Either/Or. Installing laminate floor on stairs really requires a lot of patience. The above image also shows the T-Moldings which go between the doors. You need to make sure that they will sit snugly on top of the tread piece, and are level with the top of the riser. Installation of solid hardwood treads and risers takes place in a single installation step, significantly reducing installation time. Then, purchase quality laminate flooring and underlayment, and before you install anything, look over each piece to check for defects before installing it. Installing Laminate Flooring on Stairs Laminate flooring can be installed on a flight of stairs, and this process can also be used when installing laminate on a floor and Laminate flooring is an affordable staircase flooring option if you want You should also specify that you want matching nose stripping when choosing your laminate, as many manufacturers do not have matching nose stripping for all of their flooring. Fold the outside end of FAQ Installing Laminate Around Curved Staircase. If you only had given more time and dedication to it. For this, place a box on the corner of your stairs, and cut the box accordingly providing for the curve. We can leave to cut our stair noses right after, or we can measure it and cut it before as well. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. We want to use the same flooring on the stairs. Installing the flooring too tight to the transition molding. However, if spindles are attached to the risers, extra time and effort is involved when placing the laminate. It may also void your warranty. Just keep a clean damp cloth for cleaning excess glue. Thank you very much. In this article, I will let you in into some very important tips that can help you before and after your laminate flooring installation. Undercutting the bottom stair is the best way to do this. Our multi-coloured wood laminate flooring is laid vertically at the bottom of our stairs. This will reduce the likelihood of splitting the laminate boards. When finished with concrete just follow the tips above. Flooring that has the underlayment attached has more of a problem. If you dont know yet, plastic works as a moisture barrier. I've used outside corner trim. You dont use edging. you use a template (i use some of the foam underlay as a template) and cut the wood as close as you can to the stairs and the carpet comes down and covers the very small gap. If you dont have enough room around the house to clear a complete area to work on. Easy glue down installation. Leaving it only to some specific installers which are more experienced when it comes to dealing with stairs. Avoid leaving any dirt or sand behind. Labor Cost To Install Laminate Flooring On Stairs. Cautions: Professional help is recommended for this project. Install the Bottom Riser. You can either cut off the overhang using a reciprocating or jigsaw, then use a chisel to ensure the surface is flush with the riser. Glue it. Try Loctite Power Grab or something like it. If the edges of the plank are not perfectly aligned with the edges of the riser, you can trim them to fit. Avoid buying those cheap styrofoam padding that comes with very thin plastic underneath already attached to it. In between the hundreds of laminate flooring installations that I personally did myself I must say that homeowners are always pleased with the choice they have made. If it appears as though there is sufficient coverage of adhesive on both the laminate plank and the step, you know youve glued it correctly. If they are uneven, you can use a belt sander to level them out, or simply use a scraper to get rid of any debris or high spots. How to install laminate flooring transitions. You should always wear the proper protective clothing when working with power tools. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Remove Existing Flooring and Underlay. So if you get a cheap or expensive professional to do the job for you, make sure they get it done the first time. Laminate flooring continues to become a stronger and more versatile product in the flooring industry. Mark out where each of the screws should be placed with a pencil - they should be spaced about 9 inches (22.9cm) apart, and should be centered in the middle of the nosing. Laminate does NOT like moisture (splashes from the sink), steam from dishwashers (we've seen laminates bubble and warp inside of 3 months because of dishwasher steam). Cut to size and glue, then put on your nose piece and use glue again. I will create another hub to give good details and tips on caring for your laminate and hardwood floors. But when the floor is finished with plywood, avoid using plastic. Next you will need to cut the riser pieces to length. If you must work with laminate (budget being so tight you can only work with lower priced products) then make sure you purchase enough flooring to install your kitchen TWICE. