Stair laminate. How to cover a staircase with laminate: tips from a home craftsman. Tools and materials

Finishing the staircase with laminate not only improves the appearance of the structure, but also ensures its comfortable operation. However, to get good result, it is important to choose and lay the laminate correctly.

Laminate is a material consisting of 4 layers:

The stabilizing substrate ensures the strength of the product and protection against deformation;
The main part of the product is the supporting layer. It consists of fiberboard high density. Thanks to it, laying laminate on steps provides noise and heat insulation of the finished surface;
The second layer from the top is paper. It performs a decorative function and determines what the coating will imitate. The relief of a stone, a log frame, or any other aesthetic material can be applied to the paper;
The top layer consists of a mixture of resins with melamine or acrylic. The coating has a transparent color and protects the laminate from abrasion due to frequent mechanical impact.

Thanks to this composition, the main properties of the material are strength, wear resistance, as well as the creation of a heat and sound insulation layer.

Pros and cons of laminate finishing

Covering staircase structures with laminate has many advantages:

The noise of footsteps on stairs is effectively suppressed. This is especially true if there is metal stairs;
The aesthetics of the design is ensured. The products look similar to parquet. In addition, various decorative imitations allow you to select the most suitable slabs for your interior;
Thermal insulation ensures ease of use of the stairs. This factor is especially relevant for structures made of cold materials in the idea of concrete and metal;
The material is fireproof. In case of accidental contact of the coating with a burning match, cigarette or hot iron, no burn marks remain on the surface of the product;
Availability of finishing. The material has a low price.
The product is environmentally friendly;
Easy to care for coating. To clean the material, just wipe it with a slightly damp cloth.

But finishing the stairs with laminate has its drawbacks. The material is sensitive to high humidity. Under such conditions, the slabs begin to deform, crack and peel. Also, the products must be laid strictly on a flat surface. Even small irregularities can lead to poor-quality installation of laminate flooring on the steps.

Criterias of choice

When choosing a material for finishing a flight of stairs in a house, you should pay attention to the technical purpose of the product and its class. At the same time, the class indicator indicates the wear resistance of the material. The second number in the product class marking indicates the thickness of the top laminating layer.

By purpose, laminate is divided into:

Domestic. Class marking begins with the number 2. They have low impact resistance;
Commercial. Class markings begin with the number 3. Products marked 32 and 33 have medium and high impact resistance, respectively.

Laminated boards marked 21 and 31 have low wear resistance. They can be used to finish stairs that are rarely used. Average term The service life of the material is 2-3 years. Products with strength classes 22 and 32 have average level wear resistance. They are designed for frequent use by a small number of people. This coating will last about 4-5 years. Material with classes 23 and 33 are among the most wear-resistant products. They are able to withstand constant active use of the surface by a large number of people. The service life of such material is 5-6 years.

When choosing a finish for a staircase, you should also pay attention to the appearance of the products and the texture of their surface. The material can have different colors. The color scheme of the laminate should be selected in accordance with the style and colors of the room in which the staircase is installed. It is important that the material does not merge with the flooring and wall decoration.

The slabs can be smooth or textured. Textured products imitate the relief of wood or other material and look very aesthetically pleasing. However, during operation, debris may accumulate in the recesses. Therefore, smooth slabs are more convenient to maintain.

Another important criterion when choosing a laminate is the slipperiness of its surface. To ensure safe use of the stairs, it is advisable to choose products with the lowest slip rates for finishing the steps.

Features and types of edge profiles

When finishing stairs with laminate, special overhead corners are used to decorate and protect the outer corners of the steps from damage. These products may also be called moldings or edge trims. Installation of such a cladding part is carried out using glue or using self-tapping screws.

The edge or stair profile for laminate can be made from the following materials:

Metal. Such products are used for mechanical protection of corners and as anti-slip pads;
Tree. The product has a long service life and is even subject to partial repair;
Plastic. This molding is characterized by its low cost and ease of installation. It is usually fixed with glue;
Laminate. A specialized coating that completely matches the texture and color design with main plates.

Installation of laminate edge profiles is carried out on a metal profile screwed to the corner of the step. In this case, the molding is placed on the profile, making the fixation points of the product invisible.

How to finish a staircase with laminate

Finishing a staircase with laminate can easily be done with your own hands. But in order to produce high-quality finishing of steps with laminate slabs, preparatory and installation work must be done in the following sequence:

Prepare all the tools and consumables necessary for the work.
Prepare the surface of the stairs for finishing.
Calculate the required dimensions and quantity of material, and, if necessary, cut it.
Finish the staircase steps with laminate.

