Square adjustment Tips for self-adjusting plastic windows. Sash shift in the horizontal plane

The staircase in a private house should be safe and convenient for all family members. Railings should be installed high, with comfortable handrails. The distance between the balusters should not exceed 15 cm. These simple rules must be followed - this is a guarantee of functionality and safety.

But what about beauty? After all, the design installed in the house can become an original design solution that fits perfectly into the interior of the room. For this purpose, stair railings can be made from various materials, decorated with carvings, forging, glass, chrome. Do not forget about the steps, they are an integral part of the design.

If a laminate or parquet is laid on the floor in the house, then the stairs can easily be decorated with this material with your own hands.

Safety. The laminate should have an anti-slip coating that will reduce the chance of falling down the stairs.

Wear resistance. The material must have increased wear resistance, which will protect it from damage and visual surface defects during long-term operation.

Strength. These parameters are very relevant for the laminate, which is used to finish the steps of the stairs. The material must withstand heavy weight and significant loads.

Preparing different types of stair treads before laying laminate flooring

wooden steps

If the steps are slightly loose and creak, then you can further strengthen them with small screws. Hats of accessories are recommended to be sunk into the material and covered with wood putty on top.

If a metal protective profile is fixed on the edge of the steps, it must be dismantled.

It is desirable to cover all gaps between the boards of steps with putty. This will prevent moisture from getting under the substrate and laminate.

concrete steps

If the concrete steps are even, without recesses and depressions, then you can skip the preparation stage. If the steps have pronounced defects, you can not do without preliminary repair.

If the differences are not too high, you can use to level the surface of the mixture, called self-levelling. Working with these mixtures is not difficult for beginners: you just need to distribute the solution over the surface. As it dries, it evens out the surface.

Another thing is if the recesses are large enough. Formwork is required to level the steps. For these purposes, ordinary plywood, 3-4 mm thick, is suitable. Attach plywood to concrete with dowels, the upper edge of the formwork should coincide with the level of the step. The surface to be leveled before pouring the mixture must be clean, free of debris.

Overhaul of steps

It is advisable to treat the concrete with a primer mixture, this will improve the adhesion between the materials.

The wet mixture must be carefully leveled and the horizontalness of the surface checked with a level. The formwork is removed from the steps after the leveling mixture has completely dried.

After leveling the steps, it is recommended to lay plywood. To do this, you need to cut the required number of blanks that completely match the size of the steps. The plywood is attached using anchors drilled into the concrete. In the same way, you can veneer and risers. The subsequent installation of the laminate will be much easier and more convenient than laying the cladding on bare concrete.

Choosing a laminate according to its characteristics

The laminate used for flooring is divided into classes, depending on the purpose and application. Material with a low class - from 21 to 28 is designed for "unloaded" and seldom visited premises and is characterized by low wear resistance and strength. It is most often used for finishing residential premises. The cost of such material is also not too high.

Commercial flooring - Laminate, having a class from 30 to 34, is designed for intense loads. These materials are characterized by increased impact resistance, moisture resistance, sound insulation.

It is recommended to use a laminate with a class of at least 31-32 for facing the stairs in the house. This material is designed for 12 years of intensive use in public places. In the house, it will last twice as long without changing the quality, reliability and appearance.

The easiest process for facing stairs with laminate

Materials and tools for cladding.

Hammer with wooden head.

Electric manual jigsaw.

Limiters.

Substrate floor laminate.

Metal corners.

Self-tapping screws for fixing the material.

The modern choice of laminate varies not only in terms of external and technical characteristics. Some manufacturers produce material of different lengths and widths. It is advisable to purchase a laminate of such a width that it completely covers the entire step without growing. Or you can purchase narrow material and lay two boards on the step at once, in a locking hitch.

First stage. Laminate installation begins with laying the substrate. It is a soundproof and moisture-proof material, and the substrate also plays the role of a kind of buffer that prevents the boards from deforming under heavy loads. The substrate is laid in a single carpet, covering the steps and risers.

The second stage is cutting the laminate to the desired size. The cut boards are laid on the step, then along the very edges they are attached with screws to plywood or the wooden base of the stairs.

It is worth knowing that you cannot immediately cut the entire material, for each step you need to carry out a separate cutting operation with accurate measurements.

