Do you want to install laminate flooring on your stairs?

If you want to install laminate flooring on your stairs I would recommend that you do a lot of research and find the information you will need to do it correctly. Installing laminate flooring on stairs can be tedious and time consuming and is a lot different than installing laminate flooring on a floor.

Remove Carpet and Tackstrip

Most often you will have carpet on your stairs, and you need to remove it first. It can have tack strip and a lot of staples. Be careful pulling the carpet off because the staples are very sharp. Its best to where gloves. Use a hammer and pry bar to remove the tackstrip.

Remove the Over Hang, if Needed

If you have an over hang you can either remove it or fill in the space under it so the laminate flooring can be installed. When purchasing your laminate flooring you will need to purchase stair nose moldings also to have an over hang with the laminate. There are a few different ways to cut the over hang off the stair.  Using saws such as a sawzall, Skil saw or even a jig saw can work.

Cutting Laminate Stair Treads

In most cases one laminate plank will not cover the whole tread. It is better to cut two planks the same size to fit the tread rather than using a whole plank and a small strip. The other thing to consider is, the sides of the stair case may be at a slight angle. If this is the case the tread will need to be cut at this angle so you don't have unsightly gaps. When cutting the laminate treads getting the exact measurement across the width of the stair is important.

Cutting The Stair Risers

Cutting the risers are like cutting the treads, the difference is the riser is vertical. In the case a white painted riser is being installed. You can also use the same flooring for the riser as you use for the tread.  The riser may not be square to the wall on the sides so you may need to cut them at a slight angle to fit  even with the sides. You can use a simple angle finder and transfer the angle to the riser.  After cutting the riser to fit side to side, you will need to scribe the top of the riser so it is flush with the surface the new tread will be installed on.

Cutting the Stair Nose

Cutting the stair nose is just a matter of cutting it to fit snug on each end, and cut the ends to follow the angle of the wall if needed.  As shown in the photo you can see how the stair nose needs to rest on the riser which should be cut flush with the surface.

Attaching all the Stair Parts

I use wood glue on the treads with a notched trowel. Don't glue all the way to the front edge as this is where the stair nose will be attached with a different type of glue.

I use a heavy duty construction adhesive to glue the stair nose with. I also nail into the stair nose three or four nails across, not too close to the edges. Use a matching putty to fill in the nail holes.

Here is the end result a nice looking stair.

Tips

• As you cut each part of a stair, mark the part and the stair it will be attached to.
• Use a nail gun and nail where ever possible so the nails are hid.
• It is better to nail and glue the stair nose to insure it is secure.
• Taking your time is going to give you better results.
• Always use proper protection when operating power tools.