The installation of laminate flooring on stairs is a fully adhered system. Under
no circumstances should foam underlayment be placed on stair steps or risers.
This will result in an unsafe condition. Do not use over-the-top step nose moulding
on individual stair treads.
Tool List
- Table Saw or Miter Saw
- 10" 60- or 80-tooth carbide-tipped ATB or triple chip saw blade
- Power Drill
- Hammer
- 6d Finish Nails
- Construction adhesive
Preparation of Stair Treads
Treads and risers should be structurally
sound, flat, dry, clean, smooth, and free
from paint, varnish, wax, oils, solvents,
and other foreign matter. Cut off any
existing bullnose flush with the riser of
the stair.
Installation
- Beginning at the bottom riser, measure and cut a piece of laminate to fit flush
with the top of the existing stair tread. If the laminate has an attached fabric,
it must be removed.
- Glue in place by applying a 3" serpentine bead of construction adhesive to
the back of the flooring.
- Press in place.
- Measure and cut stairnose to length.
- Dry fit the stairnose to the edge of
the first tread with the moulding
nose overlapping the laminate piece
on the riser below, and measure the
width from the edge of the stairnose
to the next riser.
- Measure and cut to width and length
another piece of laminate for the stair
tread. If the laminate has an attached
fabric, it must be removed.
- Apply construction adhesive to the
tread of the existing stair and spread
evenly using a 1/16" x 1/16" x 1/6"
square-notch trowel.
- Place the cut piece of flooring into
the adhesive with the cut edge to the riser of the next step.
- Leave the factory tongue exposed.
- Apply a bead of construction adhesive in a 3" serpentine pattern to the back
of the cut piece of stairnose.
- Apply a bead of laminate glue to the edge of the tongue of the installed flooring
and to the bottom lip of the groove of the stairnose. (Locking laminate
requires bead of glue on top of tongue only.)
- Push pieces together until joint is tight and remove excess glue.
- On wood subfloors, drill holes in the installed stairnose and anchor with 6d
finish nails.
- Set nails using a nail punch. Fill holes with a repair stick.
- Repeat steps 1-14 until installation is complete.
- Allow 24 hours curing time before exposing stairs to traffic.
|
