6 Keys to Hiring a Stair Builder

Seek a Full Time Experienced Stair Builder. Experience can't be overrated. You don't want an excellent handyman trying to build your stair. How many years experience does their designer have? How many years install experience does the installer have?

Request References. When asking for references, ask for one in your town. Do they know the building codes for stairs in your town? Can you look at a similar type of job, something that would demonstrate they can handle your job.

Make sure they can be easily reached! A truck and a cell phone do not mean they will be found next week, or even be around to finish the job. Do they have a permanent location — a shop and a showroom?

Are they on their own, or part of a team? It is nearly always beneficial to use a firm with at least a few people. The old phrase; jack of all trades, master of none …. It's hard to find one person who is good at selling, customer service, technically detailed and a good craftsman. You may be talking to a great salesperson — but can they build a stair? Odds are, working with a team will give you a higher degree of quality overall.

Do they have a woodworking shop? Shop fabrication of your stair will give you a much better fit of the joints and construction. A carpenter building a stair on site with hand-tools simply can't get the precision fit that a woodworking shop can.

Get commitments clear. They should be offering you a written estimate. If every detail isn't spelled out — add your own notes on the contract. If there is a problem or misunderstanding later, it will be too late. Making additional notes can simply make expectations clearer and better communicated.