I need 1.5″ actual thickness material for a set of open riser stairs in my new home construction. The stringers are steel and meant for a 2×12 as the tread. Treads are 3 feet wide.
I am not really a fan of the 2×12 pine look, and just got a price for some solid cherry. WOW.
Would there be any problems using a veneer grade plywood (like birch) and face gluing 2 pieces together for the tread? What sort of strength vs solid lumber could I expect?
Replies
I believe your hardwood is the stronger. Having said that, the plywood would certainly be strong enough for treads if there is centre stringer & I assume there is. Having said thatttt I wouldn't use the plywood. The veneer is very thin and would probably show signs of wear long before it should & it just wouldn't look good.
I would spend the $ on the cherry. Last a lifetime and looks better with age. Plywood is plywood is ........
Gary
4.5 BF per tread, and Cherry can be had for 5.00 per BF ( around here) =22.50 per tread. Unless ya have a LOT of treads, a typ. stair is still under 400.00. Say 16 treads or less.
Ply wood at 60.00$ / 32 sqft =1.87 sqft..x 6 sqft per tread=11.25 x 16 ( the number I used above for treads) =180.00.
Labor to rip ply and laminate=1/2 day? Edge applied to laminates? ..Poor wear resistance?
I'd be all over the solid wood...Oak can be even cheaper at 3.50-4.00 a BF ( again, here).
EDIT: waste factor of plywood= only 4 treads per sheet, takes 4 sheets , now the cost is 240.00 and you have 4 2'x4' waste hunks..
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
Edited 3/19/2008 5:04 pm ET by Sphere
Hardwood comes as 6/4 or 8/4 and since you want 1.5" treads the stock has to be 2" to start with a 1/2" of waste turning into dust. If you could get by with 1.25" treads you would save a chunk of money.
Ash is the cheapest hardwood that I know of ( about half the cost of cherry) but call a local hardwood supplier and ask them for suggestions.