|
Installing the tread edge piece
Measure the exposed edge of the tread and cut a piece of laminate to
fit. Apply a bead of construction adhesive to the back of the piece,
then press it into place and hold it for a few minutes to let it bond.
|
|
Installing the top nosing
Measure and cut the nosing to fit the space. Apply a bead of adhesive to
the subfloor, not the nosing. Position the nosing—the tapered end
overlaps the flooring—and hold it until the adhesive sets.
|
|
Marking for nosing screws
Starting from the edge of the nosing, measure and mark for one screw
every 9 inches. Space holes evenly and center them on the part of the
nosing that is glued to the subfloor.
|
Drilling pilot holes
Put a wide strip of clear plastic tape over the nosing. With a
combination bit, drill countersink holes for 11/4-inch No. 6 wood
screws. Screw down the nosing. Leave the tape in place until after
you've hidden the screws with putty (Step 10).
|
|
Gluing tread pieces together
Measure the stair depth and subtract the nosing depth. If the result is
wider than a single plank, rip a second plank to make up the difference.
Make the cut on the groove side of the board. Glue the planks together
tongue-to-groove. |
|
Applying construction adhesive
Lay three beads of adhesive on the tread. Don't put any on the space
that will be covered by the nosing. |
Positioning the tread assembly
Press the glued tread assembly into place on the tread, with the tongue
of the full plank facing out. Wipe off any glue that squeezes onto the
top of the plank with a damp rag. |
|
Covering the riser
Measure the height and width of the riser space. Cut a plank to fit,
cutting off the tongue in the process. Apply adhesive to the back of the
cut plank. Angle the plank into place, fitting the cut side under the
tread overhang of the step above. Press the riser into place.
|
|
Completing the stairs
Cut a tread edge piece and fit it onto the exposed tread edge, as in
Step 1. Press it in place for a few minutes to let the adhesive bond.
Repeat Steps 1 to 9 until all the stairs are done. |
 |
Filling the screw
holes
Prepare the putty according to the manufacturer's directions. A scrap of
plank makes a smooth mixing surface. With a plastic putty knife,
smoothly fill the screw holes in each nosing. Then carefully remove the
tape. After about 20 minutes, even out the putty with a cloth dampened
with water or acetone. Putty is usually impossible to remove once it's
dry, so work carefully and clean up right away
|
|
On some staircases, the underside
of the nosing on the upper stairs is visible from the bottom of the
staircase. Check your stairs. If you can see the bottom of the nosing, you
can still install laminate, but you should make a little adjustment to your
stairs first. You need to pad the risers with plywood. Measure and cut a
piece of plywood to fit against each riser and screw it in place. Then just
install the laminate as described here. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
