Installing wood stair nosings

Thus, the contact point may not be the solid wood of a riser or even solid hardwood flooring , but possibly other types of flooring, plywood subflooring, or underlayment, which won't hold the nails well if they go straight in. The best way to check this out is to press a nail firmly into the holes of the strip, then remove the strip.

You will see dots on the wood where the nails hit. If the nails will enter between layers of flooring, one option is to drill new holes in the nosing strip that are either a bit higher or lower in order to have contact with solid wood.

Another approach is to drive the nails at a downward angle for better holding power. Nails driven straight into plywood edges simply separate the layers of plywood and don't hold well. Nail the nosing strip in place, working from one end to the other. If there is solid wood behind the strip, drive the nails straight in horizontally. Otherwise, drive them at a downward angle of no more than about 30 degrees. If the angle is too sharp, the nail heads may not sit flush to the nosing.

Be sure to install nosings on all of the steps. Steps are safest when they are identical. Installing nosing on some steps and not others creates a trip or slip hazard.

It is recommended that you use a primer whilst preparing the steps for the stair nosing, no matter what the staircase is made from. This will be particularly important if the overall condition of the stairs is poor. It will be necessary to ensure that the concrete step is levelled correctly and is free from cracks, dusts or any crumbling areas.

As with the concrete stairs, it is important to ensure that the wooden stairs are free from dusts and cracks. If there are cracks, use a strong wood filler, allow to dry and harden, then lightly sand to a smooth finish.

Wooden stair treads and risers should also be sound, without any evidence of rot or woodworm infestation. Metal stairs will need clean and smooth the stairs and to have any rust or debris removed. The metal work should be galvanised and can be powdered coated to a colour of your choice. Measuring the stairs accurately at the start will help to save time and effort further down the line. These differences could mean either having to cut more from the stair nosing or, worse still, having cut too much off at the start.

Some stair nosing is supplied as a pre-cut length. However, if you are cutting the stair nosing to the lengths required, be sure to accurately mark the measurements and double check them before making the first cut. Before making the final fixings with the adhesives and screw, it is highly advisable to dry fit the stair nosing first. This means you position the stair nosing in place to ensure that the measurements have be made correctly, and the stair nosing will fit correctly and safely when glued and screwed in place.

When it comes to stairs, we know our business, inside and out. Our stair technicians are well-versed in building codes, knowing when tactile warning strips are required, and how to install them properly. Stairs and nosings are the beautiful finishing touches on a floor — or the sore thumb that draws negative attention for not matching and complimenting the floor.

Make sure your project captures attention for the right reasons. Give B. Hardwood Flooring: Stairs and Nosings. I also taped everything together to make sure it would stay in place while it dried. I also shot a finishing nail through the trim for good measure. While that dried, it was time to solve another challenge. I had the same issue that Kelly over at Lilypad Cottage was dealing with during her stair renovation.

I also used cove trim underneath each step to cover things up. Serious respect. I definitely admire her for doing it! But without an industrial strength noise machine, I had to find a quieter way. My solution for installing hardwood flooring on stairs with an existing nosing? It would have been a dirty, time consuming, and difficult process.

I worked my way down the stairs, gluing, nailing, and taping things into place. I originally used a longer nail, thinking it would add more stability, but it just bent. The shorter nails went right in, and I had no issues. All the treads were installed, the risers were painted, and all the trim pieces were in! We actually lived with it like this for a few months.

But, Tabby our pup was afraid of the new slick stairs and was sliding around like crazy.