how to end laminate flooring at bottom of stairs

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. Remove any existing flooring or trim from the stairs and check that the subfloor is in good condition and that the stairs are level. What does 'They're at four. Time to make your cuts. Hi Just checking the best way around to do this to get the best finish. Make sure to wear gloves while you are removing carpet, the staples can be very sharp and may cause injuries. Its possible that youll need to cut these down to fit the length of your stairwell. After installing underlay material, you can now start measuring and cutting out the laminate planks that youll use on your stairs. Measuring the riser length is simple. 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. When it comes to the riser pieces, the process is very similar just make sure theyre exactly aligned with their corresponding tread piece and trim as necessary. Installing Laminate flooring at bottom of the stairs - DIY Doctor Laminate To minimize the risk of slipperiness, go for laminate flooring with a textured, matte finish. When something is installed incorrectly, it might create a risky condition that has the potential to end in a major accident. Stair nosings are usually installed at the front edge of stair treads, mainly to increase the slip resistance of the staircase. To effectively transition laminate flooring to stairs, use laminate planks that match the color and texture of the laminate floor thats adjacent to the stairway. What some people are unaware of is that laminate flooring may be installed on stairwells as well. Installing Laminate Flooring Around Doors and Next to Tiles - How to Overcome Height Difference? Remove the Subfloor From Under the Wall If your subfloor is heavily rotted, you may be able to pull back on the remaining section of the subfloor and remove it by hand. Also, hardwood nosing that is around 80 are upwards of $80, while laminate nose pieces are closer to $40 for the same length. He has 20 years of experience in construction, interior design and real estate development. By using our site, you agree to our. Finish off by driving a single screw or nail at the top of each of the nosing strips. 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. You must log in or register to reply here. Laminate flooring can get quite noisy as you walk on the planks. 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. Therefore youll be placing at least more than one plank of laminate on each tread and riser. It may also void your warranty. Finally, once youve finished installing your laminate on the entire staircase, allow it to cure overnight and avoid walking on it for approximately 12 hours. Laminate Flooring Moldings Help with transition between rooms using hardwood and laminate flooring. Laminate flooring is made to look like wood, but that is about where the similarities end. I'm the head writer, Joe. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. 1. After 20-30 minutes, use a damp cloth to even out the putty covering each screw, before it is fully dry. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Stairs are difficult to install and can be quite frustrating if you are not properly trained and prepared. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. One gluing tip is to apply the adhesive, put the board in place, and then pry it up immediately. Once glued and screwed, the shim should hold tight and keep your tread and nose from moving and becoming dislodged. There are so many things to like about laminate flooring. It is extremely tacky when handling, which means when you glue your laminate planks together, the initial bond is tight and you dont have to hold it. One can typically cost anywhere from $30 to $50 or more. No More Nails adhesive on PVA primed drywall? You dont have to saturate the laminate but apply enough so that all parts of the riser will adhere to the stair subfloor. 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. This will reduce the likelihood of splitting the laminate boards. In this article, we will go over exactly how to measure, cut, and install laminate flooring on stairs to look as good on your stairs as it does in the rest of your house. If you cant remove the spindles, then heres how you install laminate on stairs around a railing with spindles: Titebond has a much lower water content than other wood glue. Should i fit laminate flooring before carpet runner on stairs? 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. Laminate costs anywhere from $0.50 to $3 per square foot. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Create a replica tread using cardboard. Unlike hardwood flooring that comes in a wide variety of lengths, laminate is one uniform length. The tread will sit flush up against your riser, so subtract the thickness of the riser from the width of the tread. I've been a flooring contractor for over 12 years. Despite this, laminate flooring is relatively easy to install yourself, provided you've got the right tools and some time on your hands. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You are also going to nail or screw your treads and risers to your subfloor. Once you have your planks glued together, youll need to let them dry. That photo is covered with a clear aluminum oxide finish that protects the look of the laminate. Second, while laminate manufacturers do provide a special stair nosing accessory, they dont make special pieces to fit the standard tread or riser lengths of stairs. Would the fitting above be the best option also? Should we fit carpet first or laminate the bottom level first? 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. Keep up to date with our DIY projects, tips and latest deals, DIY Doctor Ltd, The Workshop, Newbury Works, Somerset, BA3 5RX, Company Number: 05863375 | VAT Number: 811134774, Powered by phpBB Forum Software phpBB Group, General Building, Self Build and Renovation, Planning Regs, Project Management and Safety, Installing Laminate flooring at bottom of the stairs. How to Replace a Subfloor Under a [Step by Step Guide], How Long Does it Take To Install Laminate Flooring [Truth Revealed], How much does to install laminate flooring? Already I can see two areas which are not as straightforward as the rest of the area. It has a lower moisture content than typical wood glue, which will ensure that the bond is stronger and wont seep into the laminate. If you dont, youll have a on that tread for the life of the stairs. Your average step is about 36 wide. If total energies differ across different software, how do I decide which software to use? I started as a flooring contractor, primarily in materials selection. If the angle of the steps makes it difficult to fit, you can trim the edges to make them more comfortable. That photo is protected by a clear aluminum oxide finish, which maintains the look of the laminate while providing additional protection. Starting with the removal of any old flooring from your stairs, as well as any existing underlay, if you havent already done so. I really like that system in your picture. This trim piece will provide an attractive transition, as well as a safe edge for the stairs. Glue it all to the subfloor with construction adhesive. It is inexpensive, long-lasting, and attractive when correctly fitted. