[strongbridge]

My carpenter tore out our old carpet staircase and rebuilt a new one. He's just about to put the iron balusters on but I just noticed, he didn't place moulding (lip) where the tread and the riser meet. On pics of his work, all of the other staircases he built had the mouldings. I want the mouldings. I believe he did not put them because he was upset about a column he built that I didn't like and he tore it down and re did it to the way that I liked it. Now that the staining and painting is done, is it going to be much work involved to place the mouldings on each tread? Please give some advice

[Bljack]

This is where a contract spells out the fine detail. If you have one and it's not specified, it wasn't included in the work. Better to discuss this with him now than later and don't be surprised with the additional charges. The tough thing is if there is bad blood forming between a customer and a contractor. It's all in the way both parties approach a conversation. Your best approach if you think he's at the point of hating being there and just wants to get done... first, check your contract, if you have one. IF you don't have one, make this a learning experience to ensure fine details such as stair mouldings are spelled out in any future work you have others do. Next, if it's not in the contract, and you think he truly wants to just get done and out, approach the situation like this...

"[Insert name], when I looked at the pictures of the work you have done, I really liked the ornate mouldings you did on the riser/tread configuration. Is there a way to do that now?"

Makes it a partnership

As opposed to "[insert name], how come there's no fancy mouldings on my steps like in the pictures of your other work"

Makes it adversarial and puts him on the defensive.

More flys with honey.

[hkstroud]

I could be wrong but I believe that most building codes require a 1" nosing (the lip you are referring to) where a riser is used.