Painting your stairs? What they should actually be made of
Written by Scott Jones, The Stair Guys, independent staircase measuring and sourcing specialists·Last updated
People often assume that if a staircase is going to be painted, what it is made of underneath does not matter, because the paint covers everything. It covers the look. It does not cover how the material behaves, and on a painted stair the wrong material shows up soon enough, in peeling, splitting and steps that do not wear well. Paint is a finish, not a fix.
Treads: solid pine, never MDF
The treads take all the wear, so this is where it matters most. Treads should be solid timber, usually pine for a painted stair. Never MDF. MDF is a primer sponge, it drinks in coat after coat before it looks right, and it is simply not robust enough to be walked on day in, day out. A solid pine tread takes paint properly and stands up to use. An MDF one is a false economy you feel underfoot.
Risers: solid best, ply a sound second, avoid MDF
Risers, the upright faces, do not get walked on, so there is more room to choose. Solid timber is best. Plywood is a sound second choice, and better than it is often given credit for, because it holds a screw without splitting. MDF is the one to avoid: it tends to crumble and split when you screw into it, and it does not take paint as cleanly. So for a painted stair the order is simple: solid, then ply, and MDF last.
The small extra that pays for itself
None of the better options costs a fortune more, and a painted stair built from the right materials lasts far longer than one thrown together from the cheapest board and painted to hide it. It is the same story as the rest of the staircase: a little more spent on what it is actually made of is cheaper than living with, or replacing, the version that was built down to a price. For the full component picture, see what you are actually getting when you order a staircase.
Frequently asked
Can staircase treads be MDF if they are going to be painted?+
No, not if you want them to last. Treads take all the wear, and MDF soaks up primer and is not robust enough underfoot. Treads should be solid timber, usually pine for a painted stair, which takes paint properly and stands up to daily use.
What is the best material for painted stair risers?+
Solid timber is best, plywood is a sound second because it holds a screw without splitting, and MDF is the one to avoid because it crumbles and splits when fixed and does not take paint as cleanly. For a painted stair the order is solid, then ply, then MDF last.
Does it matter what a staircase is made of if it is being painted?+
Yes. Paint hides the look but not how the material behaves. The wrong material still peels, splits or wears badly under the paint. Solid pine treads and solid or plywood risers, rather than MDF, are what make a painted stair last.
Related guides
- The label tells you the tree, not where it has beenA timber label like "oak" or "pine" tells you the species, not the journey. A lot of stair timber is shipped abroad for processing before it returns as "product", so here is what to ask about where your timber was grown and processed, and why it matters.
- Glass balustrades: why the joinery and fixings matter more than the glassOn a glass balustrade the glass is the easy part. What makes or breaks it is a dead-square, parallel frame (ideally tenoned and drawbored, not just screwed) and silicone bedding the glass so it is cushioned, held plumb and does not rattle.
- Which timber to choose for a staircaseThe best timber for a staircase depends on the part. Treads need a harder, wear-resistant wood like oak, ash or beech; handrails reward a timber that feels good in the hand; and paint-grade softwood is fine where it will be covered. There is no single best wood, and hardness is a guide, not a regulation.
- Metal spindles: cheaper than you think, and why simple lastsMetal spindles are more affordable than their reputation suggests, so they are worth a look on cost. But the more elaborate the design the faster it dates, so a simple, plain metal spindle tends to stay looking right far longer.
- Is your timber sustainable? Legality, and what FSC or PEFC certified really meansLegally sourced and sustainably sourced are not the same claim, and being FSC or PEFC certified is about audited paperwork, not a guarantee every board came from a certified forest. Here is what the labels really mean.
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