Not all flooring projects are created equal — and custom hardwood stairs are one area where experience matters more than ever.
This recent project in the 92009 area came to us through one of our trusted stair railing partners after the homeowner began realizing their remodel contractor may have been in over his head. The contractor originally assured them that “his guys” could handle the flooring, baseboards, and custom pie-shaped staircase installation. Unfortunately, the results quickly raised serious concerns.
When Matt from the railing company inspected the project, one detail immediately stood out: the stair edges had been left completely unfinished. The exposed flooring simply stopped flush with the edge of each step, with no proper stair nosing solution in place.
The contractor’s proposed fix? Attach a simple 1×2 strip of wood to the edge of the steps as trim.
While that might sound acceptable to someone unfamiliar with stair construction, it would have created a major durability and safety issue — especially in a busy household with four people constantly using the stairs every day. Even worse, the curved exposed edges of the staircase required intricate shaping and craftsmanship that cannot be achieved by forcing straight pieces of wood to bend around rounded stair profiles.
It was a recipe for future cracking, separation, and failure.
After reviewing inspiration photos from the homeowner, we knew right away that they wanted quality. We immediately recommended removing the improperly installed material and rebuilding the staircase correctly using solid hardwood stair treads. This allowed us to properly craft the intricate curved edges on the main staircase as well as the custom step-down areas surrounding the raised entryway.
The final result delivered exactly what the homeowners envisioned:
- Clean custom curved stair profiles
- Proper solid hardwood construction
- Long-term durability
- Seamless integration with the surrounding flooring
- A high-end finished appearance worthy of the home
Custom stair work is one of the most specialized areas of hardwood flooring installation. Precision, structure, safety, and finish detail all have to come together perfectly — especially when dealing with curved stairs, pie-shaped treads, and exposed edges.
At San Diego Flooring Pros, we specialize in solving the difficult projects other contractors often underestimate.
If you’re planning a custom hardwood stair remodel, curved staircase update, or high-end flooring installation, trust experienced craftsmen who understand how to do it correctly the first time.
