Is it ok to stain and poly pine stairs?

Question

I have 15 carpeted stairs from the foyer doorway to the first level.I installed hardwood laminate (tannish colored cherry laminate), but the steps can not have laminate (according to handmen/home depot). my handyman recommends I replace the pine with oak, but I can't afford that. he can stain them but doesn't recommend it. the pine under the carpet looks solid and been no problem for over 5 years.

what should I do? can I stain the pine stairs? whats the worst that can happen?

Answer 1

I wonder why they said you can't have laminate on the stairs.  We do on two flights and it hasn't been a problem.  Some people believe it will be slippery, but we haven't noticed that.  

You certainly could stain and poly the pine.  I might worry that the pine would be prone to wear and tear as it is a soft wood.  

Answer 2

Do you properly care for your flooring ? Taking proper care in cleaning and protecting your floor prevents damage, extends the life of the floor, and will keep it looking great for years to come http://www.asesidea.com/how_to_clean_sla...

thanks - http://1st-floortile.blogspot.com/

Answer 3

Chances are that you wouldn't be able to replace the pine treads with oak just because of the way the stairs are made.  However, with a lot of work this could be done, but at what cost?  You can stain the pine and get a close enough match,   Use a stain, and then a true oil polyurethane that will give you build of the film which will give you protection.  good luck.