Laminate Flooring on Stairs

[Crumm]

I am installing some glue-less laminate flooring in our kitchen, dining, hall, entry and bathroom. I have two sets of stairs to do also. The lower set of stairs is no problem since there is a wall on both sides of them. Just some stair nose trim pieces and a tube of liquid nails will do the trick. Problems comes in when I get to the upper stairs. The upper stairs are open on both sides so the edges of the steps show. Right now they are wrapped with carpet. Once I cover the steps with flooring the sides of the steps will show. The edge of the laminate flooring and the edge of the 2"X will not look real attractive. Any idea what guy is suppose to do in this situation? I though about overhanging the laminate cut on a 45* angle and then putting a small piece on the side cut to match the top but when I get out to the stair nose trim piece there would be 4 angles to match up and no way to cut it to fit.

 

[95_stroker]

Have you come up with anything on this yet Crumm? I'm thinking something along the lines of a corner trim, know what I mean? Like what you would put on the corner of a doorway that is not cased. I just havent been able to locate anything online to convey visually what I am trying to mumble here.........

 

[Crumm]

Have you come up with anything on this yet Crumm?

We have been thinking on this and there might be a change of plan. The flooring that I installed seems to be a little slick. We don't wear shoes in the house and with three young kids flying up and down the stairs in there stocking feet we are thinking about staying with carpet on the stairs. I am thinking that the slick laminate on the stairs might just be asking for a cracked skull. There is a nose piece that goes on the front of each step that would supply a little traction but i don't know if it would be enough. We are still thinking......

 

[95_stroker]

I can attest to the fact that laminate on stairs is slippery. One of my buddies had that in his last house, I dont think anybody took a digger on it (he has 5 kids) but none the less, stocking feet and laminate flooring is just like ice skating.

 

[geonc]

FUGGGETABOUTIT...................not worth the agrivation of bastardizing the install, not to mention getting the rises correct at the starting tread and upper tread.

You guys are correct about the slickness
When I have to go into finished/occupied homes for minor tweaking.....I'm in my socks and even then the clear coat finish on the hardwoods can send me sliding....

Carpeted treads may be a buggar to vacume but they tend to be a little safer regarding the kids and wemmens with a basket full of laundry/arm full of sleepy kid.

 

[Crumm]

We are leaning toward new carpet on the stairs. Just too many negatives with the laminate on them. I might add that we are really liking the laminate in the dining, kitchen and hall. It makes a very nice floor. Now if that lazy bum that installed it would get the entry and bathroom done. He also still needs to hang the trim back up too. Wait a minute that guy is me....

 

[Crumm]

Carpet measurer just left.

We went ahead and ordered carpet for the stairs. I also picked up nine more boxes of laminate Going to do the living room now. We are also getting a couple of area rugs made out of the same carpet that is going on the stairs. Thanks for the input on putting the laminate on stairs. I think it would have been a bad idea and an expensive idea. Those darn nose trim pieces are $17 each and they also need a $3 mounting channel

 

[95_stroker]

Just our of curiosity, what kind of carpet did you go with?

 

[Crumm]

Don't know the brand. It is a Berber the Home Depot has in stock. The service invoice just says "In Stock Rave, Rocky Rd". By the way it is not the carpet "I" went with it is the carpet the wife picked out..

 

[Crumm]

it is the carpet the wife picked out..

Carpet is finally in and I must say(don't tell the wife)it looks darn good. I wasn't real sure about the berber but it does look better than the pile that was there. Thanks again for the input about the laminate.