The third stage is the finishing of the risers. The width and length of the gap between the steps are also measured, the laminate boards are cut to the desired size. Not always the width of the step coincides with its height, so it is very likely that you will have to cut the board along. Then the material along the edges is attached with self-tapping screws to the base of the stairs. It is advisable to recess the caps of the fasteners into the material, subsequently they will hide behind the metal corners.

In the same way, subsequent steps are faced until the staircase acquires a new attractive appearance.

The fourth stage is the installation of a metal corner on the edges of the steps and on the sides, under the railing. The profile is also cut into blanks of the required size and screwed to the laid laminate with self-tapping screws. Thus, seams are hidden and the fastening of the laminate is further improved.

Laying laminate with special profiles

For these purposes, it is required to purchase special profiles that have an invisible aluminum base, which fits under the laminate. The visible base of the profile protects the edge of the step from abrasion and can be made in the form of a corrugated anti-slip surface. The visible surface of the profile is designed in one tone with the laminate.

Installing laminate flooring on steps with this profile is very simple. The aluminum part of the profile is attached to the base and side parts of the step. The laminate is cut into fragments of the required size and glued to the base of the step. The second, removable part of the profile, the step is fixed and shaped. In the same way, the laminate is attached between the steps.

A special profile for the installation of steps greatly facilitates the cladding process, especially if the work is done by a beginner.

Video - Finishing stairs with a laminate with a profile

Video - Do-it-yourself finishing stairs with laminate

Video - Finishing stairs with laminate

If a laminate or parquet is laid on the floor in the house, then the stairs can easily be decorated with this material with your own hands.

Requirements for the finishing material of the stairs

Safety. The laminate should have an anti-slip coating that will reduce the chance of falling down the stairs.

Wear resistance. The material must have increased wear resistance, which will protect it from damage and visual surface defects during long-term operation.

Strength. These parameters are very relevant for the laminate, which is used to finish the steps of the stairs. The material must withstand heavy weight and significant loads.

Preparing different types of stair treads before laying laminate flooring

wooden steps

If the steps are slightly loose and creak, then you can further strengthen them with small screws. Hats of accessories are recommended to be sunk into the material and covered with wood putty on top.

If a metal protective profile is fixed on the edge of the steps, it must be dismantled.

It is desirable to cover all gaps between the boards of steps with putty. This will prevent moisture from getting under the substrate and laminate.

concrete steps

If the concrete steps are even, without recesses and depressions, then you can skip the preparation stage. If the steps have pronounced defects, you can not do without preliminary repair.

If the differences are not too high, you can use mixtures called self-levelling to level the surface. Working with these mixtures is not difficult for beginners: you just need to distribute the solution over the surface. As it dries, it evens out the surface.

Overhaul of steps

It is advisable to treat the concrete with a primer mixture, this will improve the adhesion between the materials.

The wet mixture must be carefully leveled and the horizontalness of the surface checked with a level. The formwork is removed from the steps after the leveling mixture has completely dried.

Choosing a laminate according to its characteristics

Commercial coatings - laminate, having a class from 30 to 34, is designed for intense loads. These materials are characterized by increased impact resistance, moisture resistance, sound insulation.

It is recommended to use a laminate with a class of at least 31-32 for facing the stairs in the house. This material is designed for 12 years of intensive use in public places. In the house, it will last twice as long without changing the quality, reliability and appearance.

The easiest process for facing stairs with laminate

Materials and tools for cladding.

Hammer with wooden head.

Electric manual jigsaw.

Limiters.

Substrate floor laminate.

Metal corners.

Self-tapping screws for fixing the material.

First stage. Laminate installation begins with laying the substrate. It is a sound-proof and moisture-proof material, and the substrate also plays the role of a kind of buffer that prevents the boards from deforming under heavy loads. The substrate is laid in a single carpet, covering the steps and risers.

The second stage is cutting the laminate to the desired size. The cut boards are laid on the step, then along the very edges they are attached with screws to plywood or the wooden base of the stairs.

It is worth knowing that you cannot immediately cut the entire material, for each step you need to carry out a separate cutting operation with accurate measurements.

In the same way, subsequent steps are faced until the staircase acquires a new attractive appearance.

Laying laminate with special profiles

A special profile for the installation of steps greatly facilitates the cladding process, especially if the work is done by a beginner.