After installing the laminate slabs on the staircase structure, the surface of the steps does not require additional processing or finishing.

Tools and materials

To finish a staircase in a private house with laminate, you will need the following tools and materials:

Adhesive mixture marked “for laying parquet”;
Jigsaw. The tool is necessary for cutting slabs. Despite the pliability of laminate, the use of other cutting devices is undesirable, since the cut may be uneven and the material will be damaged. Alternatively, a wood saw or grinder can be used;
Corners, or edge profile, suitable in color and functional features;
Sheets of plywood or cork roll. Will be used as a backing finishing material, to provide increased sound insulation;
A simple pencil and ruler. Will be used to apply markings to the surface of products;
Metallic profile;
Mallet;
Roulette;
Building level;
Notched trowel;
Laminate.

If you plan to install the corners to the steps using self-tapping screws, then these consumables will also be required, complete with a screwdriver or screwdriver.

Preparing the stairs

The principle of preparing the base before covering the steps with a decorative coating depends on the material from which the staircase is made. Wooden and concrete steps must be treated with a deep penetration primer 24 hours before starting work. However, before this, the structure must be thoroughly cleaned of debris. To prepare metal steps, simply wipe them down.

It is important to sand any existing unevenness on the steps. The surface can also be leveled with putty or a special self-leveling mixture. The fastest and most effective way to level the steps is by gluing a plywood backing to them. It is worth considering that underlays are almost never installed on treads.

Just before the start finishing works The steps of the stairs are re-cleaned of debris.

Calculation and cutting of laminate

For convenient cutting of laminate, a full-size tread and riser template is made from a sheet of thick paper or cardboard. To do this, their length and width are measured and transferred to the prepared sheet. For steps of different sizes, it is necessary to make separate templates.

Having made the templates, they are applied to the laminate and outlined with a pencil. After this, the material is trimmed according to the markings. When using different templates, the workpieces and the corresponding steps must be numbered so as not to be confused during installation.

Finishing

Decorating steps with laminate is carried out in several successive stages:

A layer of glue is applied to the surface of the riser using a notched trowel.
A corresponding blank is placed on top of the adhesive composition. In this case, the laminate must be strictly aligned along the edges of the riser, tapped lightly rubber mallet, and press down with some heavy object to securely fix it.
The tread is coated with adhesive using a notched trowel.
A piece of laminate of a suitable size is tightly applied to the tread, leveled and fixed.
Using the same principle, the laminate trim decorating the staircase is fixed from the upper steps to the lower ones.

It takes about 24 hours for the adhesive to dry, during which time the ladder cannot be used. After this time, protective edge profiles can be installed on the corners of the steps. For fixing metal moldings, only fastening with self-tapping screws is suitable. Other types of decorative and protective elements can be mounted to the corners of steps using glue. After installing the metal corners, the ladder can be used immediately. The adhesive fixation method requires waiting another 24 hours before using the structure.

In finishing stairs you can use almost all types of coatings used for flooring. In our article we will talk about how to finish a staircase with laminate.
We will also consider which board is best suited for finishing stairs, and what nuances in its selection and installation will have to be taken into account.

Properly finishing the stairs in your home is just as important as laying the flooring. After all, the cladding of staircase steps not only decorates them, but also experiences considerable stress during operation.
And if you want the finishing of the stairs in your house with laminate to be done according to all the rules, let's start with choosing the material.

So:

The laminated board consists of several layers: high-density fiberboard on a stabilizing backing and decorative paper layer, coated with melamine or acrylate resin.
Depending on the manufacturer, the composition of the panel may vary and have different configurations lock connections. Any laminated board belongs to its own class.
Classification of this material used for production floor coverings, is produced according to the degree of abrasion resistance, impact resistance, water resistance and some other indicators.

There are six laminate classes in total: 21; 22; 23 and 31; 32; 33. Class numbers starting with two are options for home use.
From class 31, laminated boards for commercial applications where higher loads are expected. Laminate finishing of wooden stairs must be done using this material of at least class 31.
When purchasing material, you need to keep in mind some nuances. Each step must have a solid board.
The facing of the treads, as well as the steps themselves, is not made from pieces. Therefore, the width of the laminate must be calculated correctly.
Often the steps of the stairs have different widths, so you need to navigate by the widest one, and then simply count the number of steps. The resulting amount of board will be needed only for lining the treads.
Then, multiply the height of the riser by the number of steps. If the staircase is marching, then there is also landings.
Their area also needs to be taken into account, adding it to the estimated amount of material required for cladding the flights of stairs.

