If you prefer to install smooth laminate with no surface texturing, its advisable to invest in clear stair covers. Sweep the stairs of any dust or dirt. 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. A box of laminate is typically just over 15 square feet, so youll need about 3.5 boxes of laminate for that same flight of stairs. The average labor cost to install laminate flooring is $1.72 per square foot. Web1st Choice: switch the floor to solid hardwood ORjust find a bilevel reducerartistic finishes makes one to bridge 3/4 to 3/8you may just have to stain and poly it yourself if they dont make one to match the laminate you havealso youll need to find a dealer who sells their stuffI dont think they sell straight to consumer. It is possible that your stairwell has an overhang from the existing nosing (the protruding edge of the stair). Youll also want to consider renting or buying a laminate floor cutter. Typically this would be two pieces unless youve purchased a narrow product in which case youll glue three or more. Please keep in mind that, if you are not sure in your capacity to self-install, it is always advisable to seek the assistance of a professional. 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. The answer is yes! Finally, after youve purchased the laminate planks, its important to acclimatize them to the temperature and humidity conditions of your stairway. Once the piece has dried, you can cut it to size to fit your tread and riser. Once the laminate has been laid, youll be able to use the nose stripping you purchased to create an overhang on your own, but for the time being, youll need a surface that makes it simple to install your laminate. Most types of laminate flooring planks are designed to snap together in place, making installation a breeze. Mitchell Newman is the Principal at Habitar Design and its sister company Stratagem Construction in Chicago, Illinois. Measuring the riser length is simple. Laminate flooring planks are increasingly becoming the go-to type of flooring for staircases. Stair nosings are usually installed at the front edge of stair treads, mainly to increase the slip resistance of the staircase. If you are putting your laminate stairs near an exterior door, then chances are water will eventually be carried in by wet feet or shoes. The flooring manufactures say 10mm/12mm gap to cover themselves i think incase something does expand. This site is a result of my DIY passion, and to share the joys I have experienced fixing, building, and creating things over the years. Mark the exact dimensions on the cardboard. Enjoy! Are you a trade or supplier? In addition, laminate flooring can be high-gloss and very slippery - which may be a concern if you have young children in the house. I am starting to plan a project to lay laminate flooring in my hallway. If your laminate doesnt sit flush to your stair walls, youll notice it every time you use the stairs. Also, your tread wont go to the edge of the stair. If you do it the other way round by fitting the wood up to the carpet, you won't be sure of the gap as you will in effect knock the wood down till you get a clean finished edge. A laminate stair nose piece may be your greatest cost during your stair install. WeekendBuilds.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, 5. Hardwood treads can cost anywhere from $20 to $30 or more. DIY Doctor has the answer! Then, start laying your laminate by applying three beads of good quality wood glue to the subfloor and then installing the tread pieces. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. These transparent, plastic covers provide additional grip on the staircase without concealing the beauty of the laminate planks underneath them. Using stairs that are 36 wide, youll need 3 nose pieces per a 10 step flight of stairs. Lets break down the cost between a hardwood tread and riser vs. using laminate for the same purpose. AC-4 is a good rating for a laminate product in a stair application. Measure the stair tread and cut the planks to fit. On the other hand, understand that when you buy laminate flooring, you are buying a product that is essentially a stew of chemicals hardened into a plank that you can walk on. 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. 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. TrafficMasters laminate flooring comes in two attractive finishes. 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. If you dont have one, you can simply use 2 finishing nails also called 6d nails around the edges. Since you are gluing your laminate as well as nailing it, youll want a surface beneath your laminate that provides optimal adhesion. Apply the adhesive in the same fashion, and fit it snug up against the riser. To cover the entire step with a single laminate board, cut a second plank to size and glue it tongue-to-groove next to the first plank, leaving enough space for the nosing to be seen between them. Why don't we use the 7805 for car phone chargers? Laminate flooring is more than just the core ingredient. Help with transition between rooms using hardwood and laminate flooring. Install Treads and Risers with Construction Adhesive and Nails/Screws, 6. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Accounting for your riser thickness and nosing width, start by cutting your treads to width. Measure from the bottom to the top of the step and you have your riser width. I'm a DIY nut, and the founder and chief editor here at Weekend Builds. You dont want imperfections in a high traffic area youll see them every day. Remove the carpeting. Compared to staircase carpeting, laminate planks are quite noisy when you walk on them. Both of these functions ensure enhanced user safety, minimizing the chances of users slipping and falling down the staircase. (Step-by-Step Guide), How to Fix Vinyl Flooring Scratches? This is a durability rating applied to all laminate products. Next you will need to cut the riser pieces to length. Prepare the stairs. When you take into consideration the installation method, you will find that it is also simple to set up. There have been no conclusive studies to support this; nonetheless, even if you are cutting laminate, you should wear a face mask and goggles if your cutting tool is spitting a lot of dust while you are working. Start at the top of your steps and begin with the first riser. I'm not really sure what that picture is of, as it's too dark for me to make out what you're trying to show. The width of your tread and riser will never be the same as the width of one of your laminate pieces or two combined. Installing laminate over tile or even vinyl is not a good idea because the tile is not an even surface and could cause the laminate to bend and move. Otherwise, use a circular saw and cut carefully, as you wont have much room for error. In terms of breadth, the laminate stair treads dont have to fit the front edge, as youll cover that space up with the nosing strips. Well, if no, then we certainly do! If the laminate flooring youre removing was glued to a concrete subfloor, there will likely be a lot of adhesive residue Otherwise, use a finish hand saw and cut carefully. Ideally, the adhesive should be Liquid Nails or a construction-type glue that can be applied with a glue gun. It has a lower moisture content than typical wood glue, which will ensure that the bond is stronger and wont seep into the laminate. Regardless of the method of installation, be aware that the nosing of your laminate stairs will endure, by far, the most abuse. Time to make your cuts. Many of you will discover that your stairwell has an overhanging section. A standard tread is around 11 long and a riser is about 7. Can my creature spell be countered if I cast a split second spell after it? Then, level the putty using a moist piece of cloth, before leaving it to cure. Now that the floor is clear and no moulding is present, locate the wall that has the tongue side of the laminate flooring. That means the laminate on your stairs needs extra adhesion youll need to glue it to your subfloor. Impact Driver/Screws for nosing, treads and risers depending on the manufacturer. Step 4: Cut your If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. Titebond will not degrade over time due to moisture contact, ensuring your laminate steps dont move. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Stairs are difficult to install and can be quite frustrating if you are not properly trained and prepared. Stair treads- cover the horizontal part of the stair steps. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. Usually, when you have an area that does not lend itself to having the standard edging trim you need to cut away the offending section and slide the laminate underneath. 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. Be sure to not only glue but also to screw the entire nose into the floor. Additionally, because your nosing will cover this area, you can nail the very top of the riser in place if it is necessary to do so. 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. The problem is that the bottom step of the stairs is curved at the corner. 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. What is Laminate Flooring made of? Starting from the top of the staircase, lay down your first tread piece. Thickness is also an option for buyers.