How to install laminate flooring on stair risers

If you are sure your stairs are of uniform width and length down, you can go ahead and make all your cuts ahead of time. Before you cut your treads, take a look at your nosing. If the nosing has a groove, then it will sit in the tongue of the tread, so make sure you do not cut off the tongue of your tread when cutting it to width.

Assuming your stairs are of uniform size, cut your treads first. Accounting for your riser thickness and nosing width, start by cutting your treads to width. You can rent one, which is a cost, or you can simply use a miter saw, which most people do have.

I use a fine-toothed blade for finishing cuts, which ensures a smooth cut without any tear-out. Cutting risers is just the same as cutting the treads — cut them to width first and then to length. Remember to cut off the tongue end of the laminate risers.

You want a flat top edge for your nosing to fit either on top of or over. The bottom of your riser should be the groove — if you leave the tongue on the bottom of your riser, you risk having part of the tongue exposed. Cut them to the same length as your treads and risers. Otherwise, use a finish hand saw and cut carefully. Install your treads and risers. Start at the top of your steps and begin with the first riser.

You are going to glue the riser in place using construction adhesive. Before you do that, however, you are going to score all of your treads and risers with a utility knife. This will improve the adhesion between the laminate and subfloor. You are also going to nail or screw your treads and risers to your subfloor. You can do this in a couple of ways. I have a cordless finishing nailer that leaves a very small indentation in the planks. If you choose to nail, drill pilot holes first to help you drive the nails easily.

Make sure every laminate plank has a few nails or screws in it, on either side. You can cover up the nails or screws with wood filler later to match the color of your laminate.

Screws will hold better than nails, but will also require more wood filler. This is the one time where you a little does not go a long way. Put nails or screws into the riser. Now you can glue and nail or screw your tread. Apply the adhesive in the same fashion, and fit it snug up against the riser.

As you move down your steps, make sure your risers are not protruding up above the tread subfloor. Some nosing will fit into the tongue of the tread and over the top of the riser. Others fit over the tread and sit in a metal bracket that you screw into the tread subfloor.

You then glue the nosing and also screw it in. Regardless of the method of installation, be aware that the nosing of your laminate stairs will endure, by far, the most abuse.

Be sure to not only glue but also to screw the entire nose into the floor. Some nosing will allow you to screw from underneath, concealing the screw hole. If your steps have a dip in the middle of the tread and you find that your nosing has some give to it in the middle of the step after installing it, you might want to put a small wood or plastic shim beneath it. Once glued and screwed, the shim should hold tight and keep your tread and nose from moving and becoming dislodged.

As mentioned above, start at the top of the steps and move downward. Do the tread, riser, and nosing all at the same time.

While you will more than likely find that they are, take the extra 5 minutes to measure each separately. You may need to level the subfloor of your steps — particularly the center of your stair treads.

It is possible to install laminate on stairs, and most laminate manufacturers include nosing pieces that are designed to fit onto the front of each tread. They are sold separately and are designed to be used in conjunction with normal laminate planks on the edge of the stair tread to create a clean look and continuity between the tread and riser.

Placing laminate on your stairwell is not quite as straightforward as installing it on your floors or in your living room. This means that the laminate on your steps will require additional adhesive , and you will need to glue it to the subfloor. In the case of a badly built stair nose, when someone steps on it, the stair nose gives way, and… well, you get the idea. Local construction codes take precedence over anything we say to our consumers , so always abide by the rules.

Also, unless you are at the very top of your ability level or a professional installer, you should avoid attempting to lay laminate flooring on stairs. Stairs are difficult to install and can be quite frustrating if you are not properly trained and prepared. Installing laminate flooring on stairs is one instance in which you will not want to employ a floating-floor system, therefore do not use underlayment in this situation. You will need to glue and screw or nail the laminate to the stair treads in order for it to be secure.

In addition, there is another advantage to utilizing a pretty liberal amount of construction glue while mounting the stair nose that you may not have considered: durability. For example, in older homes, it is fairly uncommon for hardwood step treads to be worn down halfway down the treads. The glue will actually level the little dip in the centre of the leading edge of the step, resulting in a more stable installation overall.