Before finishing a staircase with laminate, you need to lay a polyethylene, or even better, cork backing under each step. It will provide good shock absorption of the coating, as well as sound insulation when walking on the stairs.
In this case, finishing the stairs with laminate is done by hand, and the staircase has a complex configuration, it is necessary to make cardboard templates, according to which to cut out the cladding and backing elements. This way you will avoid mistakes when cutting material, and, as a result, its overuse.

To connect multi-level surfaces, there are special profiles. One of them is in the photo above.
The profile design allows you to beautifully decorate the joints of staircase cladding elements. The profile will also contribute to the distribution of loads on the surface of the board and its uniform abrasion.
Finishing stairs with laminate requires a certain set of tools. The most convenient tool for cutting laminated boards is a jigsaw.
In the absence of a jigsaw, you can cut the panels with a hacksaw, circular saw. But, if you need to cut, for example, a hole for a baluster, it is better to use a regular narrow metal file.

Finishing the stairs in a house with laminate cannot be done without the use of self-tapping screws. Each element must be fixed on both sides.
This is enough, since there will be additional fixation with a corner or profile.

To ensure that the fasteners are not subject to corrosion in the future, it is best to use options made of stainless metals: copper, brass or zinc. Of course, the price of such fasteners is somewhat higher, but you won’t have to pay twice for cladding the stairs.

Cladding steps with boards

Any staircase, not only wood, but also metal or concrete (see How to finish a concrete staircase with wood), can be lined with wood. Often, for this purpose, a facing board made of solid hardwood is used: oak, larch, beech, mahogany or ebony.

Nobody argues – it’s very beautiful. Such staircase cladding elements are usually made to order and fit perfectly together.
But such cladding is expensive, plus the services of a specialist who will have to be invited for installation.

Decking composite board

Therefore, there must always be an alternative. We have already talked about laminated boards.
And another type of board, which contains not only wood, but also polymers, is a composite decking board, or, as it is otherwise called, decking.

This is what decking looks like - a composite board

So:

The presence of polymers in the composition of the board gives it the highest strength and resistance to moisture. Decking board was originally created for constructing terraces and is ideally suited for cladding steps of stairs. Especially considering that it has an anti-slip surface.
Moreover, the staircase can be not only in the house, but also on the porch. And the area in front of the entrance to the house can also be laid out with decking.
By the way, terrace board The areas are also lined before descending into the pool (see Finishing the pool: how this is done). How to do it, watch the video, master it this type The instructions found on the Internet will also help you.

Just as in the case of laminate, the width of the board should correspond to the width of the steps. Decking is cut like any other board.
But it is more convenient to use than other types, because the edges of the composite board do not require additional processing. Decorative end caps are included with the decking.
Work with composite board when finishing steps, it is somewhat different from how, for example, finishing stairs with parquet is done. There are special ventilation holes in the cavity of the board. The decking is installed with the slots facing down.
It is very convenient to mount such a board to metal frames Boltsev and spiral staircases using clamps and screws.
To edge the front part of the tread, just as in the case of laminate, use a profile or aluminum corner. When making fastenings, before screwing in the screw, you need to pre-drill a hole, since the board has a very dense structure - this will make it easier to screw in the screw.

Finishing stairs with composite boards goes well with other materials. For example, if there is a board on the tread, then the riser can be faced mosaic tiles, clinker, stone, or porcelain stoneware.
Thus, your staircase will also acquire an original look.

Decorating the steps with parquet

Unlike previous types of cladding, parquet boards are more vulnerable to moisture and require pre-treatment with a special impregnation. The width of the parquet board does not exceed twenty centimeters, which does not correspond to the width of the steps.

But that’s why parquet is assembled from small elements. The parquet board is larger than the solid parquet strip, which used to be the only element used to create such floor coverings.
Parquet planks made from solid wood were, and remain today, the most expensive type of flooring.