Video - Finishing steps with Egger laminate

Video - Do-it-yourself finishing stairs with laminate

Country houses are becoming more and more attractive for living every year, so people want to create not only a fashionable, but also a practical, cozy interior. In order to climb to the upper floors, stairs are required, which are an integral part of the interior. will allow you to update the old or extend the life of the new staircase. Timely finishing of the staircase with laminate will make it resistant to physical impacts and mechanical damage that inevitably occur during operation. The advantage of this material is that it is visually similar to natural wood, but has a lower weight of the panels, which reduces the load on the structure in general and the steps in particular. Even non-professionals can do the cladding with their own hands, so this method of decorating is very popular.

Facing the stairs with laminate will reduce the noise level, which is the main factor influencing the choice of this material. Additional reasons:

affordable cost;
easy do-it-yourself processing;
practicality and durability;
water resistance;
long service life (up to 6 years);
resistance to impacts and other mechanical influences;
environmental friendliness.

It is best to choose a laminate that has a special coating that prevents slipping. This will make the operation of the stairs completely safe for all people living in the house.

Advice! Laminate is affordable, so you should not save on it, since the result of the work done will depend on the quality of the material.

Plus, there is a huge selection of this coating on the market now: from the most ordinary, to sophisticated and even strange.

Preparatory work

Facing the stairs with your own hands requires compliance with the rules that require you to first prepare the structure for the subsequent installation of panels. The first thing to do is determine the amount of material needed. To do this, you need to measure the width of the stairs, the depth of the steps and multiply by their number. Calculate the material for the risers in the same way. The second stage will be the acquisition of finishing material. Better buy it with a margin of 10-15 percent. Choosing a laminate

Directly finishing the stairs with laminate begins with its acclimatization in the room. It is recommended to start work only after 48 hours to avoid deformation of the material. During this time, you can prepare the stairs - the reliability and stability of each step is checked separately. It is important to take into account that the material cannot provide additional strength to the steps.

Important! If defects, abrasions or other damage are found, the step should be replaced immediately.

If necessary, you can strengthen the wooden structure using plywood. In the case of a concrete structure, it is required to level the steps with concrete mortar and then clean them from dust and debris - all this is not difficult to do with your own hands. If the staircase has already been finished before, then all elements of the old cladding must be completely removed, as they may adversely affect the quality of work. The wooden structure must be treated with special compounds to prevent the development of fungus and mold in the future. The next stage of preparation is varnishing wooden structural elements, including railings.

What is required for cladding?

High-quality finishing of stairs with laminate requires not only the availability of tools, but also additional building and decorative materials. You will need to purchase:

parquet glue;
liquid Nails";
steel corners and / or wooden planks;
plywood for cutting to the width of the laminate step;
jigsaw;
ordinary pencil for marking;
construction tape measure;
spatula (it is better to use a notched one).

Laying is carried out on a special plywood or rubberized substrate. It is she who will further provide noiselessness, resistance to loads. In addition, the presence of the substrate will protect the staircase from moisture. For risers, the substrate is not used, only cladding is provided for them. Which laminate flooring to choose

Finishing process: steps

Do-it-yourself work starts from the top step. This method is also used by craftsmen, because this way you can guarantee the high quality of the cladding. With the staged finishing of steps, you do not have to stand on the bottom step, which will prevent unwanted stress on the newly fixed laminate. The main actions are carried out according to the following plan. To begin with, special supports are installed at the junction of the tread and risers. This is done so that the applied coating can, if necessary, be reliably pushed under the edge of the riser facing. Then, glue intended for parquet is carefully applied to the riser processed by one's own hands, after which the panel is immediately pressed against it. Additional fixation is carried out using spacer wedges.

Glue is best applied evenly directly to the treated tread. It is very easy to distribute with a notched trowel. Then the laminate is laid directly on the pre-glued tread. If the work is carried out on the upper step, then the panel is connected to the flooring using the lock-to-lock technology. Step-by-step finishing of stairs with laminate

Nut use

It is important to remember that if a threshold or profile is used in finishing work, the adhesive for attaching the laminate panels should be applied to the reverse side of the part, after which it is necessary to press it tightly to the corners of the step and then fix it with ordinary self-tapping screws. To give the step a more attractive look, you can use a special decorative threshold. To do this, you will need an angular guide profile. Before laying the tread cover, a profile is attached to the corner of the step with glue and self-tapping screws, then a laminated board is laid on the tread. After that, a decorative threshold is already inserted into the profile.

