Some homes deserve a thoughtful, phased approach—and this Carmel Valley project is a perfect example.
We originally completed the downstairs flooring for this homeowner last year. When they reached out again in January, their goal was clear: continue the transformation and create a seamless, cohesive look throughout the rest of the home. The plan was to remove all existing carpet in the bedrooms, closets, hallway, and staircase and replace it with the same Coretec Kent Oak vinyl plank flooring used downstairs.
One unique challenge was a curved built-in cabinet at the end of the hallway, installed by a previous owner. Rather than cutting the new flooring short, we carefully removed the cabinet, installed the flooring wall-to-wall, and reinstalled the cabinet on top. This ensures the flooring runs continuously to the walls—an important detail that adds long-term value and flexibility should the home ever be sold.
The bedrooms were fairly straightforward, but the project demanded precision. Existing tile transitions sat higher than the new vinyl plank, and the solid wood trim along the catwalk hallway required special attention. To solve this, we performed custom ramping and installed a 5mm rubber underlayment, the only underlayment approved by the manufacturer for this application. The result? Smooth, solid, glued-down transitions—without bulky or distracting trim moldings.
The staircase presented a similar challenge with ⅝” solid wood side trim. To achieve a flawless finish, we carefully shimmed the treads and risers with plywood so the new vinyl plank flooring would sit perfectly flush with the existing trim. The end result is a clean, continuous flow that looks as if it’s been part of the home since day one.
Vinyl plank stairs are one of the most commonly mishandled installations we see—and the mistakes can be glaring. Proper planning, technical knowledge, and attention to detail make all the difference.
If you’re looking for true professionals who know how to fine-tune every detail of a vinyl plank stair project, we’d love to help. Reach out to us, and we’ll design a solution that’s done right the first time.
