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42 inch Red Oak Unfinished Traditional Right Return Stair Tread

SKU
STRRUNFI-42
main product photo
-8%
Special Price $38.91 ea was $42.18 ea
Red Oak Unfinished Traditional Right Return Stair Tread 42 in
Lead time is approximately 0 -2 weeks
Expected shipment date : 07/25/2026 to 07/31/2026

Unfinished products are considered commodities and will require some degree of additional minor prep-work before they can be considered complete, or "finished". Some degree of sanding / puttying is to be expected before finishing. Alternatively, consider ordering prefinished products.

Categories: Right Return Traditional Treads, Oak Stair Treads, In Stock Stair Treads and Risers
UV Finish
We're one of the only stair companies utilizing a 100% solids UV-cured finish on our products. This finishing method offers the most durable finish on the market today!
Experience
We've been providing prefinished treads online to do-it-yourself, contractors, and building supply stores for over 15 years.
Complete Solutions
Besides stair treads, we can source and finish flooring, handrail, newel posts, and other wood products to make your project a complete success!
First-Grade Product
Quality is at the front of all our wood products.

This 42-inch Red Oak Unfinished Traditional Right Return stair tread is the most affordable entry into WoodStairCo's traditional right return range. The right return end is factory-shaped and smooth- the left end is square-cut for stringer or wall placement.

Built to a 1-inch traditional thickness and 11.5-inch depth, this tread replaces worn or damaged steps on standard stair carriages. Red Oak is the most widely installed hardwood in American homes- its open grain accepts stain evenly, making it the go-to choice for matching existing Red Oak flooring at any color.

Apply the same stain you used on your floors for a near-seamless match. Not sure which stain? Order our Red Oak Stain Colors Sample Pack ($19.95) to test all 10 colors on real Red Oak wood at home before buying.

SPECS

  • Thickness- 1 inch (traditional)
  • Width- 11-1/2 inch | Length- 42 inches
  • End profile- Right return- right side rounded and finished, left end square
  • Finish- Unfinished- sand and finish on-site
  • Species- Red Oak | Janka hardness- 1,290

 

INSTALLATION NOTE

Sand to 120-grit. Apply stain, then 2–3 coats of polyurethane (sand lightly with 220-grit between coats). Allow 48 hours for full cure. Apply Loctite PL Premium adhesive + brad nailer at 6-inch intervals. Allow 24 hours before foot traffic.

ColorUnfinished
Unit Of Measureea
Width11-1/2 in
Color CodeUNFI
Length42 in
PrefinishedNo
ProfileTraditional Right Return Stair Tread
Thickness1 in
Wood SpeciesRed Oak
Quickship ItemNo
Stain ColorRed Oak - Unfinished
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Product FAQs (5)
Product Questions and Answers
  1. Q:need oak treads unfinished that have the bullnose finish on both sides. all I can find have the bull nose piece on the front and left side of the step,
    A:You’re looking for a double return tread. Double returns are sold by the throat length, which is the length between the two returns on the back of the tread. These are the standard 1” double return oak treads: https://woodstairco.com/double-return-traditional-1-red-oak-stair-tread-prefinished-natural-or-stained.html And these are the retro-fit double return treads: https://woodstairco.com/double-return-retro-fit-red-oak-stair-tread-prefinished-natural-or-stained.html This link better exmplains “throat length”: https://woodstairco.com/faq/standard-stair-tread-dimensions.html And more information on types of staircases is available here: https://woodstairco.com/types-of-staircases If you don’t see the throat length you need, give us a call at (866) 283-4224 and we can configure it for you

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  2. Q:What is the difference between a right return and a closed tread?
    A:A closed (box) end tread has both ends cut square- used when both sides of the staircase meet a wall. A right return tread has the right end rounded and finished- used when the right side is open to the room. Ordering the wrong profile means visible raw end grain on the open side.

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  3. Q:How many finish coats does an unfinished Red Oak tread need?
    A:Apply a minimum of 2 coats of polyurethane- 3 coats recommended for stair treads due to high foot traffic. Sand lightly with 220-grit between coats. Allow 48 hours for full cure before installation and 72 hours before heavy foot traffic.

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  4. Q:Will this Red Oak tread match my existing hardwood floors?
    A:Red Oak is the most common US hardwood floor species. Order our Red Oak Stain Colors Sample Pack ($19.95) to test stain colors on actual Red Oak wood before purchasing your treads. Apply the same stain product used on your floors for the closest match.

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  5. Q:Is 42 inches a standard stair width?
    A:42-inch treads fit most standard single-family residential staircases. Always measure from wall to wall (closed side) or from the stringer nosing to the open side before ordering. If between sizes, a longer tread can be trimmed from the square (non-return) end.

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