Prefab stair parts becoming the norm on custom builds

Last three houses I worked on used factory-made stair stringers and balusters. It saves a lot of time on site. But the fit often needs tweaking with a planer or shims. I'm confused why this is standard now when custom used to mean hand-fit pieces.

3 comments

3 Comments

nathanscott4d ago

My local coffee shop that calls itself artisanal uses the same big brand syrup every other place does. It's the same idea, right? They call it custom but the parts are all mass made to save labor costs. I see it with everything now, from kitchen cabinets to those fake stone veneers. The word "custom" just means they let you pick from a catalog before they have to shim it into place.

harperp244d ago

Seriously, my friend Janice paid extra for 'custom' blinds last year. The guy came over, measured the windows, and everything. Then she saw the exact same set at Home Depot, just cut to size. Felt like such a scam.

wadesullivan4d ago

No way, the exact same blinds from Home Depot? That means the 'custom' part was just the cutting, which any big store does for free. It's crazy how companies sell basic services as something special. Janice likely paid for the measurement visit and the fake idea of a unique product. This happens so much now that the word 'custom' means nothing. It's really just mass made stuff with a tiny change. Customers think they're getting a hand made item, but it's all from the same factory.