Thread: Stair restoration - what timber is this?

Tassie Oak would be one guess, but considering the grain in it, I'd say Meranti.

I'd say merati too. Sometimes meranti is spelt Pacific Maple.

Cheers
Michael

I agree with the above, meranti.
tm

I guess it's going to be difficult looking at a pic. I don't know much about timber but once I'd done a bit of research (looking at pics of timber) my first thoughts were tallowwood. It is a very light coloured timber. Meranti is a kind of reddish timber isn't it.

Might be durian

Originally Posted by dclayw

I guess it's going to be difficult looking at a pic. I don't know much about timber but once I'd done a bit of research (looking at pics of timber) my first thoughts were tallowwood. It is a very light coloured timber. Meranti is a kind of reddish timber isn't it.

Meranti could be anywhere from yellowish brown to a pinkish red. Old timber like yours would have faded considerably over the years. What suburb in Brissie are you?

Cheers
Michael

I'm in Middle Park. Would be great if you're hinting you might come and take a look.

I was hoping to get rid of the carpet altogether. Meranti doesn't sound like much of a timber on stairs though. I guess it was wishful thinking on my part about Tallowood.

I do need to know what the timber is. Then I can decide to recarpet or not. If I do leave them exposed I need to replace a few sections too. Due to the way the stairs are constructed I don't believe it will be possible to replace the pine risers, so I was thinking of getting a laminate done (in whatever timber the treads are) to cover up those pine risers. There are 2 landings on this staircase too, one half way up and one at the top. They are also pine and the plan was to replace those with the same timber as the treads.

Aye, I could do that. Will PM you.

Cheers
Michael

It wouldn't be Crow's Ash (White Teak) would it? Is it heavy... solid?

While the timber is certainly not flimsy, heavy and solid are not two words that I would use to describe it.

Hard to identify from just photos, but could it possibly be jelutong?

Had a visit to look at the stairs today. I'm 100% sure that 90% of it is a Shorea sp of some kind, reasonably hard, but not as hard as a belau - a fingernail just marks it. It has the classic fleck pattern of a shorea on the radial face like this photo:
Asia on Latrobe

Even some of the treads that look like they could possibly be Tas oak/Vic ash have the fleck pattern on the nosing edge. I think that eliminates Tas oak etc. Meranti/ Luan/ Phillipine mahogany is my guess.

Cheers
Michael

Lots of stairs have been made in durian which is quite similar to meranti

Hey Dave, empty your PM inbox

Cheers
Michael