Hi there, hoping for some help here. has anyone used pine for stairs? we are looking at installing closed stringer open rise stairs, and pine seems the cheapest options. Some stair places say you can polish/laquer it and it will be fine but not as good as hardwood, some stair places say that you shouldn't use pine for open rise stairs at all. So confused.

No problem to use pinus radiata for stairs at all - so long as it is 'select' quality and indoors (but treated pine OK outdoors). It is a softer timber so will dent and mark and scratch more easily than other harder timbers, but not too much more IMO (unless dirt and sand etc is a regularly carted in and onto the stairs. Best to use polyurethane finishes (2-3 coats) rather than oils as they will better protect the timber with a hard surface (can be matt, satin or gloss). Edges must have an arris or be routed over - sharp edges are asking for damage on any timber.

__________________
Advice from me on this forum is general and for guidance based on information given by the member posing the question. Not to be used in place of professional advice from people appropriately qualified in the relevant field. All structural work must be approved and constructed to the BCA or other relevant standards by suitably licensed persons. The person doing the work and reading my advice accepts responsibility for ensuring the work done accords with the applicable law.