What is the best finish for pine handrails, and are pine handrails easy to maintain?
Pine, alongside oak, is one of the most popular types of wooden handrails. Known for their light colouring and striking style – pine handrails offer a range of unique benefits.
Here, we explain the key benefits of pine handrails and provide expert guidance on maintaining pine handrails. We also discuss the recommended finish for pine handrails.
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Find out the key benefits of choosing a pine stair handrail for your stairs.
Find out whether pine handrails are durable and easy to maintain.
Read our guide to how pine compares to other popular types of woods.
Find out what the finishing options are for pine handrails, and how they compare to each other.
We answer common questions on buying and caring for pine handrails.
What are the benefits of choosing pine handrail kits?
Offering a unique, eye-catching style, pine tends to be lighter in colour than oak, featuring a yellow or reddish tint which can gradually darken. Pine is often light beige, and with a straight grain and attractive knots, offering a unique and striking style. You may want to choose a pine handrail over the traditional, knot-free appearance of oak, for example.
Flexible in its style, pine can be used in homes with both traditional and modern interior design. Its pale colour makes it especially ideal for hallways with neutral tones.
Pine handrails can often be used as a less expensive yet practical alternative to oak handrails. Although often more cost-effective and not quite as durable as oak, pine still offers excellent strength. Pine is also one of the most sustainable woods available, which makes it a perfect option if you are environmentally conscious.
Read about the full range of different woods available for handrails here.
Are pine handrails easy to maintain?
Although pine is considered a more cost-effective timber, it is still fairly hardwearing and can last for a considerably long time without a lot of maintenance. Pine has a close grain that makes it very strong.
Pine handrails are a fairly durable material option, although they do require occasional care and maintenance. They are also susceptible to showing scratches and dents. Pine is, however, resistant to shrinking and swelling.
Treatex Hardwax Oil is a popular option that can be used to maintain pine handrails, which is quick-drying and hardwearing. Hard wax oils contain a blend of oils and waxes designed to protect the wood, including linseed oil, sunflower oil and beeswax. Applying hard wax oil makes wooden handrails stain-resistant and gives a lovely smooth finish to the surface.
How does pine compare to other wood handrail materials?
Durability and strength
Hemlock handrails are often compared to pine handrails due to their similar colouring, but hemlock is more durable and has a uniform, knot-free grain. Hemlock has a similar resistance to pine and also offers excellent strength and durability, despite it being a softwood. Oak, on the other hand, is a highly durable hardwood and is often a more expensive option than pine. Although a strong wood, pine is slightly harder to maintain than oak, and is more likely to show scratches than oak.
Read our full guide to oak vs pine here.
Ash takes stains well, and is less likely to show scratches and dents than pine. It is harder than woods such as oak; however, is less water-resistant than pine. One of the toughest hardwoods, ash is able to absorb shocks without splintering.
White primed handrails are made from birch or poplar, and birch, in particular, is extremely strong and resistant to warping, making it an ideal choice for stair parts.
Walnut, on the other hand, is a hardwood and is a slightly more durable option than pine. However, if you are looking for a much lighter wood that is also a strong option, pine is an ideal and cost-effective choice.
(Pine Handrails for use with Glass, Spindles or for Wall Mounting (jacksonwoodturners.co.uk))
Appearance
Its light and natural appearance means pine goes particularly well with neutrals such as white and cream. The knotty wood, ranging from creamy white to yellow with brown knots, is similar in appearance to lighter woods such as ash and hemlock. Although hemlock has a similar appearance to pine, it is without knots, so it provides a clean-looking finish. Oak is slightly warmer and darker than pine and offers a distinctive tiger stripe that often features yellow flecks and rays.
Read our guide to choosing an option of wood for your handrail here.
Woods such as dark hardwood and walnut are much darker than pine and are often used to create a traditional theme. Walnut appears close in colour to mahogany and is a sustainable replacement for it. Dark hardwood creates a classy look that is ideal if you want a timeless staircase. ranging from pale brown to deep chocolate with a visible dark brown grain. The grained texture is tight and straight.
Ash features straight, regular grain with minimum knots in attractive pale brown, sometimes with a red tinge. Ash appears slightly paler than pine. White primed wood, on the other hand, is knot-free and can be sprayed white for a high-quality, even finish. It is a great option if you want a modern, minimalistic-style staircase.