The creation of parquet boards not only made it possible to reduce the cost parquet flooring, but also made it possible to use it in other types of finishing. And this is not only the decoration of stairs - parquet is now used in the decoration of walls, and even ceilings!
The board's multilayer structure made it possible to make the board cheaper. The lower part of the board is made of cheap types of wood, which is covered with veneer of valuable types of wood on top.
The board has grooves on four sides, allowing it to be fixed with adjacent cladding elements.
When laying floor coverings made using parquet boards, preference is given to locking joints. When finishing stairs with parquet, it is more convenient to use the adhesive installation method.
To ensure the insulation of the stairs from the booming noise that occurs when walking, it is best to use a cork backing, which we wrote about above.
Both the substrate and the board are fixed with glue. First, the riser part is glued, and then the tread covering.
Otherwise, the work on facing the steps parquet board, is not much different from that where other types of wood coatings are used.
Additional fastening to the cladding elements will be provided by a profile, which, as in other cases, is used to decorate joints and strengthen the edges of steps that experience the heaviest loads.

Here, in fact, is the entire review on finishing the stairs with boards. All types of coatings that we have talked about do not present any particular difficulty in the production of work.
They can be done independently, without the involvement of specialists. The main thing is to strictly follow the technology, and your staircase will serve you for a long time without causing any trouble.

The staircase inside the house brings a special note of individuality to the overall interior, giving it beauty and originality. Quite often, laminated material is used to finish staircase steps. By appearance it has almost no differences from natural wood covering. But it has a lower cost, is easy to maintain and allows you to replace defective or worn parts. It is possible to carry out the finishing with your own hands, without incurring significant costs. You just have to familiarize yourself with the features of the laminated material and the technology of its installation, as well as the rules for its further operation. Let's look at how to cover a staircase with laminate.

Finishing stairs with laminate: preparatory work

Laminated material has found wide application for the design of floors and began to be used for the design of walls and ceilings. You can also cover the stairs with laminate. It works well to finish concrete or metal stairs with laminate, which often do not look very elegant and do not add beauty to the interior. As a restoration, you can finish with laminate an old wooden or iron staircase, which may look unsightly, but is quite strong.

To cover the stairs with laminate, you should prepare everything you need:

laminated panels high level strength, their width is equal to the width of the step;
corner threshold or profile made of metal, wood or plastic, or special with laminated surface to match the base material;
polyurethane glue for gluing prepared lamellas;
set of self-tapping screws.

How to choose laminate flooring for stairs in your home

The staircase can safely be classified as a high-traffic area; its steps are under constant significant load. For this reason, you should choose a commercial material designed for use under intense loads.

This is a laminate of 31-34 strength classes, which has considerable thickness of the lamellas and a high-strength surface layer. Three in the marking numbers indicates belonging to commercial view. Numbers from 1 to 4 in the second position indicate the thickness of the film on the surface.

The width of its panels is important when designing stairs for laminate flooring. It is desirable that the width of the laminated panel covers the entire surface of the tread (horizontal section) or the entire riser (vertical part of the step). If the width of the lamella is insufficient, you will have to cover the steps of several panels and connect them to each other using locking elements.

Such a composite covering of steps has less strength than a solid one. Note that when finishing flight of stairs(a platform connecting two staircases) the connections of the locking elements will definitely be laminate. In such places, the laminated material is laid in the usual way, connected by means of locks.

The external design of the laminate should be in harmony with common interior Houses.

It is worth paying attention to ensure that the surface of the laminate is not slippery. You should know and remember that the laminated material will be used on the treads (horizontal surfaces of the steps) and on the risers (vertical parts of the steps), plus a margin of approximately 10%.

It is also important to consider when choosing a material its safety and harmlessness. It is optimal to choose an E1 class laminate with a certificate of compliance with the European standard (EN 13329). You should read the manufacturer's warranty statements. For covering staircase structures, it is better to choose panels with a long warranty period. This affects the cost, for this reason the final option is determined by your willingness to bear certain financial expenses.

Corner profile for stairs

Laminate is used to finish stairs corner profile(it is also called edge threshold, molding). This is an overlay strip, similar to a corner threshold, used to decorate external corners steps. When covering a staircase, two laminated panels laid on the horizontal and vertical surfaces of the steps meet at a right angle, which does not look aesthetically pleasing; the edges of the panels are visible.

The edge profile covers the joint corner and strengthens the attachment of the panels. It is applied to the top of the joint and secured with adhesive or self-tapping screws.

The role of such profiles can be played by angular thresholds. Another name for them is a stair profile for laminate flooring. They can be made from various metals such as: aluminum, steel, brass. Painting can be done in shades of gold, bronze, steel or wood.

