DIY Project – Install Laminate Or Hardwood On Your Stairs

When it comes to installation, laminate or hardwood is a tiresome and time consuming process. And because of this, it demands a lot of patience on your side. It’s a bit different than the installation of solid stair treads. Quite often people like the stairs to match the laminate or hardwood flooring , especially when they are close to the staircase. The main task is to cut the treads and stair noses in such a manner that they remain as close to the sides as possible and to ensure that the stair nose, treads and risers are firmly attached. I would like to note that it’s not important whether you are using nails, glues or an adhesive.

In US homes, it’s often that the stairs are covered with a carpet and this creates even more work. You need to get rid of any overhang and all the staples that were holding the carpet in place. Also, check the treads beneath the carpet; they could be loose or warped up.

Having removed all the staples, scrape the stairs to get rid of all debris. Some of the treads wouldn’t be flat and need to be corrected. Else, you may use a belt sander to remove high spots. In extreme cases you may be required to change the tread with a board of the same thickness. Use screws rather than nails which often remain loose.

Then you need to decide the kind of riser to be used. You could use the flooring you are installing on treads or have painted wood for a riser. It’s good to be using 1 X pine or polar. Some people prefer painted raiser to make the stairs stand out.

Now we are coming to the costs. Stair nosing is expensive, but generally you can make two stairs with a single length of nosing. Get your hands on pine or polar in case you want to include risers. Compare the prices from a few sources and get the most competitive prices. This is how you can calculate the quantity of flooring needed. Usual width of stair is 3 feet and is one foot deep, making it three square feet for the tread and double the amount in case you intend having the riser too. Be sure to add ten percent to your calculated figure. The extra volume is needed to cover waste and mistakes you may make. Moreover, the extra comes handy when any replacement is required in future.

Using appropriate tools of dependable quality facilitates the execution of the project. Apart from the usual hand tools you’ll need miter saw, circular saw, nail gun, and table saw. Avoid using quarter round to cover the gaps on stairs. It doesn’t jell and makes the stairs look smaller. If you must cover the gaps, use matching putty for the purpose, which in any case you’ll need for filling the nail holes.

So, you can see it involves a lot of work! It’s worth spending time to plan your project in detail for its successful completion in minimum time.