Your Simple Guide to Oak Staircase Parts

Oak staircases stay popular for their strength, beauty, and long-term reliability. When you know how each oak component works, you can choose a staircase that performs well and looks impressive. This guide explains every key oak staircase part and how each piece improves structure and appearance.

Oak Treads

Oak treads carry daily foot traffic, so they must be strong. Our 50 × 250 mm solid oak treads are far larger and stronger than what many competitors use. This size gives better durability and stability. Each tread connects to the strings with proper tenons, allowing natural expansion without shifting.
Grooves may look useful, but they trap water, freeze in winter, and become slippery—so a flat, solid tread is always safer.

Oak Risers

Risers close the vertical gaps between treads. They ensure no opening exceeds 100 mm, keeping the staircase safe and compliant. They also support each tread from behind, increasing stability and comfort.

Oak Handrail

The handrail guides users and shapes the overall design. Our solid 100 × 100 mm oak handrails, with 10 × 10 mm chamfered corners, are much larger than typical competitor sizes. Fully planed surfaces ensure strength, comfort, and a smooth, splinter-free finish.

Oak Spindles

Spindles support the handrail and create the staircase’s rhythm. We use 50 × 50 mm or 35 × 100 mm heavy oak spindles, much stronger than the thin versions many competitors offer.
All spindles use traditional mortise-and-tenon joints, allowing natural movement without loosening—unlike screws, which often crack or pull free over time.

Oak Baserail

The baserail supports the spindles and strengthens the balustrade. We always include a solid oak baserail, while some competitors remove it to cut costs.
Skipping the baserail leads to long-term issues such as weakened landing boards, cracking, shrinking, moisture damage, and deterioration. A proper baserail ensures durability and stability.

Oak String

The string supports the treads and risers and transfers loads into the main posts. We use a minimum of 75 × 270 mm strings, much larger and stronger than standard competitor sizes.
They tenon into the main and newel posts with 35 mm thick, 70 mm long, and 170 mm high tenons, giving superior rigidity and structural performance.

Oak Landing Board

The landing board ties the staircase into the building and spreads the load. We use a 32 × 150 mm unplaned solid oak landing board, thicker and wider than common alternatives. Smooth, groove-free surfaces avoid water traps, rot, and ice buildup, increasing lifespan and stability.

Main Oak Posts Supporting the Landing and Newel Posts

Main posts absorb forces from the landing and newel posts. We use large, heavy-duty solid oak posts for maximum strength. They are mounted on metal feet or concrete-set brackets to prevent moisture damage and rot, ensuring long-term stability in all weather conditions.

Why We Use Larger Posts Than Most Competitors

Competitors often rely on 100 × 100 mm or 120 × 120 mm posts, but we use a minimum of 140 × 140 mm solid oak posts. Smaller posts cause problems:

• They require smaller, weaker tenons.
• Tenons cannot be securely dowelled.
• Screws eventually loosen.
• Small posts lack enough solid timber when holding multiple joints.

Larger posts provide far better strength, stability, and structural integrity, making the entire staircase safer and longer-lasting.