Stairs from Zakuna: anyone else had isses with this supplier?

[Red Kite]

Just wanted to know if anyone else has had issues with Zakuna? We had stairs fitted by them in December last year and though the stairs look great (in general we are delighted)  there were some issues with the install. Some of the issues were cosmetic, for example there are LED lights under the treads which are really nice but the wiring to them is visible and REALLY ugly. Also there was some issues with balustrading that meant that our BCO wouldn't sign off on them. For us this has not been too much of an issue, but if we were waiting for sign off for a mortgage this could have been really difficult. So after 6 months of continuous nagging they finally came to fix all the issues and in fairness did fix them all except the cosmetic wiring issue! So we have started chasing them again but are very disappointed, just wanted to see if anyone else has had similar problems with Zakuna or been totally delighted ?

 

As an aside - note to self for next time: when paying for big ticket items (that are complex to fit) make sure to keep a retainer so you have some leverage. We were in a real rush to get them fitted and without too much thought we paid the final invoice in full prior to fitting. Result: no leverage at all to get any issues resolved - if we had kept back 5% we might have been in a better place. Any advice on how to apply pressure to get this kind of problem solved?

[Mr Punter]

The stairs do look very good.

 

Could you figure where the wires could go to make them acceptable?  They may have been better under the on the inner face of the string on the left hand side as you go up.

[Red Kite]

Yes, you are right, and this is the conclusion the fitter came to when he tried to run trunking around the outside - it just wont work as there is just not enough space, so the cables really need to run on the inside of the stair not the outside. However to run the cable inside the stair will likely require each tread is removed and routed so its not a small job. Its fundamentally a design fault and should have been done in the factory so there is some discussion between parties on who will do the work and who will pay - classic!  We wait to see how this is resolved, but hopefully in less than another 6 months - the saving grace is we have stairs that work and look great (ish) and our BCO will sign them off now as he doesn't care about the cosmetic side.

 

 

[markc]

Nice staircase! as for the wiring, was this an added extra? did they offer it as an option? if they do offer lighting then they should have a method/system for concealing the wires.

Steel plate stringers make concealment very difficult unless its all against a wall and then the wires are taken in a rebate under the treads.

[Wil]

Could I be really rude and ask how much (by PM if preferable) a stair like this cost? I have a pipe dream to move the stairs to an atrium in my place and this look and feel would be ideal. Just rising one storey but would need a curved start like yours onto a straight.

 

Just for your problem, can the LED strips be taken off and turned around to get the cables to run up the inside? You mention routing above which is obviously a much bigger job?