The metal molding carries decorative load and protects the corners of steps from wear. Often the stair profile has a corrugated surface, which has an anti-slip effect.
Plastic profiles are corners various shades. It will not be difficult to choose a profile shade that exactly matches the laminated panels. Plastic molding protects the edge of the step, creating a beautiful corner, hiding all internal connections. Their advantage is low cost. To attach them, glue is used, which should be of good quality and strength.
The wooden threshold is perfectly compatible with the laminated coating, has a long service life, and allows minor repairs such as sanding, puttying, painting. The only disadvantage of wooden molding can be attributed to high cost. It is mounted using adhesive or self-tapping screws.
In addition to the corner thresholds, a specially created laminated profile is used, which ideally fits under the laminated coating. The Incizo profile from the Belgian company Quick Step is popular. This profile is perfectly compatible with the Quick Step staircase laminate.

To attach such a stair profile to the sidewalls of the steps, using self-tapping screws, a base is mounted in the form metal strip. Next, the metal guide is covered on top with a laminated profile using glue. The profile is firmly fixed, the fastening looks decorative, because there are no traces of fastening on the surface - they are hidden.

Fastening the profile to a metal guide is the most optimal solution, combining reliability and stealth.

Preparatory work with the staircase structure

Even before laying the laminate on the stairs, it is imperative to prepare the staircase structure itself and, if necessary, make a complete or partial repair. This is an integral step of the entire complex of work.

Before purchasing panels for cladding stairs with laminate, you should calculate its quantity. First, measurements are taken (length and width) of the largest horizontal surface (tread) in width, and the calculated value of its area is multiplied by the number of steps. The same calculation is made for risers.

After purchasing the laminated material, it is kept indoors in packages for 48 hours to acclimatize.

At this time, we prepare the stairs for cladding.

Checking the reliability of steps, replacing or restoring defective areas

In preparation for sheathing wooden stairs laminate, you need to make sure that its components are securely fastened and strengthen them, if necessary, using self-tapping screws. Gaps and cracks are filled with wood putty.

Worn or defective steps must be replaced, after which they are leveled in height using plywood sheets.

When covering concrete stairs laminate, uneven or defective steps are leveled using leveling mixtures (cement, for large gaps use concrete mixture). When the solution dries, sand the surface using sanding paper. To get rid of cement dust, the steps must be vacuumed and then wiped with a damp cloth.

Removing the remains of the former coating

All steps should be thoroughly cleaned of any loose paint, old linoleum, carpet or other trim, this could damage the installation of the laminate panels. Clean off traces of glue and grease. Remove protruding nails and screws.

In case of damage to the wooden covering alignment needs to be done. You can do this in several ways:

removing the top layer with a polishing tool;
the use of a leveling substrate that can level out minor differences in height;
leveling with plywood.

Treating the staircase with an antifungal agent and coating it with varnish

Fungal spores destroy not only the structure of the tree, but also initiate various diseases in people. Long-term contact with harmful flora can disrupt the functioning of the respiratory system and cause diseases such as bronchitis, asthma, rhinitis. In this regard, the surface is treated with synthetic antiseptics.

To eliminate the recurrence of fungus, you should, if possible, reduce the humidity in the room and allow access to free penetration of air and sunlight.

After antiseptic treatment, the wooden span should be coated with varnish to secure the structure and create a protective layer.

Painting or varnishing of railings

Painting can be done powder paints or dyes based on drying oil (both synthetic and natural). It is also possible to darken and change the structure of the wood using all kinds of stains. In this case, it makes sense to first use the composition on small area or on the cut part to avoid unpleasant surprises.

In the case of varnishing, preference should be given to matte varnishes, since with frequent contact with the surface of the railing during their operation, the gloss will quickly lose its appearance.

If the house is new and the staircase has not yet been installed, then it is better to paint the elements before installation. In this case, it will be easier to get to hard to reach places, which will give a better result.

All further work carried out only after all stair elements have completely dried.

Cleaning the surfaces of steps from dirt

After painting work, you should wet cleaning workplace. Simply wipe the surfaces with a damp microfiber cloth. Don't overuse water.

Clean from top to bottom. This way you can sweep away all the debris without dirtying the washed part.

It is better to limit the use of detergents and use them only when necessary.