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. If you have riser pieces on your stairs, make sure they are level with the riser on your steps and that they fit snuggly on top of the tread piece. The laminate nose, in particular, can get dislodged easily due to wear and tear, so youll want to use quality construction adhesive along as well. Fixing skirting and laminate gap for incomplete laminate flooring job, Installing Lino or Laminate Kitchen Flooring Question. Install Laminate Nosing as per Manufacturer Recommendations, Advanced Tips for Installing Laminate on Stairs, How to Install Laminate Flooring on Stairs with a Railing, Best Glue for Laminate Flooring on Stairs. If you do the math, the total square footage of a tread plus a riser with those dimensions is above 4.5 square feet. Regardless of the method of installation, be aware that the nosing of your laminate stairs will endure, by far, the most abuse. Steps To Install Laminate Flooring At Top Of Stairs Choose Laminate Flooring Allow Laminate To Adapt to Room Temperature Remove Old Adhesive Cut Starting near the top of the stairs, use pliers to pull up the carpet from a corner, freeing it from the tack strip or staples that hold it in place. Lets break down the cost between a hardwood tread and riser vs. using laminate for the same purpose. Should I run laminate continuously through rooms, or separate with T moulding? By far, the easiest way is to remove your stair spindles. This involves removing any existing flooring, underlayment, paint, and adhesive. Laminate is notoriously slippery, especially when wet. It is important to know that laminate flooring is not the same as plastic flooring. Installing laminate on your stairs is not quite as simple as installing it on your floors. Laminate flooring planks are a cheap staircase flooring option. Each page also comes with pictures and a video to make completing those jobs even easier! By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Many of you will discover that your stairwell has an overhanging section. If you are using laminate, you should avoid nailing through it because this can cause the finish on the surface to be damaged. WebSince the laminate installation involves gluing and nailing the material to the subfloor, the surface should provide optimal adhesion. [Step by Step Guide]Continue, In many ways, a laminate floor is a good alternative to hardwood floors in terms of appearance. AC-4 is a good rating for a laminate product in a stair application. I'm assuming your stairs are carpeted - won't the carpet cover the gap? If you do the carpet first then a solution needs to be found to cover the gap, normally wooden edge beading which is not as neat as the first option. Are there any canonical examples of the Prime Directive being broken that aren't shown on screen? Ensure proper installation with the tapered end of the nosings forming the overhangs that protrude over the edge of the tread pieces. Make sure you select the proper underlay for your laminate flooring before attaching it to your stairwell in preparation for installing your flooring. 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. Cookies Using an Ohm Meter to test for bonding of a subpanel. Glue them together, tongue to groove, to ensure that they are secure during the fitting process. Prepare the Laminate Floors PVA type II glue is ideal. Leave your tread slightly short, so you can fit your stair nosing piece onto the front. Order your laminate flooring. The first step to installing laminate floor planks on stairs is to prep the staircase. Within this area of our site have literally hundreds of how-to guides and tutorials that cover a huge range of home improvement tasks. Transition Between Laminate Floor To Stairs - Installation the four laminate flooring layers are held together by a high-density fibreboard (HDF) core. Placing laminate on your stairwell is not quite as straightforward as installing it on your floors or in your living room. Laminate installation on staircases is a relatively simple process that you can undertake as a DIY project. While this might not sound appealing, I suggest measuring each tread and riser separately dont assume they are all of the uniform length. Also, keep in mind that your stairs will suffer tons of wear and tear. Its possible that youll need to trim your board down to fit this purpose. Both of these functions ensure enhanced user safety, minimizing the chances of users slipping and falling down the staircase. How to Install Laminate Flooring on Stairs. It will also allow you a comfortable margin for potential errors. Thanks for taking the time to review this article if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions about how you installed laminate flooring in your house then please drop me a line. 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. 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. That means you would need either 3 or 4 boxes of laminate flooring for a staircase with ten steps. Now you can glue and nail or screw your tread. Thicknesses range from 7mm to 12mm and this should be on your radar when purchasing laminate for stairs. In terms of quantity, you should order about 10% more flooring than you actually need in order to cover the square footage of stairs. How much does to install laminate flooring?, Read More How much does to install laminate flooring? AC-5 may be more difficult to find, as these products are typically only used in commercial applications. Last Updated: September 14, 2021 A laminate stair nose piece may be your greatest cost during your stair install. You want a flat top edge for your nosing to fit either on top of or over. We propose scratching the rear surface of the laminateflooring plank using a knife, screwdriver, or a PaperTiger scoring tool, which is often used to assist in the removal of wallpaper, in order to ensure a tighter hold by the adhesive to the back of the laminate-flooring plank. Laminate floors provide many upsides when installed on stairs. Also included is the stair nosing (or trim), which is a decorative piece that drapes over the front of the step. To learn how to choose the right laminate flooring for your stairs, read on! Then, leave the new laminate staircase unused overnight. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We're a team of veteran home improvement professionals looking to pass along our knowledge. Scrape or Sand Off Leftover Adhesive. As you move down your steps, make sure your risers are not protruding up above the tread subfloor. How to Remove Laminate Flooring | Budget Dumpster - The Fill It is not necessary to have your nosing be the same length as your tread or riser when it comes to your tread. The planks are easier Continue with two more cuts with the hand saw along the side of the cut-out square until you reach the wall's bottom plate. Meanwhile, if you prefer calling in the experts over DIY installation, youll spend about $10-$15 per square foot in installation costs. Over the last decennium, engineered wood flooring has devised by leaps and bounds, doing it extra affordable than ever prior since homeowners to put hardwood underfoot. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/31\/Install-Laminate-Flooring-on-Stairs-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Install-Laminate-Flooring-on-Stairs-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/31\/Install-Laminate-Flooring-on-Stairs-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid509147-v4-728px-Install-Laminate-Flooring-on-Stairs-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"