American Chestnut Tree?

My family is in the process of getting my grandfathers house ready to sell. In the bathroom there are two stairs (American Chestnut) that lead to the bath tub that are in excellent condition. I was wondering if this adds value to house? Or worth mentioning to the realtor/perspective buyers?





The tree was one of the best for timber. It grew straight and often branch-free for 50 feet. Loggers tell of loading entire railroad cars with boards cut from just one tree. Straight-grained, lighter in weight than oak and more easily worked, chestnut was as rot resistant as redwood. It was used for virtually everything - telegraph poles, railroad ties, shingles, paneling, fine furniture, musical instruments, even pulp and plywood.

American Chestnut Tree?
The chestnut was decimated by a fungus, not a worm, and the fungus is still here. Many small chestnut sprouts can be found all over the east, but they die back pretty quickly. A new chestnut has been developed that is resistant to the fungus. It is 15/16ths American Chestnut and 1/16th Chinese Chestnut. It retains all of the traits of the American variety, with the added fungus protection. So the chestnut may be back in our forests again sometime soon.


And yes, it is worth mentioning that the stairs are made from Chestnut. It may or may not help, but it certainly won't hurt.
Reply:if they are removable take them off and keep them.....


they have sentimental value to you , not the new owners....
Reply:American Chestnut is a beautiful wood and is most often mistaken in antique stores for Oak. It will be difficult to find replacements (if someone is looking for Chestnut), but I have found some to repair some antique furniture that I bought a while back.





Depending upon the length and width of the stair treads, I might take them up and put down oak instead. There is always the possibility that some idiot, not knowing what they are, might just put down carpet tack strips and carpet over them.





As for me, since I do wood work, repair old furniture, and build things out of wood, I can always find a use for Chestnut. I paid $8/board foot for clear chestnut the other day to get a piece to replace a board on an old 3 drawer chest. That, I thought, was a deal because finding Chestnut without worm holes is a difficult task.





The Appalachian states are now in process of cultivating American Chesnut and if you drive through from the mountains of GA up toward the NE US, you might see one here or there. I saw one the other day in a state park in Georgia that was small, but beautiful.





I think, however, that the worm that got to them is still about.
Reply:Most definitely mention it to buyers, why wouldn't you? RScott