Preparing a template for cutting laminate panels

It is made from cardboard or thick paper. The length and width of the step (tread and riser) are measured, applied to a cardboard sheet, maintaining the shape and dimensions of the step, an individual template is made for a non-standard step.

Using the template, the shape is applied to the laminate panel, then the workpiece is cut (using a grinder, jigsaw, etc.) along the applied contours. The prepared panels are numbered so that in the future you will know which step it belongs to.

Technological process of covering stairs with laminate

Let's look at it in detail technological process Do-it-yourself laminate staircase sheathing.

Using a specialized profile

Using L-shaped thresholds

This method is easier to perform, but the quality of the finish may be lower - in terms of decorativeness and strength. We assume that the staircase is prepared, the slats are cut to size and numbered.

Apply to the surface of the riser adhesive composition, spread using a notched trowel. Then you need to glue the laminate panel to this surface, leaving a gap at the bottom, the size of which is equal to the thickness of the lamella.
An adhesive composition is applied to the surface of the tread and distributed using a notched trowel over the entire surface. We apply a laminate board to the horizontal plane of the step, pressing it against the step.
The selected threshold is fixed to the corner of the step. The metal threshold is fastened using screws, screwing them into the finished holes. Fastening the plastic thresholds by applying glue. Fastening wooden thresholds can be done in either of two ways.
Such work must be done for each of the steps below.
After completion of the staircase sheathing work, you cannot walk on it for about a day, and with adhesive fastening - better than 48 hours.

Based on the material, L-shaped thresholds can be divided into three groups:

plastic;
wooden;
metal.

Depending on the type of installation, there are two main methods:

open;
closed.

When open method fastenings use self-tapping screws (suitable for metal profiles), for closed ones - glue (for plastic and wooden profiles).

Quick Step and Inciso

To form the surface of the stairs you will need:

auxiliary aluminum profile;
Incizo profile;
special knife for cutting the profile;
Quick Step laminate;
glue;
self-tapping screws

Step-by-step installation process:

An auxiliary metal profile is applied to the corner of the step.
The aluminum profile is fastened with self-tapping screws to both surfaces of the step.
A lamella is glued to the lifting part of the step (vertical). Use spacers for the bottom to leave a gap to form the cover of the next step.
Glue is applied to the horizontal part of the step (on the step itself and on the auxiliary profile). The lamella is installed.
A plastic attachment is pressed into the locking part of the top bar to connect it to the Incizo profile.
Using a special knife, the Incizo profile is formed in one of 5 ways, which is suitable for connecting to a metal strip.
Glue is applied to the Incizo profile and installation is carried out.

The technological process of covering stairs from QUICK STEP laminate using the Incizo profile can also be seen in the video:

We looked at the main ways to cover a staircase with laminate with your own hands. We hope that by following our recommendations, everything will work out for you, and you will be satisfied with the result, which will delight you for many years.

Floor lamination is a universal alternative to other types of flooring, as it can imitate any type of flooring and is also more durable. But, like all types of flooring, laminate has its own installation subtleties. Despite this, laminate flooring is relatively easy to install, provided you have the the right tools and some time. Here are some easy-to-follow steps for installing laminate flooring on your stairs.

Steps

Preparing your floor

Choose a laminate flooring. Laminate flooring can be installed on stairs or anywhere else you might want to install wood flooring. The main issue with installing laminate flooring on stairs is their durability; stairs tend to experience more wear and tear than other surfaces in the home. Therefore, it is recommended to contact the supplier or manufacturer to order the most durable laminate.

Leave the floors to acclimatize. Laminate flooring needs time to adjust to the temperature and humidity in your home before it is installed. This prevents the boards from warping, expanding or contracting. To allow your flooring to acclimate, remove the boards from the packaging and place them on an open surface where air can circulate. Leave them for 24 hours.

Remove all carpets and boards. The next thing you will need to do is prepare your stairs for laying laminate. If you need to remove carpet, you can do it with pliers. Carpeting is usually adhered using liquid nails or paper clips. Liquid nails can be removed using a pry bar, and paper clips can be removed using a scraper.