Glue alone is not sufficient; once the glue is in place, we recommend drilling pilot holes and inserting screws , followed by the application of filler to conceal the screws. Simply make certain that the nails you use are ribbed for increased gripping force. The first step in installing laminate flooring is determining which type is the most appropriate. As a result, you should go for a rougher, more textured laminate to reduce the likelihood of slipping.

To do this , open the laminate boxes and arrange them in a lattice pattern on the floor. This allows air to flow through the laminate , allowing it to respond to the temperature and humidity levels in your home. It is recommended that you leave your flooring in this condition for at least 72 hours before placing it. This will avoid future warping, expansion, and contraction of your laminate by allowing it to acclimatize. If you already have flooring on your stairs, you should remove it as well as any underlayment.

Cleaning the area, even if there is no flooring present but only paint or leftover glue from the old flooring, will provide you with a clean canvas on which to lay your laminate flooring.

In the case of carpets, a pair of pliers will be sufficient to remove this obstruction quickly. Extra Tip: Before you begin putting your flooring, make sure that your sub- floor is as level as possible.

Chip away any excess debris and even sand down wood stair treads to provide a perfectly smooth surface for the laminate to be applied to.

You can either cut away the overhang with a jigsaw or use a piece of plywood to fill in the gaps with a piece of plywood. There are three parts that you will need to cut from your laminate, and it is best if you prepare them ahead of time before you begin installing the flooring:. Riser parts are pieces that support a structure the front piece on the vertical side of the step.

The tread sections should be as close to one another as possible from left to right, thus getting your measurements perfect is crucial. Due to the fact that most laminate boards will not cover the entire step , you may need to cut from a second board. Glue them together, tongue to groove, to ensure that they are secure during the fitting process. Having said that, it is not necessary for it to extend all the way to the front edge of the staircase.

Last but not least, trim the nosing to the same length as the tread and riser sections. If the angle of the steps makes it difficult to fit, you can trim the edges to make them more comfortable. The first step in installing laminate flooring is to verify that your staircase has been properly prepared and is ready to be used.

Once you have a bare staircase , make sure to remove all paint and glue from the surface and hammer any protruding nails back into place. After that, give your steps a good brushing to ensure that they have a clean and even surface to work on. It is possible that your stairwell has an overhang from the existing nosing the protruding edge of the stair. Use a jigsaw to remove the overhang , or attach a piece of plywood to the riser to fill in any gaps left by the removal of the overhang.

Underlay should not be regarded as an optional extra; because it can help to muffle sound, enhance acoustics, and create a more pleasant feel underfoot, it is especially crucial in high-traffic areas such as stairwells and hallways. Fill in the screw holes. Once all of the laminate flooring is in place, you will need to fill in the exposed screw holes in the stair nosing with putty.

Prepare the putty according to the instructions, making sure to mix it well. Use a plastic putty knife to smoothly and carefully fill in the screw holes. Once you've filled in every hole on the nosing strip, remove the plastic tape covering the nosing. After minutes, use a damp cloth to even out the putty covering each screw, before it is fully dry.

You may use water or acetone for this. Clean the stairs. It is very important to clean the stairs immediately to remove any fallen bits of putty, as putty can be almost impossible to remove once it sets. You should also sweep away any sawdust and peel off any remaining tape from the stair nosing. Once the stairs are clean, you can take a step back and admire your handiwork!

Leave overnight. You should avoid using the stairs as far as possible for hours after you finish the flooring. This will give the glue adequate time to set and allow the new flooring to settle. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow. Mitchell Newman Construction Professional. Mitchell Newman. Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer. Not Helpful 1 Helpful 1. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

One gluing tip is to apply the adhesive, put the board in place, and then pry it up immediately. Helpful 27 Not Helpful But bear in mind: Nailing may damage the face of the laminate. It may also void your warranty. If you do decide to go with nailing, use a pneumatic automatic nailer. This will reduce the likelihood of splitting the laminate boards.

Helpful 13 Not Helpful You should always wear the proper protective clothing when working with power tools. Helpful 9 Not Helpful You Might Also Like How to. How to. More References 1. About This Article. Co-authored by:. Co-authors: Updated: September 14, Categories: Laminate Flooring. Article Summary X To install laminate flooring on stairs, start by removing the overhang, or the underside of the stairs, with a jigsaw.

Italiano: Installare una Pavimentazione in Laminato sugli Scalini. Nederlands: Laminaat op een trap leggen. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read , times. Thank you very much.

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