Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - Laminate on stairs

I'm planning on installing laminate onto stairs. People recommend gluing this part. Now do you still use the underlay? Do you glue the laminate to the underlay. If so, how would you adhere the underlay to the base? My base is wood. Also, do you leave 1/4" on all 3 sides (2 sides and against the base board)?

It might be wise to leave some gap and fill with some cork and perhaps make
a feature of it.

What adhesive do you intend to use?

Also what do you intend to do on the leading edge of each staircase tread?

Applying glue to the foam in my opinion would probably not be a good idea
as you would have laminate-glue-foam-glue-timber(stairs).You would be
relying on the foam not to tear to keep laminate in pace.Also some glues
might react with the foam causing it to break down and you would end up
with loose laminate boards which could result in accidents.

Hope I have been of help

Cheers Addict4

When installing Laminate on stairs, everything gets glued, and a few trim nails help. No underlayment is used.

Use stair noses not endcaps molding!!

Also, laminate on stairs is very slippery! WATCH OUT!

Thank you for responding. So don't use any underlay on the stairs. Glue directly onto wood base. Do you still need to leave a 1/4" space on all 3 sides for expansion? Plan on using base board on the sides and back. Plan on using stair nose for the leading edge. The laminate I got is Armstrong, locking system.

When cutting planks w/electric saw is it best to cut w/top facing up or down? Planks longer than each stair, is it best to cut both sids off?

Because a normal staircase has stairs no wider then 4 feet, minimal gap if that is needed.

I wouldn't use baseboard on the riser!
Use the laminate!

Start at the bottom of the staircase and work to the top.

Your going to need at least a 60 tooth blade, if not 2.
A circular saw isn't going to do a very good job.

A 10" chop saw and a table saw, are going to be the tools of choice.

Thanks for the advise Perry. Why wouldn't you use a different baseboard for the riser? Just curious. Which way should I cut the laminate to get the best result: top up or down on saw?

With a chop saw or table saw, cut facing up. With a circular saw, cut facing down.

You want the blade teeth points, to go into the face.

For the underlay, do you just roll it out? Does it need to be nailed down or anything like that?

Wait a minute...

I thought we were doing a staircase here???


In an earlier post I said ""When installing Laminate on stairs, everything gets glued, and a few trim nails help. No underlayment is used.""




That means no under layment is needed in a stair installation.

You glue the laminate directly to the treads and risers with urethane adhesive and some statigically placed finish nails.

Sorry, forgot to mention I was talking about the main floor not stairs. So now could you answer the above question. Thank you.

Roll it out.
Some cushion underlayments, after you roll it out you have to flip it over. Some have the moisture barrier too, with peel and stick tape on the edges, to seal the underlayment together.