Stairing is expensive work - the pieces for the "stair-nose" are expensive and the labor is more intensive. So this price seems okay to me.

Thanks, Gina. I admit I am totally new to this whole thing, but I was surprised that it would be this much just to use a different wood. I can easily see that being the cost for the treads and railings, but not OVER and above the cost for treads and railings that I am already being charged.

I found a website that had Braz. Cherry treads at only a few dollars more each than the White Oak, so that is one reason I was confused.

Around here white oak is an upcharge from red oak and can be as much as $900 for the average staircase.

Now the jungle wood that you're wanting to use...well that has to be more money, simply for the fact that it has to be transported from the jungle (rainforest, really) to your stair builder. I wouldn't even think about using an exotic for lots of reasons.

glenn,

I appreciate your sensitivity to the ecology of the wood I am considering. I did a lot of research into the different wood species before I selected Brazilian Cherry.

For all of my interior wood flooring, I am making arrangements to purchase wood flooring ONLY from companies which import under the Forest Stewardship Council's COC program. This insures that the wood will come from sustainable and legal operations that are monitored and do not include old-growth harvesting.

There are only a few sources in the U.S. that import this way and they are more expensive than the mainstream importers, but I felt - as you do - that it is important to be a conscientious consumer.