We're getting new banisters. Do we want pine or hemlock?

[Thesebootsweremadeforwalking]

We can't afford oak, which is a shame as that would match the hall floor.

So - hemlock is half the price and pine about half that again.

We're also not sure whether to paint it white, or just varnish it.

What have you got, and is it nice?

Can't answer your question, sorry, but these people are very reasonably priced and were great to deal with when we got a loft conversion.

www.davedalbywoodturning.co.uk

We have hemlock as also couldn't afford oak. Once installed I used a oak coloured wax. You can get all different tints/colours. Looks great and can't really tell it apart from our other banisters that are oak.

Big, did you manage to get the hemlock to a light Oak colour that way, or is it a darker wood to start with?

I thought it was a mid colour but less grain in it as oak. We got it from b and Q and I was happy with the quality. I like thick chunky sturdy wood and it feels nice .

DH photographed some in Wickes today. Is it redder than oak do you think, and has yours changed colour like pine would do?