Hi

Our dog kennel is in the lower level of our walkout ranch.
The stair treads and risers are pine. The risers are fine,but the
pine treads, being soft, wear out quickly due to the dogs (their nails
wear the treads out). Oak doesn't work, since it is an open grained
wood, it is subject to wear like that of the pine. Can you make a
suggestion as to what material I can use in place of the treads (or ON
the treads) so they'll wear better (and look nicer)?

Thanks
Jerry

"Jerome Ranch" wrote in message
...
Hi

Our dog kennel is in the lower level of our walkout ranch.
The stair treads and risers are pine. The risers are fine,but the
pine treads, being soft, wear out quickly due to the dogs (their nails
wear the treads out). Oak doesn't work, since it is an open grained
wood, it is subject to wear like that of the pine. Can you make a
suggestion as to what material I can use in place of the treads (or ON
the treads) so they'll wear better (and look nicer)?


Ipe

On Tue, 04 Jul 2006 19:58:36 GMT, Jerome Ranch
wrote:

Hi

Our dog kennel is in the lower level of our walkout ranch.
The stair treads and risers are pine. The risers are fine,but the
pine treads, being soft, wear out quickly due to the dogs (their nails
wear the treads out). Oak doesn't work, since it is an open grained
wood, it is subject to wear like that of the pine. Can you make a
suggestion as to what material I can use in place of the treads (or ON
the treads) so they'll wear better (and look nicer)?

Thanks
Jerry

Oak will not wear anywhere near what you are experiencing with pine,
but you are correct there are open pores in the grain. Finishing
generally minimizes the issue.
Are the treads soft pine? If so, that is a no-no in stair buliding.
Hard pine (southern yellow) can make an *acceptable* tread where cost
prohibits hardwood.
If cost is not an issue and you are looking for advanced durability
and appearance, Hard Maple wears like iron and has an attractive
grain. However, unless I am missing something I would consider that
out-of-place in the setting you describe - dogs, kennel, etc. There
are all kinds of tack-down applications such as rubber that might be
the best idea.

Good Luck,
J

"Jerome Ranch" wrote in message
Hi

Our dog kennel is in the lower level of our walkout ranch.
The stair treads and risers are pine. The risers are fine,but the
pine treads, being soft, wear out quickly due to the dogs (their nails
wear the treads out). Oak doesn't work, since it is an open grained
wood, it is subject to wear like that of the pine. Can you make a
suggestion as to what material I can use in place of the treads (or ON
the treads) so they'll wear better (and look nicer)?

If you're not dead set on real wood, how about a composite wood material. I
use a couple of different brands and here are two I recently finished with
WeatherBest and Choicedeck, respectively (with no particular attempt to
pretty them up for the photos):

www.e-woodshop.net/images/driftwood.jpg

www.e-woodshop.net/images/choicedeck.jpg

If you want real wood, what Leon said.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 6/21/06

Thanks for the feedback
I've tried red oak, and it does wear..it tears up at the open
spots..and if I fill it..well the filler is quite soft. Maybe white
oak would be better? Or a harder closed wood like ipe or maple, and
then use a rubber center tread.
The nice wood does seem incongruous with the use, but the stairwell is
open (no doors at top or bottom), and well, I'd like it to look
somewhat nice.
I was also thinking of stone or concrete (thin stone slabs like one
might find in a garden application).
Jerry

"Swingman" wrote in message
...
www.e-woodshop.net/images/driftwood.jpg

www.e-woodshop.net/images/choicedeck.jpg


Hey I see you now have "All" the doors completely installed. ;~)

"Leon" wrote in message

Hey I see you now have "All" the doors completely installed. ;~)

LOL ... yeah. Plumbing and electrical trimout are all but finished on this
house. Floor finishers are due in tomorrow. Only then can I survey/repair
the inevitable damage/dings to the kitchen cabinets and mount doors, drawers
and hardware.

Remember that "mirror image" base cabinet that wasn't? That still has to be
done for the next house.

I'm still wrestling with angled mortise jigs in my spare time.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 6/21/06

"Swingman" wrote in message
...
"Leon" wrote in message

Hey I see you now have "All" the doors completely installed. ;~)

LOL ... yeah. Plumbing and electrical trimout are all but finished on this
house. Floor finishers are due in tomorrow. Only then can I survey/repair
the inevitable damage/dings to the kitchen cabinets and mount doors,
drawers
and hardware.