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Cost effective way to add value to your home. If you have any questions on Installing Laminate on Floors and Stairs & How to Install Old Laminating, Complete Nosing guide or things like that, shoot them in the comments below! It is not necessary to have the top of the riser be perfect, as any small gaps will be covered by the stair nosing above it. In the image above you can notice how some boards are already cut for it. When finishing your job throughout the house make sure the boards are well cut and under the trims around the door. A lot of the time the laminate planks need to be cut at different sizes. What is a good wood glue that will do the job well? It is to reach the edge of the step far enough for the stair nose to wrap both edges together. Which allows the planks to blend in with the surroundings. Laminate Flooring Is Relatively Inexpensive. Using a jamb saw that I use for undercutting doorjambs works good for this. If you really cant stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. To do this, you can either cut two planks into even pieces, so that their combined width covers the thread, or you can use a full plank and cut a smaller strip to fill in the extra space. Insert the wood screws, leaving the plastic tape in place until after you've covered the screws with putty. Drill a countersink hole for each of the screws, using a combination bit. When laying laminate flooring on stairs or any other surface a complete clean area is a must. Later on, leading to mysterious bubbling or buckling between your wood floors. % of people told us that this article helped them. There are multiple colors and styles along with a textured surface that gives it a real wood look at a fraction of the cost. If youre laying a floor in a large, open space, this is going to be less labor-intensive than trying to lay laminate around stairs, for example. If you happen to have a stair that has ceramic or even stone down to the floor, you could use the jamb saw with a masonry blade to This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. You may use water or acetone for this. Check out the image below of an installation I was doing. If you install the laminate vertically it will be significantly more susceptible to compromised integrity due to stress. Because any tiny piece of rock or nail can become a huge headache as the installation begins. Since laminate flooring is made of wood, it expands and contrasts depending on the temperature. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you are hiring private contractors or a company, ask for references and ask to see previous jobs if possible. Laminate flooring on stairs is totally different. I personally have worked on many jobs that required me to install laminate flooring on stairs. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Every plank will need an extra thin strip on both the step board and also on the face board. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. This article has been viewed 533,029 times. When cutting thread pieces, make sure to cut on the groove side of the plank, and glue them together tongue-to-groove. After gluing each edge give a tiny nail using an air compressor on the edge of the strips. If you chosen a laminate floor that does not have the underlayment attached, then you need to glue the laminate planks to the rough stair treads using a quality construction adhesive, like PL Premium. For updating carpeted or worn out stairs. Then, start laying your laminate by applying three beads of good quality wood glue to the subfloor and then installing the tread pieces. Check the images to the left/above where before we can see the carpet and the picture below where I already removed all the carpet. Spread a generous amount of construction adhesive on the Holding the stair planks tightly close together. Currently loaded videos are 1 through 15 of 33 total videos. Laminate Flooring is among many choices that homeowners have when choosing to remodel their interiors. To create this article, 19 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. When it comes to caring for your laminate floors and stairs a lot of work is required. These cookies do not store any personal information. If you rush yourself through finishing your stairs job, you will eventually have it looking in a way that you could have avoided. Solid treads eliminates the need of attaching a narrow stair-nose piece to a step, promoting safety and ease of maintenance. Once this is done, measure and cut out your pieces of laminate to make tread pieces, riser pieces and stair nosing. References. On the image below gluing was a better option for us, depending on the concrete surface, screwing the tracks to hold the moldings is not an option if the concrete is too weak or thin. Especially on hallways which are more difficult to work on and take more time. 1-15 of 33. But the reaction from them is the same and after the job is done the same questions are left open. This allows me to share some interesting tips and pictures to better illustrate the process of getting the job done. Carefully read the manufacturer's directions and seek professional assistance, if you encounter issues. Hi The carpet is fitted into the expansion gap of the wood floor round so I always fit the laminate first. When using a stair nose, the laminate is able to expand on stairs. It will also allow you a comfortable margin for potential errors. If you already have an over hang, it is better to remove it prior to It can have tack strip and a lot of But persistence will allow the job to look much better than it ever. If the plastic needs to be cut in rolls make sure they overlap in the edges. If you want to secure the riser piece further, you can use a nail gun to nail the very top of the plank in place, as the nails will be concealed by the thread edge. Thick Cap A Tread is a durable laminate with pre-attached Cap A Tread is a durable laminate with pre-attached stair nosing. In this case, the job is The space left between the planks is for the stair nose which is later on clued and nailed to the plywood. To cut the nose stripping, you should measure the length of the exposed thread, as well as the length of