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Finishing Laminate Flooring at the Top of Staircase

bradecho's picture

Finishing Laminate Flooring at the Top of Staircase (post #184001)

bradecho on Tue, 02/02/2010 - 08:47
in

I'm laying some 8mm laminate flooring in the 2ncd floor of a 100 year old house. The challenge I have is how to finish the laminate at the top of the two staircases.

I don't plan to take the laminate down the staircases, but the stair bullnose that is sold for this flooring (swiftlock) doesn't have the heft of the existing stairnose that is there. It just looks wrong.

I'm considering a 4 in 1 transition piece right at the top, but I don't think that will look good either.

I've also considered carefully removing the existing bullnose, raising it 8mm and hiding the gap in the riser with a piece of trim. That way the new floor will be less obvious as you're coming up the stairs.

Ideas?

-A +A

Wish I knew what a 4 in 1 (post #184001, reply #1 of 8)

by calvin in reply to bradecho [original] on Tue, 02/02/2010 - 16:29

Wish I knew what a 4 in 1 transition pc was. Hell, I barely know what 8mm is.

Raising the stair nosing sounds good. What will you do with the required expansion for the laminate? You going to rabbit out the nosing and slip the flooring under?

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Lowes (that's where the (post #184001, reply #3 of 8)

by bradecho in reply to calvin [original] on Tue, 02/02/2010 - 19:22

Lowes (that's where the flooring came from) sells a transition piece for laminate flooring that they call a 4 in 1 trim. Pergo makes it I think. Basically, it's 4 different styles of transition pieces in one, all designed to hide the expansion joint.

Here's a link to one if you curious to see what one looks like.

http://www.amazon.com/36289-Simple-Solutions-Riverside-Pembrook/dp/B001R...

Here's a link to one if you (post #184001, reply #5 of 8)

by calvin in reply to bradecho [original] on Wed, 02/03/2010 - 04:14

Here's a link to one if you curious to see what one looks like.

Thanks.

A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.

Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.


http://www.quittintime.com/

 

What will the rise be when (post #184001, reply #2 of 8)

by Snort in reply to bradecho [original] on Tue, 02/02/2010 - 17:18

What will the rise be when you raise the nosing? 8 1/4" is our max, and it shouldn't differ more than 3/4" from the rest in the run.

Even if it's not to be inspected, varying the rises by too much can make for an uncomfortable walk.

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Good point, Snort. I'll check (post #184001, reply #4 of 8)

by bradecho in reply to Snort [original] on Tue, 02/02/2010 - 19:30

Good point, Snort. I'll check that, but I should be good. 8 mm is about 1/3 of an inch and the upstairs hallway previously had linoleum and roofing felt, so I should only be adding about a quarter inch to the overall rise of the top step.

How to Install Floor (post #184001, reply #6 of 8)

by LolaLayney in reply to bradecho [original] on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 16:20

It's definitely a challenge but here's a great video on how to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFyb1VrlelQ">install laminate floor</a>. Good luck!

It is difficult to (post #184001, reply #7 of 8)

by terrrysp in reply to bradecho [original] on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 19:56

It is difficult to install laminate flooring around the staircase. You need to hire proffessional flooring installer to do the work.

What did you do? I'm about to do the same... Would like to know (post #184001, reply #8 of 8)

by ranchodiablo in reply to bradecho [original] on Sun, 02/20/2011 - 15:56
Hi, My house sounds similar to yours and I am about to install some 10mm on the second floor. How did you deal with the top of the stairs? I would love to know to help me out. Do you have any pictures? Many thanks