Remember that "mirror image" base cabinet that wasn't? That still has to
be
done for the next house.

Well I am still up for helping you out when ever you need it.

Not set on real wood
I thought the composite wood was less wear resistant (to tearing) than
real wood. The composites I've sen have a grain impressed into them
so they look like an open grained oak. This is the problem with open
grained woods, the edges of the grain get caught on the dogs nails and
it tears up.
I could try it for a couple of treads to see how it wears anyway

Jerry


If you're not dead set on real wood, how about a composite wood material. I
use a couple of different brands and here are two I recently finished with
WeatherBest and Choicedeck, respectively (with no particular attempt to
pretty them up for the photos):

www.e-woodshop.net/images/driftwood.jpg

www.e-woodshop.net/images/choicedeck.jpg

If you want real wood, what Leon said.

On Tue, 04 Jul 2006 19:58:36 GMT, Jerome Ranch
wrote:

Hi

Our dog kennel is in the lower level of our walkout ranch.
The stair treads and risers are pine. The risers are fine,but the
pine treads, being soft, wear out quickly due to the dogs (their nails
wear the treads out). Oak doesn't work, since it is an open grained
wood, it is subject to wear like that of the pine. Can you make a
suggestion as to what material I can use in place of the treads (or ON
the treads) so they'll wear better (and look nicer)?

Thanks
Jerry


White oak is an excellent outdoor wood, and unlike red oak it is
closed grained.

"Jerome Ranch" wrote in message

I could try it for a couple of treads to see how it wears anyway

I think you'll find a high quality product, like WeatherBest premium grade,
to be sufficiently wear resistant, although the cheaper stuff available at
the Borg's may be easier for you to find.

In any event, let us know how it turns out.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 6/21/06

Cool idea..keep the existing treads, but cover them with something


How about using some non-slip self-stick on the treads? Or, if you
want to go with industrial strength,
http://www.safeguard-technology.com/...stairtread.htm

R

Are there fast drying epoxies Lew?



I've tried red oak, and it does wear..

A couple of thoughts.

1) Apitong s/p, the wood used for truck and trailer beds.

Ugly as sin but wears like iron.

2) Epoxy and a couple of layers of 17 OZ, double bias fiber glass over
any wood of choice.

When the rest of the house has returned to compost, those steps will
still be thereG.

Lew

Jerome Ranch wrote:

Are there fast drying epoxies Lew?
snip

Fast is a relative term.

You need at least 24-48 hours for the resin to gain some strength.

If you need to keep this set of stairs in service, consider removing
every other step, glass them on a work bench, then replace and glass
the remaining steps.

Lew

How about Trex or some of the other plasticwood decking
material? It wears much better than pine and isn't as costly
as ipe, maple, or other hardwoods.

Art

"Jerome Ranch" wrote in message
...
Hi

Our dog kennel is in the lower level of our walkout ranch.
The stair treads and risers are pine. The risers are fine,but the
pine treads, being soft, wear out quickly due to the dogs (their nails
wear the treads out). Oak doesn't work, since it is an open grained
wood, it is subject to wear like that of the pine. Can you make a
suggestion as to what material I can use in place of the treads (or ON
the treads) so they'll wear better (and look nicer)?

Thanks
Jerry

On 4 Jul 2006 20:49:16 -0700, "RicodJour"
wrote:

Jerome Ranch wrote:
Hi

Our dog kennel is in the lower level of our walkout ranch.
The stair treads and risers are pine. The risers are fine,but the
pine treads, being soft, wear out quickly due to the dogs (their nails
wear the treads out). Oak doesn't work, since it is an open grained
wood, it is subject to wear like that of the pine. Can you make a
suggestion as to what material I can use in place of the treads (or ON
the treads) so they'll wear better (and look nicer)?

How about using some non-slip self-stick on the treads? Or, if you
want to go with industrial strength,
http://www.safeguard-technology.com/...stairtread.htm

R
A durable, good looking set of stairs can be made from
stained concrete. Most color stains are easy to use but
like anything you may not have tried to do yet, success
depends on careful research and planning. If you wanted to
make it even more attractive you could include some simple
"stamp" patterns that would look like the stone you
suggested. good luck on whatever you end up trying, Joe.