Rift Sawn Red Oak Stair Treads
$89.25
Unit price perEstimated Delivery between June 09 and June 11.
Red Oak is a species most people know by its grain — the open pores, the warm color, the arching cathedral pattern that's been a fixture in American homes for decades. Rift sawn Red Oak looks like a different material entirely. The cathedral disappears. The grain runs in tight, straight, parallel lines from one end of the board to the other. It's the same species, cut in a way that reveals a completely different side of it.
How Rift Sawing Works
When a log is rift sawn, the boards are cut at an angle to the growth rings — typically between 30 and 60 degrees. That angle produces a grain pattern where the lines run nearly perpendicular to the face of the board, creating the tight, linear look that rift sawn lumber is known for. There's no cathedral arch, and unlike quarter sawn lumber, there's no ray fleck either. Just clean, consistent, straight grain.
In Red Oak, that linearity is a significant departure from what most people expect from the species. The warm color and open pore structure are still there — those are characteristics of the species, not the cut — but the grain pattern is organized and precise in a way that flat-sawn Red Oak never is.
Where Rift Sawn Red Oak Fits
Rift sawn Red Oak stair treads work particularly well in spaces where the design calls for clean lines and visual order, but where the warmth of Red Oak is still the right fit. Modern craftsman interiors, transitional homes with warm palettes, and spaces that mix natural materials with contemporary architecture are all good candidates.
It's also a practical choice for projects where consistency across the staircase run matters. Because rift sawn grain is so uniform, the treads will look similar to one another from step to step — a quality that's harder to achieve with flat-sawn material, where grain pattern and figure can vary significantly from board to board.
If you want Red Oak with more visual texture — the subtle ray figure that quarter sawing produces — our Quarter Sawn Red Oak Stair Treads are worth comparing. If you prefer more natural character with knots and color variation, our Character Grade Red Oak Stair Treads take the species in a different direction entirely.
Practical Benefits of the Cut
Rift sawn lumber tends to be more dimensionally stable than flat-sawn boards. The orientation of the growth rings reduces the tendency to cup or move with seasonal humidity changes — a meaningful advantage on a stair tread that needs to stay flat and tight over years of daily use.
Dimensions and Thickness
These treads are available in the following sizes:
- Lengths: 34" to 60", available in every inch increment
- Depths: 10", 10.5", 11", 11.5", 12"
- Thickness: 1" or 2"
A 1" tread is standard for most traditional stair systems. A 2" tread adds visual weight and rigidity — a common choice when the staircase is a focal point or when the design calls for a more substantial profile. If you're replacing existing treads, measure the current thickness before ordering.
Edge Profiles
Three nosing profiles are available:
- Square Edge: A sharp, 90-degree front edge. The natural match for rift sawn material — the clean, linear grain and the precise edge reinforce each other.
- Eased Edge: Corners are lightly softened without changing the overall square profile. A practical middle ground for most settings.
- Bullnose: A fully rounded front edge. Less common with rift sawn material, but available for projects where a softer nosing profile is preferred.
Coordinating Across Species
If your project involves stair treads in multiple species, or if you're matching rift sawn flooring or millwork elsewhere in the home, we also offer Rift Sawn White Oak Stair Treads. The two species have different color palettes, but the shared cut creates a visual consistency that can work well across a larger project.
Custom Options
If your project requires dimensions outside what's listed here, call us at 1-800-874-5181. We mill our own products and have more flexibility on custom work than most suppliers. We're glad to help you find the right fit for your staircase.
AB Hardwoods
Rift Sawn Red Oak Stair Treads
$89.25
Unit price perEstimated Delivery between June 09 and June 11.
In stock
Red Oak is a species most people know by its grain — the open pores, the warm color, the arching cathedral pattern that's been a fixture in American homes for decades. Rift sawn Red Oak looks like a different material entirely. The cathedral disappears. The grain runs in tight, straight, parallel lines from one end of the board to the other. It's the same species, cut in a way that reveals a completely different side of it.
How Rift Sawing Works
When a log is rift sawn, the boards are cut at an angle to the growth rings — typically between 30 and 60 degrees. That angle produces a grain pattern where the lines run nearly perpendicular to the face of the board, creating the tight, linear look that rift sawn lumber is known for. There's no cathedral arch, and unlike quarter sawn lumber, there's no ray fleck either. Just clean, consistent, straight grain.
In Red Oak, that linearity is a significant departure from what most people expect from the species. The warm color and open pore structure are still there — those are characteristics of the species, not the cut — but the grain pattern is organized and precise in a way that flat-sawn Red Oak never is.
Where Rift Sawn Red Oak Fits
Rift sawn Red Oak stair treads work particularly well in spaces where the design calls for clean lines and visual order, but where the warmth of Red Oak is still the right fit. Modern craftsman interiors, transitional homes with warm palettes, and spaces that mix natural materials with contemporary architecture are all good candidates.
It's also a practical choice for projects where consistency across the staircase run matters. Because rift sawn grain is so uniform, the treads will look similar to one another from step to step — a quality that's harder to achieve with flat-sawn material, where grain pattern and figure can vary significantly from board to board.
If you want Red Oak with more visual texture — the subtle ray figure that quarter sawing produces — our Quarter Sawn Red Oak Stair Treads are worth comparing. If you prefer more natural character with knots and color variation, our Character Grade Red Oak Stair Treads take the species in a different direction entirely.
Practical Benefits of the Cut
Rift sawn lumber tends to be more dimensionally stable than flat-sawn boards. The orientation of the growth rings reduces the tendency to cup or move with seasonal humidity changes — a meaningful advantage on a stair tread that needs to stay flat and tight over years of daily use.
Dimensions and Thickness
These treads are available in the following sizes:
- Lengths: 34" to 60", available in every inch increment
- Depths: 10", 10.5", 11", 11.5", 12"
- Thickness: 1" or 2"
A 1" tread is standard for most traditional stair systems. A 2" tread adds visual weight and rigidity — a common choice when the staircase is a focal point or when the design calls for a more substantial profile. If you're replacing existing treads, measure the current thickness before ordering.
Edge Profiles
Three nosing profiles are available:
- Square Edge: A sharp, 90-degree front edge. The natural match for rift sawn material — the clean, linear grain and the precise edge reinforce each other.
- Eased Edge: Corners are lightly softened without changing the overall square profile. A practical middle ground for most settings.
- Bullnose: A fully rounded front edge. Less common with rift sawn material, but available for projects where a softer nosing profile is preferred.
Coordinating Across Species
If your project involves stair treads in multiple species, or if you're matching rift sawn flooring or millwork elsewhere in the home, we also offer Rift Sawn White Oak Stair Treads. The two species have different color palettes, but the shared cut creates a visual consistency that can work well across a larger project.
Custom Options
If your project requires dimensions outside what's listed here, call us at 1-800-874-5181. We mill our own products and have more flexibility on custom work than most suppliers. We're glad to help you find the right fit for your staircase.
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