the riser and cut laminate pieces to fit, trimming the edges to fit the angle of the stairs, if necessary. By using our site, you agree to our. Slide the first two rows into their final position, and repeat steps 5 and 6 above, using the same alternating plank technique to complete the process. When gluing your moldings, make sure you place something heavy enough to hold it down in place while it is drying, or self it wont stay and will eventually dry with the edges sticking up. Does it matter whether the stair tread or riser is installed first? Check the manufacturers recommendations or call an installer for their thoughts. Continue to work your way down the stairs filling in the holes and removing the tape on each piece of nosing. Laminate flooring on stairs requires much more attention when been worked on. ", How to Install Laminate Flooring on Stairs, https://www.theflooringlady.com/how-to-install-laminate-flooring-on-stairs/#tab-con-2, https://www.ukflooringdirect.co.uk/how-to-install-flooring-on-stairs, https://www.bestlaminate.com/help/installing-laminate-flooring-on-stairs/, https://swisskronousa.com/installation/installing-laminate-flooring-on-stairs/, https://www.quickstepstyle.com/diy-home-projects/easier-laminate-stair-installation/, Installare una Pavimentazione in Laminato sugli Scalini, Instalar Revestimento Laminado nas Escadas, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Not leaving any reason to come back to fix or replace anything. Laminate flooring on stairs requires much more attention when been worked on. When working on a laminate flooring job or any other type of job, you will always want to have someone helping you out. Leave your comments and suggestions, thank you for reading. That will depend on how well the stairs were originally built. A good professional will leave no gaps behind to be filled with caulking. Just be sure to nail the plywood in place before installing the laminate. Next, put your board on its place and repeat the procedure to cut the adjacent block to a fit. A good tip is to mark each piece with a number as soon as you cut it to size, this way you will know which piece corresponds with each stair. The quality of laminate has improved in recent years, so Make sure you also put liquid nails glue on your stair noses before you nail them down. Such as how do I care for my laminate floors or how do I avoid scratches? Talk about warranty and how well are you covered. Laminate flooring is designed for rooms, hallways, and stairways, and is a great way to increase your home's value. Length x 12-1/8 in. Flooring Installing Laminate Flooring. It's a great all-around construction adhesive. Laminate Flooring for Stairs. To learn how to allow room for expansion while installing your laminate flooring, read on! Tips that many costumers may avoid while having someone install their floors or doing it themselves. Typically the solution at the bottom of the stairs is to use a quarter-round (Usually 3/4" thick) to cover the flooring and the bottom of the carpet. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Choose your laminate flooring. To learn how to choose the right laminate flooring for your stairs, read on! To do this, cover the nosing with a strip of clear plastic tape, to protect the laminate. On wood floors, we dont need plastic at all, just place your padding directly on top of your clean plywood surface. You'll need some long nails to get through the carpet, so it's best to pre-drill the nail holes so you don't split the trim. If you take the time to do it and go slow you will realize that you need more patience than practice. Every laminate plan needs to have glue applied to. This is necessary as you may need to cut a number of boards to fill in extra spaces. One gluing tip is to apply the adhesive, put the board in place, and then pry it up immediately. Labor to install laminate flooring on stairs costs from $45 to $125 per step. See more ideas about stairs, laminate stairs, house stairs. When nicely done the end and tip of the stair nose will be large enough to cover these nails. Give at least three nails on each stair nose, on in the middle and one on both edges. Apr 1, 2018 - Explore Christa Orrett's board "Laminate stairs" on Pinterest. I hope you have enjoyed the tips and information I shared, these were meant to give you an idea of the work that it may take to get a similar job done on your home. If you dont think adhesive is adequate for the job, you might consider nailing the laminate flooring to the step (subfloor). Sometimes, one needs to scribe cut the bottom of the riser to fit the tread so as not to have a gap. But bear in mind: Nailing may damage the face of the laminate. To minimize the risk of slipperiness, go for laminate flooring with a textured, matte finish. Most people may not encounter this, but when you do its best to know how to make it look good. We know ads can be annoying, but theyre what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Make sure your laminate stair noses are nicely cut and are as close as possible to the sides. It's cheaper than stair nose. When clearing the area as I mentioned make sure you clear from as much trash as possible. The installation of laminated treads and risers is basic on normal staircases. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 19 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. To install laminate flooring on stairs, start by removing the overhang, or the underside of the stairs, with a jigsaw. Stair normally has carpet around them, so the first step we need to do is clear the carpet from the stair. Here are some easy-to-follow steps for installing laminate on stairs. