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Just go slow. Make all your cuts nice a straight. Before you even begin with this project you should ask yourself. Do you have little kids running around wearing just socks? If so, you may not want to install laminate on your stairs. No doubt about it looks nice as can be. But is very slippery, to say the least.
OK, for the big bucks. The stair nosing that I used in this video was not cheap at all. When you go to buy the laminate floor of your choice ask them if they have “matching” stair nosing. Very important, you’ll be surprised by how many manufacturers don’t.
How to install laminate flooring on stairs.
Comments ( 51 )
Dominick,
Great video! One question, however…how much of the pre-existing bullnose was visible from underneath the nosing, once installed? It was difficult to see from the video, but it did appear that the original bullnose was not completely covered, and may be visible on higher stairs (at or above eye level).
Funny as it may seem. The manufacture says to leave the existing bullnose on. Not that much. You couldn’t see anything once it was done.
Tank you for this video, it helps a lot! I do have one question about the stairs – I purchased Allen + Roth laminate flooring. When I went to purchas the matching stair bullnose I was told that it is an overlapping piece and it will be higher then the rest of the step. They also said that all laminate bullnoses are that way. The bullnose you showed in the video comes only in wood flooring. I don’t want the edge of the stairs to be higer. Is there a solution?
Thank you!
Buy the same one I used then. It’s a solid wood bought from Home Depot. I just don’t remember anything more about that.
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We purchased Allen Roth laminate flooring for our upstairs and the stairs. We are using cork underlayment to help reduce sound. We would also like to use the cork on the stairs because we are concerned about noisy the stairs will be without carpeting. We have removed the carpet and have been just walking on the plywood stairs and it is extremely noisy. Can we use the cork – glue it down then glue the laminate to the cork and then nail the laminate down with finish nails? That was our plan until we started researching and heard not to use any underlayment and to remove the foam on existing laminate. We are also putting baseboard on top of the laminate. So between the glue, finish nails and the baseboard wouldn’t that be enough to keep the cork and laminate in place? Also now heard there is a lip on the stair nose? Wouldn’t that be a trip hazard or do you get used to it being there?
I would not use anything. It will come apart. And make sure you get a nosing for the type /size of laminate so it fits good. And yes a little lip is something you may get use to you but maybe not others when they come over to visit.
Thank you. Disappointing to hear. We were hoping to help deaden the sound on the stairs. It has been so loud since we took the carpeting off. Sounds like maybe we should consider putting carpet back on, but that would be the only carpet in the whole house. Will the laminate flooring help deaden the sound somewhat?
If you have access to the back of the stairs, like from a closet or basement I would add insulation. That’s what I do on new homes. Makes a big difference. But really that little foam bad for laminate floors isn’t really going to do much anyway.
There is a finished closed under the stairs. We would have to remove the drywall in order to insulate. Between the noise and the lip on the stairnose, I ‘m wishing we didn’t already remove the carpet. We thought the cork underlayment would be the answer, but since that is a no go we need to rethink laminate on the stair treads. Wish we knew someone who has laminate on the stairs to see how they like it and if it is noisy. The stairnose is expensive, so putting it in and then ripping it out if we don’t like it would be costly. Thank you for all your help and your video is great!
If noise is a big concern than laminate is not an answer no matter what. There is another product on the market. I know Home Depot carries it. It’s a all in one wood cover up for stairs. I’ll have to look into that for you.
Hello I bought prego xp homestead oak and the matching stair nose with snap teak that fits over it without the padding there is a slight gap between the bottom of the stair nose and top of the laminate called zamma and they sent me new manufactured ones that do the same is there a trick to make them fit tighter
Can you send me a picture using the contact Dominick on this page?
dominick
I didn’t see or find the DIY on how to install the bullnose on the steps. I’m about to tackle this project on my stairs and wanted to see the finished step. I also intend to place some wainscoting on the riser part of the stair to add some texture. Should I do that first before doing the step itself?
When it comes to finishing always do the floors first then walls.
Couple of questions. First, the sales associate at my local Lowes (who has installed laminate flooring for many years, according to him) said the flooring should always float over the subfloor since it expands and contracts depending on the moisture. However, with the stair flooring and nosing, you mentioned glueing and nailing them down. I’d assume that’s ok? Also, how would you manage the top stair? For example, do you just nail the nosing and let the flooring “float” under it without glue or nails?
Usually you would have trim to cover the outside edges. In that case you could just float it. When you don’t, say on a stair riser than you would just glue it. Or nailing it would be best. Those boards aren’t really big enough to worry about expansion.
You said if you have kids, don’t get laminated floors because it’s slippery. What would you suggest?
Back when I made this video you could only get smooth flooring. But now they have not so smooth and slick. Check some of them out and you’ll see what I mean.
How isthe tread cut to exact width?
Not sure I follow you.
Hi, I was wondering how you covered the nails you Put on the stair nosing? Also what would you recommend to be placed if the wood moved and gaped a little bit? Great videos
Wood will move somewhat here and there and is normal. For the holes just use a regular wood filler putty.
Hello! I have 3 landing stairs in the middle of my stair case and I am putting laminate with padding down. My question is do I need to remove the padding and glue it or float it?
Yes do not use padding at all. Unless they are really big stairs you can glue it. Otherwise you’ll have to pin it like adding trim