Many people choose to continue their wood flooring all of the way up (or down, depending on your point of view) their stairs. This means that in order for the flooring to look complete, as well as keep people from tripping, stair nose trim must be installed. Small pieces designed to go on the front of each tread, known as stair nose trim, give your floors a complete, finished look that you’re sure to love.
Although the company that you choose to install your flooring can and should tackle that nose trim as well, where does this leave people who want to DIY their wood floors and trim? Thankfully, installing stair nose trim on a floating floor is just as easy as installing that flooring itself.
Want to learn more? We’re here to help.
Let’s take a little glimpse into the wonderful world of stair nose trim and see if it’s the right fit for your floors.
What Is a Floating Floor?
Often, the words “floating floor” and “laminate floor” are used synonymously. After all, laminate floors are often floating floors, although they don’t have to be. Also, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a flooring floor that isn’t laminate. Of course, none of that helps clear up the mystery or answer the question, so let’s get more specific.
A laminate floor is an alternative to a hardwood floor. The laminate is made of layers of particle board or pressed wood topped with an image layer that resembles standard hardwood, down to the color and grain pattern.
A thin, clear layer goes on top of that to protect the plank from daily wear and tear and provide some shine. All of these layers are pressed together into the plank and look like one single piece.
How a Floating Floor Is Attached
Although laminate floors can be attached to the subfloor with either nails or glue, in many cases, they are not connected to the subfloor at all. This is where the term “floating floor” comes in.
The laminate planks have tongues and grooves on either side that fit and snap together, holding the planks in firmly. Once the entire floor is installed, the laminate will stay in place without being attached to the subfloor at all.
Since the laminate floor is not connected to the subfloor, it’s referred to as a floating floor since it essentially “floats” above the surface. This allows the planks to expand and contract along with the weather, keeping them from buckling and cracking. It also helps the installation process, making it go more smoothly and with fewer tools, as glue and nails are not needed.
What Is Stair Nose Trim?
Now that you understand what a floating floor is, it’s time to explain stair nose trim. When you look at the flooring on your stairs, you’ll notice that there are several flat planks involved in covering the steps.
There’s one piece against the back of the stair and one on the main step itself. These two pieces often meet seamlessly, but you can still see space between them if you look very closely.
This is where stair nose trim comes into play. These pieces of wood or laminate are the same width as the stairs and consist of two straight edges attached at a 90-degree angle. The edges fit neatly over the front portion of the stairs where the two main pieces of wood meet, covering it entirely. This makes the stairs look finished and prevent tripping, wood buckling, and other issues.
The stair nose trim is nailed into place at the front of every stair, so it needs to match the rest of the laminate flooring exactly. Otherwise, it will stand out, unless that’s the look that you’re going for. Once you have your stair nose trim in hand, it’s time to jump into the installation process.
How To Install Stair Nose Trim
Let’s get to the nitty-gritty! Installing stair nose trim is fairly easy, although it can be time-intensive. You’ll also need a specific set of supplies and tools in order to get the job done right. Once you have everything in hand, it’s time to begin, so let’s go through the installation process step by step.
Step 1 - Gather Your Supplies
In order to install the stair nose trim on your steps, you’ll need a number of supplies, starting with a mop, bucket, and some floor cleaner.
Also, you’ll need:
- Stair nose trim
- A circular saw
- A measuring tape
- A pencil
- A straight edge
- Laminate floor glue
- Small nails
- Laminate floor putty
- A putty knife
You’ll also have to have a microfiber cloth on hand, as well as a few extra pieces of stair nose trim, just in case one is cut wrong.
Step 2 - Wash the Floor
Start by washing the floor on the stairs. Since you’ll be installing the stair nose trim both with glue and nails, any debris, like dust or pet fur, on the stairs will prevent the glue from sticking. In addition, you don’t want any of this debris to be permanently stuck on your stairs underneath the stair nose trim.
Wash the floor with a bucket of warm, soapy water and some floor cleaner. Use a mop to control how much water goes onto the floor. Once it’s clean, you can either allow the floor to air dry or use a microfiber cloth to speed up the drying process.
You definitely want to begin with a fully dry slate, so be mindful not to rush this. After your stairs are dry, it’s time to move on to the next step.
Step 3 – Cut the Stair Nose Trim
The odds are that your stair nose trim won’t be the exact width of your stairs when you receive it. This means that it must be cut down to size. Measure your stair treads from one wall to the other (or to the side if you only have them anchored against one wall). Then, measure your stair treads, making a mark with a pencil where you’ll need to cut.
Use a straight edge to draw the lines on the back of the stair nose trim where you’ll need to cut each piece. Making sure to measure them more than once to avoid accidentally cutting one too short. After all, the saying goes, “Measure twice, cut once.”
Once the pieces have been measured and marked, it’s time to bust out your circular saw. Carefully cut each piece of stair nose trim down to size, counting them as you go to ensure that you have one for each step. After each piece is the correct size, it’s time for the fun part: installation.
Step 4 – Install the Stair Nose Trim
Installing the stair nose trim is a multi-step process. You’ll need to hold the trim against the edge of each step in order to make sure that it fits snugly. It’s possible that some pieces may warp or bend in transit or while they’re being cut. If the piece fits well, go ahead and install it.
If not, try a different one. This is why it’s good to have a few extra pieces of stair nose trim, just in case you need them.
Start the installation process by spreading a bit of glue (industrial adhesive works well) to the underside of the stair nose trim. You want just enough to hold it into place without any excess glue bulging out the ends. Press the stair nose trim down securely and rub the length of both sections in order to activate the glue.
Once the glue has adhered, you’ll need to place a few nails in each piece to prevent them from moving while the glue dries. Use small flooring nails and hammer one or two on each side of the top of the stair nose trim. Make sure that the nails go below the surface, or else they’ll stick up and become tripping hazards.
Repeat these steps until all of your stair nose trim has been installed.
Step 5 – Cover the Nail Holes
Now for the finishing touches. In order to make your stairs look nice, as well as prevent dust and debris from getting into the nail holes, you’ll need to fill them. Use a laminate floor putty that matches your stair nose trim and a putty knife.
Place thin layers of putty into each nail hole until they are completely filled. Wipe away any excess putty and allow it to dry. Now, your stairs are finished and beautiful!
Stair Nose Trim Gives That Finished Look We All Love
Even though your floor itself is floating (not anchored to the subfloor), you’ll still need to attach the stair nose trim securely to the edge of each stair using both glue and nails. Otherwise, the pieces will remain loose and become a tripping hazard.
If you need stair nose trim or floating laminate flooring, then head to Hardwood Bargains. We have plenty of options in a variety of colors and patterns, and we’re happy to help you make your staircase look as complete as possible.
Sources:
How to Install Stair Nose Molding | SF Gate