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This means that where you would normally put beading (scotia) around the outside of the room to cover the expansion gap, in the case of the bottom step of carpet the carpet is trucked into this gap. Even if the stairs were not covered in carpeting, you can prepare them by removing any old paint or adhesive and repairing any loose or creaking steps by nailing them securely in place. Laminate flooring is very durable and is able to mimic other floor styles while offering a variety of styles on its own. When working with laminate flooring on stairs a lot of attention as to be given to the boards you cut for it. And it will be ready for your laminate flooring installation. help and explain how to install the flooring on our steps. Or whether the riser is installed to fit on top of the tread (as shown here) verses fitting down behind the tread on each stair? Last Updated: November 5, 2020 Learn more Laminate flooring is a versatile alternative to other floor types since it can mimic their look while also offering significant strength. Is underlayment not a requirement when installing laminate on stairs? Remove the Overhang If Required. I personally have worked on many jobs that required me to install laminate flooring on stairs. In order for the flooring to look correct, do we need to continue installing on the stairs vertically? Allowing your steps to be much stronger and firm. Use good strong padding. When you come to the end of the first row, cut the length of plank needed to complete the row. If you do decide to go with nailing, use a pneumatic (automatic) nailer. Furniture on top of it and then switch around. Installing Laminate Flooring Video hinking of installing laminate flooring in your home? From stair pattern to a simple half-cut pattern. Very important tips when laying laminate floors on top of concrete and when laying laminate floors on top of wood. Make sure you have plastic completely covering the area. And of course, clearing the area for your laminate flooring installation. These are very important to use. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. There are many situations that you will need to know how to install laminate flooring transitions. Horizontally across the stairs. Also, a flush stairnose costs between $40$76 each for a 78 length while a step nose costs between $18$96 each for a 78 length. You will also need to screw the top nosing into place, in order to properly secure it. After those are on, install your riser pieces and then finish with the nosing. When installing a floating laminate floor, you dont need to use any adhesive, nails or staples. Leaving it only to some specific installers which are more experienced when it comes to dealing with stairs. The image below shows the laminate wood installed in the stairs with all stair noses in place. If you are attempting to search for ideas for 20 Stylish Install Hardwood Floor Around Stairs This is the area to be. Those can easily be installed with the screws and a track that comes with it, or they can simply be glued. Leave a 1mm gap around edging and fill with sealant. However, as a C-15 licensed installer for over 30 years, my preference is to install the tread first, leaving a small gap at the back near the riser, then fit the riser to the tread. For various size of floors in various locations there are various concepts that I might share to you. here are some step by step instructions on completing the project. If you are trying to seek concepts for 28 Recommended How to Install Hardwood Flooring Around Stairs then this is the place to be. In addition, laminate flooring can be high-gloss and very slippery - which may be a concern if you have young children in the house. Deep x 1-11/16 in. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Install the second plank next to the first by aligning the tongue into the groove and press the plank down to snap it in place. Do I need to lay down padding on a cement staircase before laying my laminate floor? Many two-story homes have the upper flooring finished with plywood or concrete. In most cases, strong wood glue such as the one from liquid nails is one of the best. If your staircase is located in a spot where temperature changes are pronounced, you might want to consider using a different flooring material. On the image above, you can see how it would normally look when cutting your laminate flooring to fit your stairs. The tread piece should not extend all the way to the edge of the step, as you will need to leave room for the top nosing. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. What is the best way to install laminate flooring on concrete stairs? Skip to collection list Skip to video grid. Despite this, laminate flooring is relatively easy to install yourself, provided you've got the right tools and some time on your hands. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Normally carpet will always be the type of floor you will be removing. The major issue with installing laminate flooring on stairs is durability - stairs tend to get more wear-and-tear than most other surfaces in your home. But you want to have your planks as close as possible to the sides so later you can fill the gaps with a thin line of white caulking. While it can be "floated" with the underlayment, my preference would be to either remove the underlayment from the flooring, or choose another product that does not have underlayment attached.