Have you ever heard of 3 quarter rounds horizontally installed between each step of a staircase to cover the gab between the step itself and the back of the step? Is that a proper way to do it? It looks very ugly.

Also, where the steps meet the dry wall, the installer told us that to get rid of the rough edges (edges that are roughly cut and uneven)and the gabs between the wood and the dry wall to cover these areas with 3 quarter rounds. Can you imagine what that looks like?

We acquired the floor through Home Depot. They seem to agree with the installer. They say, every installer has his own way of installing and that it doesn't mean it's done incorrectly.

We searched the internet to educate ourselves. We viewed samples of wood covered staircases and read the "How to Do's" but we never came across a staircase that's installed like ours, which looks like it's done by a handy man who's not very handy. Maybe your answer will be helpful to settle this matter with Home Depot, which has been an ongoing battle for a year.

Thank you in advance, Charlotte Bralds

I have never used ¼ round on any of my staircases.

It means that were not craftsmen with their cuts.

The first time I was involved in stair work, the guy I was working with was starting the stairs while I was finishing up the master bedroom. When I finished, I went out to see how he was doing before I ran to get us some lunch. Well he was doing, but with 1/4 round....it looked ugly. I knew it just wasn't right. The homeowner was not too pleased with the looks of it either.
So, I talked my co-worker into going and picking up the grub. While he was gone, I figured I'd give the stairs a shot, the right way, or at least the way I thought it should look.....no 1/4 round. It took a little longer, but looked 100 times better.
Granted I only completed one by the time he returned, but when he did he said quietly "Damn, that looks good". The homeowner was also very pleased.
I am no longer with the company I was installing for at that time, being on my own now for almost two years, yet that same homeowner has tracked me down to do work in a couple of his rental properties.....both with stairs.

Go to the photo section in this forum and look at the many photos of stairs. You will not see one where the installer used quarter round to finish off the sides or back. That should answer your question.
http://www.hardwoodinstaller.com/hardwo ... php?t=5224
http://www.hardwoodinstaller.com/hardwo ... .php?t=485
http://www.hardwoodinstaller.com/hardwo ... php?t=1258
http://www.hardwoodinstaller.com/hardwo ... php?t=1199
http://www.hardwoodinstaller.com/hardwo ... .php?t=894
http://www.hardwoodinstaller.com/hardwo ... .php?t=185