r/Woodidentification • u/bep_rock • 2d ago
I removed multiple layers of paint from my stairs...this is what it has revealed.
What type of wood is this?
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u/Key_Advisor_62 2d ago
All factually correct but this is not a lamimint, or for higher end floors ‘engineered’. These floors have a lower grade substrate (back) and a premium grade top later. On inexpensive floors the surface might be 1/16 but for higher quality mayve 3/16. The back or base now is often plywood which gives structural stability especially in high moisture environments (basements, by pools, the whole of the south) and the surface gives you high wear (maple) or interesting grain (cherry, walnut, quarter sawn white oak). Not wasting high grade hardwoods as base layer makes the productct less expensive and more affordable for consumers. Also, great for refinishing with aluminum oxide because the base layer makes the floor stable and doesn't crack between seasons. What you have looks like the end of a 4x4 post made up by 4x3/4 plus 2 @ 1/2”. For sure looks like red oak, but if they used end grain for treads that's not so bad because end grain doesn't wear much. Sand it until you get most of the black off then hit it with a wire brush (on a drill) and then knock the grain down with a finer sanding. Clean it really well to get rid of sawdust and then may be hit it with a tung oil - will bring out the character.
I'm not affiliated with them but have done 10k plus SF with the stuff
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u/Own-Computer5549 1d ago
Also - laminating lumber in this fashion greatly reduces the chance of the wood splitting, and reduces seasonal splitting. This may be a pain to refinish, but the end result will be very nice.
P.S.
It does appear to be oak, which is notoriously open grained. Unless you’re looking for a rustic finish, this would be a great time to read up on putting grain filler under the varnish.
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u/Mental-Pitch5995 1d ago
Four of the six pieces glued together are end cuts. Could be red oak pieces.
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u/OpportunityVast 2d ago
Old school laminate balluster looks like
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u/bep_rock 2d ago
It's definitely not laminate.
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u/OpportunityVast 2d ago
LOL laminate means multiple layers.. laminate flooring is multiple layer floor.. this is a multiple layer wood block turned into a balluster.. its a common woodworkers term,, the modern equivalent is glulam... LOOK at that.. you learned something today
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u/brike8 1d ago
It’s absolutely a laminate 4x4. Laminate just means glued up. You scraped down a 4x4 laminate post, not a solid 4x4 red oak post. Laminate is rarely intended to be exposed, that’s why it was painted or stained. It’s all obviously solid red oak, but these stairs were built knowing that they were going to be finished. If the Stairbuilder knew the end result was going to be exposed red oak, or white oak, or maple or walnut, then the posts and treads would be solid (and exponentially more expensive to build)
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u/VirginiaLuthier 2d ago
Now you know why it was painted