Is it normal to have visible wiring and gaps on a $23k deck stair project?

You are absolutely not being too picky. At $23,000 for just two sets of stairs, you are paying a premium custom rate that should buy you a flawless architectural finish. For that price, I'd expect hidden fasteners, mitered corners, and zero visible wiring. The fact that they swapped composite risers for Smart Trim—which is basically just primed engineered wood—and then made you paint it is a massive red flag. Composite is significantly more expensive and maintenace-free; you essentially paid for a luxury material and received a budget one that requires ongoing upkeep. Regarding the wiring, having loops hanging under the structure is a major code and safety issue. Low-voltage wiring needs to be stapled and protected, not dangled where animals or debris can snag it. If the wiring looks that sloppy, it makes me wonder if they even used a proper outdoor transformer or if they just hacked it togehter. Those 'button' lights are ussually the cheapest bulk options available, often costing about $10 a pop, while the integrated rectangular fixtures you discussed require actual precision routing and cost five times as much in labor and materials.

Those gaps under the risers are likely a result of the stringers not being cut perfectly level or the riser material bowing. On a budget job, you might let it slide, but at this price point, it's unacceptable. You need to pull out your contract and compare the **scope of work** to what was actualy delivered. If the contract specified composite and integrated lighting, they are in breach of that agreement.

Do not make the final payment untill this is addressed. You should be asking for a significant credit for the material downgrade and the labor you spent painting, plus a complete re-do on the wiring. A professional contractor whould be embarrassed to leave a job looking like that, especally after charging over $5,000 just for the lighting package.

$5,000 just for the lights? That is absolutely insane! I’m totally new here and just starting to plan my first big outdoor project, so seeing these numbers is blowing my mind!! I’d be so upset if they swapped the fixtures on me like that. Since you mentioned the composite material, did you look into the heat-shielding tech for the actual boards? I’m super worried about my dog’s paws getting burned in the summer and I've been researching the "cool-touch" options like crazy. Does your deck get a lot of direct sun?? Hope you get that wiring fixed beacuse 25 lights should look like a runway, not a tangled mess!

Twenty-three grand for two sets of stairs? I've built entire wrap-arounds for less than that back in the 90s. Scribing the risers used to be standard practice so you didn't see those ugly gaps, not this slap-dash work. Using Smart Trim is just lazy; it’s basially glorified cardboard that’ll rot out once the moisture hits it. If those wires aren't in a conduit or at least stapled tight, you're just asking for a squirrel to have a field day. Tell him to get back out there and do it right or don't cut the check. That's a 'Friday afternoon' job if I ever saw one.

I'm still learning the basics before I start my first build, but seeing that price tag for just the stairs is making me nervous. Does $23k really not cover everythign being perfect? I assumed that kind of money meant you'd never see a single screw or wire.

Also, since the contractor swapped the materials, is that 'Smart Trim' stuff acutally harder to maintain than the composite you wanted? I don't know much about it, but if you have to keep painting it every few years, doesn't that cost you even more in the long run? That feels like a raw deal.

I had a similar issue with sagging wires on my last deck project. I fixed it by using heavy-duty 1/2-inch cable staples and running everything through PVC conduit where it was exposed. It took me a Saturday afternoon, but it stopped the 'spaghetti' look and saved the wires from the weed whacker. For $5k in lighting labor alone, they should've used those same staples every 12 inches at least. If you can see the fasteners on the risers, check if they even pre-drilled. On my build, skipping that step led to mushrooming and gaps. I'd make them come back and sink those properly or use plugs to hide the mess.