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Red Oak Unfinished Traditional Riser 42 in

SKU
RIZRUNFI-42
main product photo
-8%
Special Price $16.92 ea was $18.34 ea
Red Oak Unfinished Traditional Riser 42 in
Lead time is approximately 0 -2 weeks
Expected shipment date : 07/23/2026 to 07/29/2026

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: Traditional 3/4" Riser, Wood Stair 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.

The most affordable traditional riser in the WoodStairCo Red Oak range- this 42-inch unfinished riser gives you complete colour control at the lowest price point. Sand, stain, and finish on-site to match any existing Red Oak floor or your chosen tread stain exactly.

At $19.54, this is the value choice for budget-conscious stair builds and full staircase rebuilds where you want a custom colour match without paying prefinished prices. Red Oak's open grain accepts stain evenly- apply the same product as your treads for a seamless, consistent result.

SPECS

  • Width- 3/4 inch | Height- 7-3/4 inch | Length- 42 inches
  • End profile- Square both ends
  • Finish- Unfinished- sand and finish on-site
  • Species- Red Oak | Janka hardness- 1,290

 

INSTALLATION NOTE

Finish before installation. Sand to 120-grit. Apply stain + 2–3 coats polyurethane (sand lightly between coats). Allow 48 hours to cure. Apply Loctite PL Premium adhesive + brad nailer. Caulk riser-tread joint.

FINISH TIP

Stain and finish risers and treads together for consistent colour. Order our Red Oak Stain Colors Sample Pack ($19.95) to test all 10 stain colours on real Red Oak before buying your full riser set.

ColorUnfinished
Unit Of Measureea
Width7-1/4 in
Color CodeUNFI
Length42 in
PrefinishedNo
ProfileTraditional Riser
Thickness3/4 in
Wood SpeciesRed Oak
Quickship ItemNo
Stain ColorRed Oak - Unfinished
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Product FAQs (10)
Product Questions and Answers
  1. Q:Unfinished stair were stained and polyurethane but polyurethane ran in spots. How can I rectify?
    A:If there's a run in the stain or dried polyurethane, the only way to correct it is to sand the coat with the run and re-poly. It may require a light sanding or more aggressive sanding depending on whether it's a major run or just a minor blemish. Minor runs can be sanded out with 220# sandpaper and heavier runs may require more aggressive paper.

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  2. Q:Can I stain this tread any color I want?
    A:Yes. Unfinished hardwood treads accept any oil-based or water-based stain. Sand lightly with 120-grit, apply chosen stain, allow to dry, then apply 2–3 coats of polyurethane. For floor matching: bring a floor sample to a paint store to identify the correct stain. We also offer a Red Oak Stain Colors Sample Pack for testing before committing to full treads.

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  3. Q:Is 42 inches the most common residential stair width?
    A:42" is the most frequently ordered tread size in the US — typical for single-family homes built between the 1970s and 1990s. If you live in a standard residential home and are unsure of your stair width, 42" is a reasonable starting assumption. Always measure — but if your measurement falls between 40"–44", a 42" tread with minor trimming is usually the cleanest solution.

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  4. Q:Why is Red Oak the most popular species for stair treads?
    A:Red Oak accounts for over 50% of hardwood floors in US homes built before 2015, making it the natural match for most staircase upgrades. Janka hardness 1290 — handles residential traffic for decades. Open grain accepts stain evenly for consistent color matching to existing floors.

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  5. Q:What is the difference between retro risers and traditional risers?
    A:Retro risers are designed to install over existing risers — same concept as retro treads. Traditional risers (3/4" thick) are used in new construction or when replacing the full stair assembly. Retro risers are the correct pairing for retro tread installations; traditional risers pair with traditional tread replacements.

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  6. Q:Do I need to install risers when I install new stair treads?
    A:Not always. Open-riser staircases have no risers by design. Closed staircases already have risers that may not need replacing unless damaged. For a full retro tread installation, replacing risers at the same time gives the cleanest result — especially if existing risers are chipped, stained, or mismatched. Retro risers use the same adhesive + brad nailer method as treads.

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  7. Q:Why choose unfinished over prefinished risers?
    A:Unfinished risers give you complete colour control- you apply the same stain as your treads for an exact match. They are also the lowest-cost option. The trade-off is 1–2 hours of on-site finishing time per riser before installation. If you want speed and convenience, choose prefinished.

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  8. Q:Can I stain a riser the same colour as a prefinished tread?
    A:Yes- order our Red Oak Stain Colors Sample Pack ($19.95) and use the stain colour that most closely matches your prefinished tread. Keep in mind prefinished treads use a factory aluminum oxide finish with hatch is harder and slightly factory-appendent from an on-site poly coat, so there may be slight sheen variation.

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  9. Q:What is the total material cost for 13 unfinished risers?
    A:13 × $19.54 = $253.02 in riser materials. Pair with Red Oak Unfinished Traditional Closed treads at $35.52 each (13 × $35.52 = $461.76) for a complete unfinished staircase material cost of approximately $715 before stain and finish products.

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  10. Q:Is it better to finish the riser before or after installation?
    A:Before installation is always better- you can apply stain and finish flat on a workbench with full coverage on all faces. After installation, you are working in a tight, awkward space and risk drips onto other surfaces.

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