Remove any projections. Many stairs have pre-existing overhangs: when Bottom part the top steps are visible from the bottom of the stairs. You will need to remove these before you apply the laminate. Do this in two ways:

Cut the laminate into pieces. The next thing you need to do is cut the protective pieces of laminate to length for the treads and risers, as well as for the trim. For missteps, lay the boards across the step, making sure they fit snugly from right to left. You may need to trim the edges slightly to match the step. Most offenses will not be broad enough to cover the entire step. In this case, you will need to cut another board to fill the remaining surface:

Place the risers in place. The next step is to install the risers, which are the vertical parts of the staircase. Pour three drops of wood glue onto the back of the risers (which you'll cut ahead of time) and press them into place, holding them firmly for a minute or two to allow the glue to soak in. This piece should fit snugly between the step below and the step above.

If you want to secure the riser higher, you can use a nail gun to secure the top of the slat in place without the nails showing at the edges.

Install stair trim. Once you've installed the staircase and risers, you'll need to install the trim (this is the piece that sits at the top of the risers and protrudes slightly from the edge of the steps). To install the trim, apply a bead of construction adhesive to the base (this is better than attaching the trim yourself) and firmly press the tapered end covering the riser.

Finish laminating the stairs. It's up to you whether you want to do all the treads and risers first, before installing the trim, or whether you want to completely finish one step before moving on to the next. Whatever method you use, make sure you take your time and install the laminate carefully. You have to do a good job if you want your coating to last a long time.

Finishing touches

Fill the screw holes. Once all the laminate is in place, you will need to fill all the screw holes with putty. Prepare the putty according to the instructions, stirring it thoroughly. Use a plastic putty knife to fill the holes smoothly and neatly. Once you have filled all the holes in the trim strip, remove plastic tape, covering it.

Clear the stairs. It is important to clean the stairs immediately to remove any excess putty as putty is almost impossible to remove once it has dried. It is also advisable for you to sweep away the sawdust and peel off the remaining tape from the cladding. Once you've cleaned the stairs, take a step back and admire your work!

Leave the ladder overnight. Avoid using the ladder (for as long as possible) for 12 to 24 hours after finishing lamination. This time is enough for the glue to be absorbed and the floors to lay down well.

One tip for gluing is to place the board in place and immediately lift it up, if the amount of glue is enough to adhere the laminated board to the steps then you are gluing correctly.
If you don't think glue is a good tool for the job, try using nails to laminate the floor on the steps (base). But keep in mind that nails can damage the surface of the laminate. They may also void your warranty. Check the manufacturer's recommendations or call the installer to resolve the situation. If you decide to use nails, then use a pneumatic (automatic) nail gun. This will reduce the likelihood of the laminate boards splitting.

An interfloor staircase in a house should not only fulfill its intended purpose, ensuring safe movement between floors, but also complement the overall design of the room with an aesthetic appearance. To ensure this, the steps need to be lined. Laminate is used as a finishing material, because this material has all the necessary characteristics that fully ensure success in achieving the goal.

Advantages of laminate over other coatings

A staircase finished with laminate will become the final element in the design of the room

In appearance, laminate is difficult to distinguish from natural wood, and various types of designs perfectly imitate wood and even materials such as marble or granite.
Excellent weathering physical exercise and is not subject to abrasion or pressure. It does not leave dents or scratches from heavy objects.
Resistant to high temperatures and has decent fire resistance.
It does not require special care. It does not need to be painted, polished or sanded from time to time. All maintenance consists of wiping with a damp cloth.
Absolutely harmless to health, bacteria and dirt do not accumulate in it, and does not cause allergies.
Possesses special system connecting locks, thanks to which installation is carried out.
Durable: if all recommendations and instructions are followed during installation, laminate flooring can last more than 10 years.
Affordable.

Required tools and materials

Hacksaw or jigsaw;
Pencil, ruler;
Roulette;
Building level;
Notched trowel;
Sandpaper (for cleaning parts of metal stairs);
Parquet glue, adhesive mastic;
Primer for metal (concrete);
Self-leveling floor mixture;
Plywood 4 mm and 10–15 mm;
Laminated panels;
Corners and strips for fastening (for the profile system);
Dowels, screws, bolts;
Rubber support pads;
Polyethylene backing for laminate.

How to prepare a concrete or metal staircase

Laminate is not a durable wooden plate, but just a finishing material that consists of several layers. The thickness of the panels is from 6 to 12 mm. They are made of high-density fiberboard, a top decorative layer of paper and a bottom waterproof backing. Part protective coating acrylic or melamine resin included.

Leveling steps using formwork

Before pouring the mixture, the surface must be cleaned of dirt, primed and given time to dry completely. After pouring and drying the solution, plywood 10–15 mm thick is installed on the surface of the steps, which provides a moisture-proofing layer between the base and the laminate.

