You've just installed a laminate floor and you think you'd like to finish your wooden stairs in laminate for a unified, cohesive look. What tools will you need and how should you proceed?
What You'll Need on Hand
To accomplish this task, you'll need:
* a skill saw for cutting the laminate planks to fit the stair treads and risers
* PL200 or a similar, strong construction glue
* a brad-nailer
* a chop saw to cut metal stair nosings, (if you're using metal)
* screwdriver (electric)
* a broom
How to Proceed
Begin by sweeping the stairs to rid them of any shavings or dust. You'll need a clean surface for the glue to adhere properly.
Start with the risers first. Measure, mark and then cut each plank to fit the riser with the groove side facing down. Glue the back of each plank and fit it into the riser, making sure the groove is facing downwards. Use a brad-nailer to secure each plank in place while drying.
Once the risers are covered in laminate, it's time to start on the stair treads. This time, measure and mark each plank so that the groove is facing inwards to meet the laminate riser. (Having the groove of the laminate riser meet the groove of the laminate treads provides a corner with a nice, clean edge and it looks professional.) Glue the back of each plank and fit it to the stair tread, making sure that groove is facing the right way. Use a brad-nailer to secure each plank while drying.
You're almost there--all that's left are the stair nosings. The nosings fit over the lip (or nose) of the tread. Nosings come with pre-drilled holes to secure the screws in place. All you need to do is measure each one, cut it to fit and screw-nail it into place. There you go! Enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done.
Note: the method described above for installing stair nosings assumes that you're using metal nosings, which are stronger and more durable. You can use laminate nosings--these are not a standard size and rely on a track-type installation which is a little trickier as the track needs to be laid in exactly the right space for a flush fit.
Marion Taylor is an experienced writer who has combined skills and resources with her husband--a flooring retail owner and operator--to create a series of how-to flooring videos. Their latest effort is a laminate flooring how to video.
Copyright of this article: 2008, Marion Taylor. This article may be reprinted if the resource box and hyperlinks are left intact.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marion_Taylor
RSS Feed (xml)
No comments:
Post a Comment