Hardwood Species Selection Guide: Red Oak vs. White Oak vs. Hard Maple for Stairs

Selecting the right wood species is essential to crafting custom stairs that look gorgeous and withstand decades of daily foot traffic. Here is how Canada's top hardwood species compare:

Red Oak (Janka Hardness: 1290)

The traditional king of Canadian staircase construction. Red Oak features prominent cathedral grain patterns that hide minor wear and absorb wood stains consistently from natural light honeys to deep espresso tones.

White Oak (Janka Hardness: 1360)

The modern designer choice. White Oak offers subtle, linear graining with cool gray and muted tan undertones. Highly resistant to moisture and indentation, it is ideal for contemporary Scandinavian or coastal aesthetics.

Hard Rock Maple (Janka Hardness: 1450)

Extremely hard and dense with a fine, smooth grain. Maple is perfect for slick modern staircases or crisp painted white riser and stained tread pairings.