You have a beautiful laminate floor and are wondering if you should finish the concrete stairs with laminate to give the space a cohesive, designer feel. First of all, is it possible? Can concrete be covered with laminate? The answer is yes. In fact, if you’ve ever covered wood stairs, the process is similar, except that the installation of the molding is a bit more involved.
what you will need
To perform this task you will need:
- PL200 or stronger construction glue
- Jigsaw for cutting laminate
- Chop saw for cutting metal corners
- drill with a concrete drill
- electric screwdriver
- plastic plugs
- Broom
I recommend using metal stair nosings as they are stronger and will hold up concrete stairs better. (Laminate tips that come in a kit are also more complicated, as the tracks have to be in exactly the right place, and there’s not a lot of standardization – each manufacturer makes a slightly different size/style of laminate tips.)
to do
Start by sweeping the stairs and cleaning up any chips or dust. You will need a clean surface for the glue to adhere properly to the concrete and laminate. Once the area is clear, start with the elevators first.
Measure, mark and cut each laminate plank to fit the riser with the groove side down. Glue the riser to the back of the board, and secure the board in place again, making sure the slot is at the bottom of the riser. Once all the risers are glued down, you are ready to start on the trim.
Start by measuring and cutting the metal tips to fit. Mark in the concrete where the screws will go, then using a drill with a concrete bit, drill the holes. Put a plastic plug in each hole. Number the brackets so that each one matches the correct tread when you bolt them on later.
Measure, mark and cut each laminate plank to fit the tread with the groove side facing in to match the bottom of the riser. Arranging the planks so that the groove in the riser meets the groove in the tread creates a clean, professional edge at the corner. Glue the tread to the back of the board and secure it in place, making sure the groove faces in.
Stair overhangs are meant to finish off the look by masking the edge of the stair. Unfortunately, with concrete stairs, this can be a bit tricky, as the edge of the stairs is often thicker than the actual edge of the stair. If this is the case, cut a laminate board so it is wide enough to cover the concrete edge and glue it to the face of the edge at each step. Then secure the trim over the top by screwing it through the laminate tread into the pre-drilled holes in the concrete. (If you’ve already covered the lip face with laminate, you can glue the nose to the laminate for extra adhesion, then screw the top of the nose in place.)