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HI,

Can somebody suggest me (Nivas ?) best wood for stair steps[ Solid wooden tread with white risers]. I don't want to use teak due to cost, i need
some wood which can withstand pressure and not crack.

Can Gumwood (jack fruit tree) /Acasia/ Hone is better choice?

Venkyn

Agree, teak is not economical since you need wide planks and they come at a premium price.
White OAK (for step) and Steam Beech (for riser) (3 inch thick) wide Slabs are easily available , They are mostly Kiln Dried when imported, if not season well. The tones are different, which is a desirable character for steps or their contrast can be enhanced by staining, its easier to polish these woods, go for exterior PU.
Honne and Padauk are not suitable for step . They have a tendency to split and splinter.
Steam Beech and White OAK may work out 1200 and 2200/ Cft.
(Note : if possible use SS Nails and SS Nuts and bolts , while working with Oak, the tannin react with iron discoloring the area around nails. White oak is very durable and suitable for flooring. White oak and Red oak are not white and red , they are brown. Red Oak is not durable).
Acacia can also be used, but sourcing planks that is widest of required thickness is difficult and may not be economical.

Use white oak for both Step and Riser , Steam beech riser would have been ideal in case of a MS stair case where it does not take load , I happen to over looks Concrete and imagined a a MS stairs. White Oak also does well in wet conditions.

Venky, I have seen acasia planks for steps at wood nation, timber yard layout. They were meant specifically for wooden staircase but the executive told me that they can provide less thicker one for concrete stairs. Since the cost is very high (around Rs.1500/sft) I have decided to proceed with granite.

Can anyone suggest me a good model of granite for staircases, both external(cheap, Rs.50-75/sft) and for internal (75-125/sft) staircase? I prefer black color.

@Venky - I have used American pine wood planks for tread area of internal stairs. I don't have concrete steps, but thick MS frame on which wooden plank sits. I don't have risers.

I got the pine wood planks that are used for packaging heavy machinery in ships (typically 1 inch thick and 10 feet long) from after-market shops that sell wood by weight (and not by sq. ft.)

If you are patient enough and lucky enough, you could find that in one of the shops in Shivaji Nagar - Bamboo Bazaar.

In terms of wood quality, I'm satisfied with the toughness of this wood. I have just done natural polish on the wood and it looks great, with heavy grain.

@Simran - My suggestion would be to use black color for risers and light color for tread area. Don't use same color for both. You could go for black skirting.

Good quality black colored granite typically starts @ 125 rupees / sq. ft.

For external tread area, you could use Sadarahalli, which starts at 50 rupees / sq. ft. and use black for risers. If you don't like Sadarahalli, you will have many other light colored options starting at 100 rupees / sq. ft.

Thanks for information Nivas, simran and Zahid.
I will try locating white oak timber at timber yard layout.

Btw, I am looking to make the wooden steps similar and better then the one shown in the

Hi

Can we use white Oak for Window Frames. Will it be strong enough? Will it be better than Honne.