Price
Pine is one of the most cost-effective options of wood, and is great if you are looking for a lower price range option that is strong and light beige in colour. The most expensive option of wood is often ash, closely followed by oak.
Hemlock is generally less expensive than options such as oak; however, is often pricier than pine.
Find out more about choosing between hardwood and softwood here.
What is the best wood finish for pine handrails?
Pine is suitable for painting, staining and varnishing; however, you will need to use a knotting solution before painting. The best option for you depends on the type of finish you prefer, and the look you are going for. If you want to change the colour of the pine, you have the options of staining or painting it.
Staining pine
You’ll need to apply a coat of sanding sealer to softwood handrails, such as pine, before applying a stain. It can be tricky to colour-match wood so use a tester pot to apply a small amount to the underside of the handrail and allow it to dry so you can get an accurate impression of the colour.
Once you’re happy with the colour, you can apply the stain to the rest of the handrail and allow it to dry before sealing the wood with varnish. Staining wood simply changes the colour of the wood and doesn’t provide any protection, so you’ll need to finish the wood with wax or varnish.
Painting pine
Alternatively, you can paint your pine handrail a vibrant colour to show off your personal style. Just remember to use a knotting solution before painting the pine.
Oil, varnish and finishing waxes
If you prefer a more traditional approach to treating wood, you could apply two or three coats of linseed or teak oil and then apply a layer of wax. Danish oil is a mixture of oil and varnish so is more hardwearing than regular oil but not as hardwearing as hard wax oil.
Finishing waxes give pine handrails an ultra-smooth surface and add an extra layer of protection to the wood, which is ideal if you want to maintain the quality of your handrail. You can apply a coat of wax to your pine handrail after oiling it to give it a shine.
Varnish, on the other hand, contains resin, drying oil and a thinner to create a clear finish on wood. You can apply it after oiling the handrail and once it’s dried. Varnish is a great option for protecting against spills. However, it can dull over time and can be trickier to apply than wax and oil.
What is hard wax oil?
At Jackson’s, we recommend applying Treatex Hardwax Oil to pine handrails, as it is quick-drying and hardwearing. Hard wax oils contain a blend of oils and waxes designed to protect the wood, including linseed oil, sunflower oil and beeswax. Applying hard wax oil makes pine handrails stain-resistant and gives a lovely smooth finish to the surface.
Do you need to use pine wood filler?
Wood filler is used for repairing wood by filling the gaps between wood chunks or holes. It can be applied directly on the surface of your project. You can use pine wood filler if you want to fill in any imperfections.
Our 2-Part High performance pine filler is a fast-drying exterior and interior wood filler.
The filler is exceptional strong and flexible and can be drilled, nailed, planed or carved once dried.
You can view our full range of wood finishings here.
Frequently asked questions
Which types of woods stain the best for wooden stairs?
Oak is an extremely versatile wood that works well when stained in order to showcase the natural timber. Pine is perfect for staining, varnishing or painting.
Is pine as strong and durable as oak?
No, pine is a softwood and consequently less strong than oak. As oak is formed, it builds up layers that make it stronger and more resistant to wear and tear. Oak is also much heavier, impacting its durability and hardness. However, pine still offers good strength and durability.
Read our full guide to oak vs pine handrails here.
Should you paint a pine handrail?
You can represent your personal style and interior design preferences through painting your handrail. For example, you may want to paint your pine handrail a vibrant colour or perhaps a more neutral shade to ensure your wooden stairs match your home interior. However, bear in mind that you will need to use a knotting solution.
Why is pine cheaper than oak?
Pine trees grow more quickly and are more sustainable than oaks. Their wood is softer and neither as strong nor as durable as oak wood. Consequently, pine is less expensive than oak.
What types of softwood and hardwood stair parts are available for handrails?
Softwood options include pine and hemlock, whilst oak and ash are popular hardwoods available for handrails.
For a high-quality and long-lasting option, choose your stylish staircase handrail with Jackson Woodturners.
How can you tell if wood is oak or pine?
Pine has a very distinctive pattern of knots with a straight grain and beige or yellow colour. Oak has a larger colour range from blonde to dark browns and is knot-free with a pronounced grain.
Is pine or oak better for stairs?
It depends on your individual requirements. Pine is less expensive than oak and has an excellent finish, but it is not as hardwearing or strong. Oak is exceptionally durable and timelessly stylish but costs more.