QA

Quick Answer: How To Apply Stair Treads

Do you glue or nail stair treads?

Don’t fasten treads and or risers with only nails or staples. The adhesive is much more important than the fasteners. There will be times when fastening may be limited, so a good adhesive is critical. Don’t use the stringer as a level for the treads.

Can you just glue stair treads down?

NO!!! As someone who’s done a lot of hardwood flooring, as well as stairs, adhesives are not enough to hold a stair tread down. Treads should be attached with a combination of adhesive and nails. Nail length being a minimum of twice the thickness of your tread and of 16 gauge or larger.

Do you put risers or treads first?

When installing stairs, install the riser first, and then the tread. Start at the bottom of the stairs and work your way up, alternating risers and treads. The back of each tread will sit flush against the riser.

Is Liquid Nails good for stair treads?

We no longer recommend using Liquid Nails® brand products. Because Liquid Nails’ products are labeled very similarly and packaging can vary between location and retailer, we strongly discourage the use of any other brand of adhesive, including Liquid Nails, for your stair installation.

Which adhesive is best for stair treads?

A polyurethane glue, such as Loctite PL Premium, is a highly recommended adhesive. Since the stair treads, or the surface of your stairs, receives a lot of foot traffic, you’ll want to make sure it’s properly installed.

Can Liquid Nails be used on stair treads?

LIQUID NAILS® Cove Base & Stair Tread Adhesive, (CB-10), is a water-resistant, latex-based construction adhesive. It offers quick initial grab without bracing. CB-10 is designed specifically to bond vinyl or rubber cove base and stair treads.

Can you put new stair treads over old treads?

With the overhang removed, your new risers can go right to the top of the old stair. Use a generous amount of construction adhesive under each tread and riser. Affix a riser, then cap it by also gluing and screwing the tread down.

Can I put new stair treads over existing?

Retro-fitting stair treads is the simplest solution for a DIY’er intent on installing hardwood treads over an existing flight of stairs. High-quality prefinished stair treads are made of solid edge-glued wood—not a veneered or engineered material—and can be used to “cap” or reface an existing tread.

Should you stain stair treads before installation?

Staining and varnishing hardwood treads prior to installation is recommended, especially in this case where we have stone or tile risers. Once the treads are stained and dried it’s time to cut and install them.

Is construction adhesive enough for stair treads?

The construction adhesive should hold the treads nicely. Make sure you allow enough to hold the treads in place. 2500# psi adhesive should be good enough.

Where do you nail stair treads?

Drill three pilot holes for nails through the top of the tread at each stringer. Space the innermost and outermost pilot holes 1 1/2-inch from the respective edges of the tread. Drill the center pilot holes midway between the front and back edges of the tread.

How do you fix gaps in stair treads?

Run a heavy bead of the silicone along the gap to fill it, and then use a wet fingertip to smooth it out if necessary. It’s the fastest way to fill minor gaps, and if you’re not happy with the way it looks, you can always install molding over it.

How far should stair nosing stick out?

Nosing Requirements Nosings are required to overhang a minimum of ¾-in. to a maximum of 1-¼-in. Also the maximum nosing radius cannot exceed 9/16 of an inch.

Should stair treads be level?

Stair treads themselves must also be close to level, as you’ll see in the following standards: 1 – “The walking surface of treads and landings of a stairway shall not be sloped steeper than one unit vertical in 48 units horizontal in any direction.”.

Can I use 2×10 for stair treads?

It is acceptable and within building code guidelines to use either 2×10 or 2×12 dimensional lumber to create a set of stairs; however, a stair stringer should not be less than 3.5 inches wide at its narrowest point to provide adequate strength for the load the stairs will be supporting.

What screws to use for stairs?

Use screws that are between 2 and 4 inches long. Deck screws are available in this size range, and are used for this purpose on deck stairs. Drilling pilot holes will help prevent splitting the wood of the stringers.

How long does it take for stair glue to dry?

Do not spread more adhesive than can be covered within 40 minutes for porous substrates, 45 minutes for non-porous substrates, depending upon temperature and humidity. Porous Substrates: Allow the adhesive to set open 5-10 minutes before installing rubber tile, stair treads and sheet flooring.

How long does it take liquid nail to dry?

Liquid Nails dries in 15 minutes and reaches maximum strength in seven days, though actual dry time varies with humidity and temperature.

How do you apply polyurethane to stair treads?

Invert the can of polyurethane gently about 10 times before use and repeat this regularly as you work. Do not shake the can. This will cause bubbles in your finish. Apply polyurethane in a thin, even layer on the top step using a lamb’s wool applicator or a brush labeled for use with oil-based paints.

How many coats of polyurethane do I need for oak stairs?

Depending on the type of wood and condition of the stairs, usually two or three coats of oil-based polyurethane are enough. However, you need to be aware that it takes longer to dry. Also, it can add an amber glow to the wood, making it susceptible to brush marks.

Can I use 18 gauge nails for stair treads?

There are so many different types of nails out there, but when installing your treads and risers you will want to go with the Finish Nails. Using a 16 or 18 gauge finish nail will sure get the job done and the nail hole will barely be noticeable!Aug 3, 2012.