Raleigh, NC

This project is a perfect example of how technology and craftsmanship can form a mutually beneficial partnership. With templates drawn in Autocad and then cut on a large CNC milling machine, we were able to precisely fabricate the exact form our client desired for the stair tower and stair itself. Once the templates were used to form the foundation and as the plates that guided the framing, it was time for the computer to step aside and Bob the stair builder to enter the scene.

With a level of care and attention to detail that is increasingly difficult to find today, Bob Stockford created the entire stair using only his hands and powered hand tools. The treads were created by laminating 1/8" thick plywood on a continuously sloping curve one layer at a time until a thickness of 3" was created. The rise and run were cut out of the stringers by hand and then each tread (which are all unique) was scribed and cut precisely for its specific location. And in the ultimate display of woodworking prowess, Bob agreed to follow through on our details and produce the stairs with such precision that no trim, and in fact only reveal details, were used at the edges of the stair.