Hardwood Floors June/July 2026

CATEGORY: Best Staircase

Urbanik Surfaces | Miami, Florida

CATEGORY DETAILS: Entries in this category include all types of staircase projects. Submissions may include new installations or overlays, in either a residential or commercial application. The Stairbuilders and Manufacturers Association (SMA) judged this category. WHAT MAKES THIS STAIRCASE UNIQUE: Urbanik Surfaces in Miami, Florida, has earned the 2026 WFOY Best Staircase award for a floating walnut staircase that serves as the centerpiece of a residence in the private community of Golden Beach, Florida. The project came through a longstanding relationship with the home’s architects, who envisioned a staircase as striking as the artwork throughout the home. What began as a complex design challenge evolved into something even more ambitious, a cantilever staircase with a diamond-cut silhouette, each step appearing to float above the next like a sculptural installation. The team collaborated closely with the stair manufacturer through multiple coordination meetings to ensure all angles, dimensions, and structural details aligned with the design intent. Once the aluminum structural framework was complete, the crew clad and leveled the entire assembly with CDX plywood to establish the precise form and geometry required for the final design. Eight-inch-wide unfinished solid black walnut planks were then secured to the plywood substrate using a combination of adhesive and mechanical fasteners. The glass railing system required carefully benchmarked extensions on each step so the glass could be precisely positioned without interfering with the walnut cladding. Approximately 80 percent of the work was completed on site, with the remaining 20 percent limited to lumber preparation at the shop. Every visible surface of each step was hand-sanded and finished with three coats of Pall-X Power Ultra Matte finish, chosen to complement the walnut tones found throughout the home in ceiling details, paneling, and a private elevator. Completed during approximately three months, the project reflects Urbanik Surfaces’ craftsmanship and their ability to transform an architect’s vision into a functional work of art.

FLOORING FINISH: FINISH SHEEN: SPECIES:

Pall-X Power Ultra Matte Matte Black Walnut

the magazine of the national wood flooring association

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