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Laminate Edging For Stairs
Laminate flooring has grown in popularity and it’s now possible to apply it to stairs. This creates a seamless transition from floor to staircase and adds a luxurious designer finish to your home.
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Stair nosing protects the edge of your steps from wear and tear and improves grip, helping to avoid tripping accidents on your stairs. Choosing the right stair nose for your laminate staircase is important.
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Flush Fit
Installing laminate flooring on stairs isn’t quite as straightforward as installing it on flat ground. Treads – the main surface of each step – are fitted first, and need to be firmly fixed with a decent spread of wood glue. Glue seepage here is likely to be very noticeable, so it’s a good idea to protect the floor underneath by either covering it with a sheet of plywood or supporting it with pieces of plywood while the glue sets.
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After the treads are firmly glued in place you can fit the risers, the vertical parts of each step. Like the treads, apply three beads of glue to the back of a riser plank and press it in place. As you do so, be sure to mark it with a number so you can remember which one goes on each stair.
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Overhang
Laminate flooring on stairs can look really good, but it can also be a bit slippery. To avoid this, you can put anti-slip spray on them, dry them thoroughly, or use a stair nosing to round off the top surface of the step and prevent people from slipping.
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A stair nose slots into place over the meeting point of the riser and tread and adds a finishing touch to your staircase. It can be made of various materials and styles, ranging from light effects such as ash to darker effects such as walnut, which can fit into contemporary or older style houses.
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To install the stair nose, first glue your riser pieces of laminate to the front of each step, making sure they fit snugly from left to right, then glue on your stair nosing and leave it to set for a while. You can use wood glue or a nails to secure it in place.
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Overlap
When laying laminate on stairs, it is important to ensure that the tread and riser pieces fit correctly. Tread pieces need to fit tightly on the step, but they should not extend all the way to the front edge of the stair because they need to leave room for the nosing.
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Similarly, the riser pieces need to fit snugly on top of the existing riser, but they should not extend all the way up to the vertical face of the stair. If a large gap is left between the stair and the riser, the new laminate flooring could eventually begin to buckle or warp.
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To avoid this, apply a generous amount of wood glue to the back of the laminate piece and then press it firmly into place on the riser. Be sure to wipe away any excess glue immediately afterward. Nailing to the stair is an option, but it can damage the laminate and may void your warranty.
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Stair Nose
Stair nosing protects the edge of the step and adds grip for people walking up and down the stairs. It also increases the visibility of each individual stair so that people can see where it ends. This can be important in low light areas to avoid tripping hazards.
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Laminate stair noses come in different finishes, shapes and thicknesses to meet your needs. Some have an overhang while others are flush fit, blending into the flooring surface to create a smooth transition between levels in your home.
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Installing laminate on stairs can be more challenging than on flat surfaces but it is possible and with the right tools, patience and know-how can be done successfully. A stair nose, whether flush or overlap, helps to protect the edge of the stair tread and increase grip to reduce the risk of slips and falls. It also offers a stylish finish to your staircase.