of iniquity

Hi Ray,
Chair IS Jacobean (actually probably made by Jack in the 1920's) and the clock by Seth Thomas in the mid 19th century ... yeah yeah yeah, I know, I'm old enough to have been their apprentice!
The clock is only run on special occasions (eg Helen starts it running if there's a chance I'll wake with a hangover) because it is so loud and raucus that it wakes the neighbourhood.

Fletty

if you're talking Meranti or Pacific Maple it's ok not really hard enough and might flake away at the edges.
If you are going to buy the material yourself go for the Malaysian species over Phillipine Mahogany as it's usually a bit harder and if you sort through the racks and pick the dense hard stuff for the treads you'll get a better result.
I'm not sure if Berlian Timbers in Mt Kuringai are still trading but if they are you might be able to pick up a crate for the price of a few sticks from them and it's pretty dense Malaysian species