Knotty Alder Stair Tread Details

Knotty Alder wood is a light tan or light brown color with a yellow or reddish tint. It is easy to sand, polish and stain, and it rarely has issues with splitting. Alder is easy to work with due to its fine, even texture and moderate density. We use only the higher quality grades of Knotty Alder lumber for our products.

Please Note: Because each piece of wood has its own unique character, grain and color will vary from the sample images shown. All stair treads are custom made to order. All orders revised or cancelled after going into production (within 24 hours after order is received) will have a restocking fee of up to 50%.

Customize Your Stair Treads

Because each order is custom made, you can control the look of your Knotty Alder Stair Treads. Specify your needed dimensions and then add extra touches like a stain or texture.

Standard or Retrofit

If you need to completely replace your stairs, choose standard treads. Retrofit (retreads) are designed to go over your existing stairs. Choose from 1”, 3/4", 1-1/4" or 1-1/2" thickness for standard treads. Retrofit stair treads are 3/4" thick, with an overhang on the front edge measuring 1" thick x 1-1/4" deep. Our stair treads and risers are made with a three to five piece glue up.

Sizing

Our Knotty Alder Stair Treads can be made up to 114” long and 18” deep.

Nosing

Nosing hangs over the edge of the tread and helps prevent people from tripping. This functional feature can be made beautiful with details like bullnose, square edge, or eased edge.

Return

Returns are designed for staircases with banisters. A left return corresponds to a left-side banister, while a right return corresponds to a right-side banister. If you have a banister on both sides, you’ll need a double return. A left or right hand return is determined by standing at the bottom of the stairs looking up.

Returns are 1-1/4" wide and extend 1-1/2" past the back side of the tread. Stair Treads over 48" long may be slightly oversize with uneven ends. All length measurements are overall, including the return(s). For example, a single return 36" tread will have a 34 ¾" throat size, a double return 48" tread will have a 45 ½" throat size.

Finish

For best results, treads should be finished to protect the wood. We can pre-finish your rift sawn stair treads with a variety of materials. You can also choose to add a stain to your treads. We offer stain match services if you would like your stairs to match another wooden surface in your home.

Textures

We offer various texture options on all our wood stair treads including hand-scraped, wire brushed, sawcut, and distressed. If you prefer to have your stair treads sanded smooth and have no texture, be sure to select NONE in the Texture Options. 

The Wire Brushed Texture works best on wood with an open grain, such as White Oak, Red Oak, or Ash. For tighter grain woods, like Knotty Alder, the Wire Brushed Texture will not have the same effect and will not be as visible.

Shipping Information

All wood stair parts are custom made to order. Shipping may vary depending on your customization options. Please provide for a standard lead of 1 to 2 weeks for processing, milling, and shipping of stair tread orders.

Note: Lead times may vary based on seasonal demand. Please contact our sales team online or by phone at 1-800-798-1269 for questions regarding current order lead times.