Do-it-yourself laminate staircase finishing

Surely many of you have wondered how you can decorate your staircase to make it comfortable and tasteful. But not everyone knows that it is enough to put in a little effort, patience and imagination and all your wishes will come true. In this article we will tell you how to finish a staircase with laminate with your own hands, and we will go through all the manipulations step by step.

Choosing the right material

In order to choose the right material, you need to study it so that it will serve for many years in the future. Laminate is a finishing material consisting of several layers of tightly compressed wood. Depending on the manufacturer and purpose, the material comes in different thicknesses, lengths and materials.

The first thing you need to pay special attention to is the thickness of the laminate. A thick coating will ensure good quality and prevent premature abrasion of the surface, squeaking and any other mechanical damage.

Particular attention should be paid to the class of formaldehyde that is used to make the material. The safest according to European standards is class E1 with a certificate of conformity to EN 13329.

And don’t forget about the appearance of the laminate. When choosing the right material, make sure that it will match your interior, fitting in and harmonizing with it.

Preparatory stage

Many people don't know what to look for first.The main aspect in laminating a staircase is its structural reliability. Only after you are convinced of its strength and have completely completed the construction work can you begin finishing.

Next, you should take the dimensions of each step (the error should be minimal) and calculate the required number of laminate sheets that will be required. This is done in order to avoid purchasing unnecessary material.

Having bought it, do not rush to get to work right away: laminate is a wood material, and, therefore, it needs to undergo a little acclimatization in the room. To do this, leave open packages at room temperature and humidity no more than 70% for 48 hours. After waiting a certain period, you can proceed to the next manipulations.

Finishing stairs with laminate

1. Before starting work, the first thing to do is check the ladder for chips and cracks. Next you need to get rid of excess debris and dust.
2. All steps must be made level. To achieve maximum accuracy, you can use a special leveling mixture or plywood.
3. The laminate is laid using a special insulating backing. This will ensure silence and resistance of the product to various loads. The substrate must be securely fixed horizontally to the plane of the step.

All laminate models, with the exception of single models, are fastened with a lock, which ensures reliable fixation. Before fastening, they should be lubricated with special glue for better bonding.

The next step is to choose the end finish. Most often, two methods of corner facing of steps are used:

• in the shape of the letter G.
• cladding using a specialized profile.

L-shaped molding can be fastened openly (using metal) or hidden (using wood or plastic). When attaching plastic or wood, it is advisable to use glue; when using metal corners, it is advisable to use self-tapping screws. When using a profile system, you should use both self-tapping screws (fastening the profile) and glue (fixing the laminate to the surface).

Finishing should be done as follows:

1. The first step is to place support pads at the junction of the risers and treads. This is done to slide the horizontal covering under the edge of the vertical trim.
2. Glue is applied to the vertical part of the step, after which the facing panel is pressed tightly against it. They are secured using spacer wedges, and then fixed in the same position.
3. The glue is applied to the other side when using a powder profile. Next, you should press the product tightly against the corners of the step and secure it with self-tapping screws.
4. The glue is applied neatly and evenly. Distribution must be done using a special notched spatula.
5. Laminate plates are placed where the glue is applied. Having laid it on the upper step, you need to fasten the panels to the flooring with a lock (when the same laminate is used for both surfaces).
6. A plastic or rubber insert is attached to the corner part of the profile, after which an insert profile is attached to it.