For concrete and metal steps The plywood is fixed level. To do this, you need to cut the blanks according to the size of the surface, apply adhesive mastic to the base, install an insulating layer of plywood and fix it with dowels. For metal stairs, use a drill to drill holes and secure with bolts.

Fastening plywood

To prevent laminate panels from squeaking, and also for soundproofing purposes, a soft polyethylene backing is laid on top of the plywood.

Using a laminate underlay

Preparing the laminate

Since the steps of the stairs experience heavy loads during operation, ordinary laminate is not suitable for finishing. For these purposes there are special types marked 31, 32, 33, 34. Number 3 indicates that the laminate belongs to the commercial class, and the second number indicates the thickness of the top protective layer.

When choosing a laminate, you need to take into account the width of the laminate boards and, if possible, select them taking into account the width of the steps to avoid joints. Of course, if the staircase includes platforms, then connections cannot be avoided. In such cases, they are installed in the usual lock-to-lock manner.

Laminate for stairs

When installing laminate on a riser and tread, a small joint is formed between two laid boards, which is covered with an edge profile. It is applied to the seam and secured with screws or glue. In this way, the unsightly connection is covered and the entire structure is further strengthened.

What are edge profiles?

Metal thresholds in the shape of a corner. They decorate and protect the edges of steps from damage, and also have a corrugated surface that provides an anti-slip effect.
Thresholds made of plastic. Perform the same functions as metal ones. They differ from other moldings at a low price. They are different color shades. Attached with glue.
Wooden thresholds. They are perfect for laminate flooring, have a fairly long service life, and are amenable to minor repairs (grinding, varnishing). Fastened with self-tapping screws, bolts or glue.
Special laminated thresholds. They are installed on the edges of the steps using metal guides. First, the guide itself is attached with self-tapping screws, then the laminated corner is inserted into the grooves and glued.

Types of edge thresholds

Instructions for cladding steps with your own hands

Using a specialized profile

Measure the width and length of the step, using a ruler and pencil, transfer the dimensions to the laminate board.
Cut with a jigsaw or wood saw strictly along the marked lines of the workpiece for each step.
Number all panels to avoid confusion during installation.
Start installing laminate flooring from the top step, gradually working your way down.
Apply glue to the riser (vertical part) and place it, pressing the laminate plank tightly so that between it and the next step there is a gap equal to the thickness of the laminate. Place a special rubber pad under the bar to ensure the required distance. This is done so that the underlying tread board (horizontal part) slides under the riser board.

It is convenient to create a gap using unnecessary small pieces of laminate, using them as support pads for a vertical board.

Apply glue to the back of the guide profile, install it on the edge of the step surface and fix it in this position. Additionally, secure to the tread with screws (bolts if the stairs are metal) at intervals of 15 cm from each other.
Apply glue to the horizontal part of the step and spread it evenly around the entire perimeter using a notched trowel and lay the laminated board on top. If this is the lowest tread, which is flush with the floor, then connect it to the main flooring in the traditional way - lock to lock. Slide the remaining tread boards under the vertical laminated riser panels.
Install a rubber insert into the slot of the edge guide profile. In some cases, it is put on the tenon of the tread board, so the installation method depends on the type of laminated profile.
Apply adhesive to the grooves of the laminated molding and install it onto the metal guide and rubber insert. Make sure that the parts are firmly pressed against each other. There should be no gaps between the laminated and guide profiles.
All subsequent steps are sheathed in the same way. After finishing work, it is not recommended to use the ladder for 24 hours - until the glue has completely dried.

Installing laminate using a specialized profile

Using wooden, plastic or metal thresholds

Just as in the first case, you first need to measure the steps, cut and number the laminate blanks.
Attach the panel to the riser, taking into account the gap for the horizontal board.
Apply glue to the horizontal part, distribute it evenly using a notched trowel and fix the prepared part by sliding it under the vertical board.
Install and secure the threshold on the edge of the step. If it is metal, then it is screwed through special holes with self-tapping screws, and the plastic one is fixed with glue. Any of the above methods is suitable for wooden thresholds.

Video: Finishing stairs with laminate

As you can see, all stages of finishing the stairs with laminate are simple, so they can be implemented without the involvement of specialists. By completing the finishing yourself, you will not only improve your staircase, but also save money. It is only important to choose the right materials for the job and adhere to the technology.