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, the 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 )
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
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?
Wood will move somewhat here and there and is normal. For the holes just use a regular wood filler putty.
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
Not sure I follow you.
How isthe tread cut to exact width?
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.
You said if you have kids, don’t get laminated floors because it’s slippery. What would you suggest?
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.
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?
When it comes to finishing always do the floors first then walls.
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?
Can you send me a picture using the contact Dominick on this page?
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
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.
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 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.
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?
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.
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?
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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.
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!
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.
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).
You would remove the padding for the stairs and leave it for the landing and glue it down for the treads. Float it for the landing. And no you would leave the treads.
Hello Dominic,
Can I install preattached foam underlayment laminate flooring ( Kaindl One 12.0 plus )on my stair ? and what about on the landing foam or not foam, or glue ? and also do I need to remove the existing treats? since I’m going to install the stair nose !
For the stairs only, remove the padding. It’s that easy.
THANK YOU for making this video!!!! I’m terrified to tackle my laminate flooring project but more confident now that I’ve watched your video (and a few others).
I do have one question about the stairs – I purchased Allen + Roth laminate flooring with the pad already attached (I have 2 bedrooms and a hallway to do as well) and the matching stair bullnose. Your instructions say to glue down the planks for the stairs – can you glue the planks down with the attached pad or is there another method that is better? I can’t seem to find anything on this question – anywhere.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Always a pleasure. a $100. a step ? . That’s $1,300 bucks. Yes laminate right out of the box is what I used in this video. It’s the nosing that you’ll need to get. Either you could use a larger one like I did and glue and nail it about every four inches. Or chop off your existing nosing and use something different. It really depends on what you find at the store.
Hi Dominick, Thanks for the great video. My 14 stairs have been unfinished for two years now. At $100 a step, professional installation is not an option! I would like to add the riser as well. Can I just use a regular laminate panel from the box, or will I need to purchase a complete riser-tread-stair nose kit ($40 a step)? Also, how do you finish off the edge where the riser and tread meet? How many nails do you add to the stair nose for a 36″ step, and what size nails to you use? 🙂
I don't remember, but it was bought from Home Depot. However I done this tons of times and never cut off the existing bull nose.
No glue should work just fine. But use a good construction glue.
Dom, Just watched your video on installing laminate on stairs. Great video, thanks. My question is, do I follow the same procedure on a concrete landing that is 7' X 14', ie: glue entire floor down? Also, since I can't nail the stair nose down, do I have to install recessed screws?
Loved the video, but a question: Most of the laminate sites I've visited instruct you to cut off the existing bull nose to make "flush edge", before installing the new bullnose which will fit flush with the laminate. Sounds like a lot of labor and mess! So, who manufactured the product you used in the video, since they stated you could put it directly over the existing bullnose? I want to use this stuff! Thanks!
Well you can. But the flooring needs to interlock with each other as well as the stair nosing.
I want to know can I install my laminate, flooring and stairs perpendicular to each other, if it is possible than how we can finish flooring near the stair nosing. please if you have any videos or any suggestion please email me
Yes you would. You can also do the sides if you like or if even needed.
For the coverup, do you just add a 1/4 round at the back of the stair landing? Do you do the sides as well?
The best thing I can tell you would be to go to like Home Depot and look for a laminate stair nosing that matches or dam close to it. You will also have to glue down the Allure. However a laminate nosing has a edge on it that allows for the thickness of that type of flooring. So you may need to mill it down. Nope not as hard as it sounds. You would just shave down the top with a table saw. But then you will have to re-stain it. Gee this sounds like a great video for me to make..
Dominic–
We had the Allure TILE (Livorno Onyx) professionally installed in our kitchen by a tile guy, but he did not finish the job by installing it on our two steps that lead down to the mudroom. He said we should use real tile there—(13 x 13– but it's so far impossible to find matching tile this size). He thinks it would be very difficult to even out the stairs so as to be able to install the Allure "tile" on the steps. We have concrete below the flooring on these two steps. These steps are also right next to the washing machine, so moisture will be an issue.The other issue
is finding matching stair nosing–apparently Allure does not make them, nor does Allure make matching thresholds. HELP!!!
and
I have a question on my first step, one side is is half rounder and i bought a laminate bullnose step. houw could I bullnose the end part?.
Mahalo nui to you to. Yeah I been to Hawaii a few times, LOL. Really glad I was able to help you out. Feel free to ask for help if you need it.
Regards… Dominick
I found you on You tube and was really stoke to see your website at the end of the video, you really don't understand how much your video helps. I alot of DIY projects for my home since the contractors never finished there job and this stair project I just couldn't figure it out. But with your video, I totally get it now. MAHALO NUI! that means thank you VERY MUCH! I can now start on this project and hopefully get it off my task list.
Most will paint the risers however you could install the laminate on the riser. If you are make sure you do that first.
Where ever you bought the flooring from should have it and the color that matches. How much ? well it's not cheap but make sure you do use a real wood for this. Average stair is like 36" wide.
No not really, however just make sure that you don't have nails or staples sticking up and you're good to go.
Is there any type of preparation to the stairs that need to be done prior to installing the laminate?
where do you get this stair nose and about how much is it? also, how long is a average stair? thanks! these are great videos!
Great video, I wasn't sure how I was going to do the nosing on the stairs. So do I only do the tread and not the riser? I haven't taken the carpet off the stairs yet so I don't know what the wood looks like underneath the carpet. Can I also put laminate on the riser, or is it standard practice to only do the tread? Thanks!
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