Instead of a guide profile, you can use a molding or L-shaped profile. Fastening occurs also with the help of glue and self-tapping screws. In this case, you can not cover the metal insert with a decorative threshold. The metal edge of the step looks very stylish. Most often, the same “lock to lock” technology is used, which allows you to achieve reliable fixation of finishing materials and give the stairs an attractive look after facing work.

Outcome

Thus, even a novice in matters of construction, decoration and repair can transform the internal staircase with his own hands. Meanwhile, the process of finishing with a laminate at each stage of the work requires a responsible approach and attention to detail from a person. It is important to remember that it can take up to 5-8 days from the beginning to completion of finishing, since a lot depends on the experience of the person and the complexity of the staircase, so you should be patient. If the staircase is not new, then it is best to disassemble the old coating completely. This must be done very carefully, without haste. Try not to damage the base of the steps, especially if they are made of wood, as they may lose strength and reliability. When carrying out work, you should also pay attention to additional elements and keep everything in the same style, since they create a single composition.

After the staircase is completely ready, it is necessary to remove all construction debris. To do this, you can use a vacuum cleaner or a household mini-sink. Of course, an important success factor will be the perfect combination of the selected finishing material with the interior of the room.

The staircase inside the house brings a special note of individuality to the overall interior, gives it beauty and originality. Quite often, laminated material is used to finish the stairs. In appearance, it almost does not differ from natural wood flooring. But it has a lower cost, is easy to maintain and allows you to replace defective or worn parts. It is possible to carry out finishing with your own hands, without allowing significant costs. One has only to get acquainted with the features of the laminated material and the technology of its installation, as well as with the rules for its further operation. Consider how to sheathe the stairs with laminate.

Finishing stairs with laminate: preparatory work

Laminated material has found wide application for flooring, began to be used for decorating walls and ceilings. You can also cover the stairs with laminate. It works well to finish a concrete or metal staircase with a laminate, which often do not look very elegant and do not add beauty to the interior. As a restoration, you can finish the laminate on an old wooden or iron staircase, which looks unsightly, but is quite strong.

To cover the stairs with laminate, you should prepare everything you need:

laminated panels of a high level of strength, their width is equal to the width of the step;
corner threshold or profile made of metal, wood or plastic, or special with a laminated surface to match the base material;
polyurethane adhesive for gluing prepared lamellas;
self-tapping kit.

How to choose a laminate on the stairs in the house

The staircase can be safely attributed to the category of places with high traffic, its steps are under constant significant load. For this reason, you should choose a commercial material designed for use under heavy loads.

This is a laminate of 31-34 strength classes, which has a considerable thickness of lamellas and a high-strength surface layer. The three in the marking numbers indicates belonging to a commercial type. The numbers from 1 to 4 in the second position indicate the thickness of the film on the surface.

Important for the design of stairs under the laminate is the value of the width of its panels. It is desirable that the width of the laminated panel covers the entire surface of the tread (horizontal section) or the entire riser (vertically located part of the step). If the width of the lamella is insufficient, it will be necessary to cover the steps of several panels, connect them to each other using locking elements.

Such a composite coating of steps has a lower strength than a solid one. Note that when finishing a flight of stairs (a platform connecting two stairs), the joints of the lock elements will definitely be laminated. In such places, the laminated material is laid in the usual way, connected by means of locks.

The exterior design of the laminate should be in harmony with the overall interior of the house.

It is worth paying attention that the surface of the laminate is not slippery. It should be known and remembered that the laminated material will be used on treads (horizontal surfaces of steps) and risers (vertical parts of steps), plus a margin of approximately 10%.

It is also important to consider when choosing a material its safety, harmlessness. It is optimal to choose an E1 class laminate with a certificate of conformity to the European standard (EN 13329). Please check the manufacturer's warranty. For sheathing staircases, it is better to choose panels with a long warranty period. This affects the cost, for this reason the final version is determined by your willingness to bear certain financial expenses.

Corner profile for stairs

To finish the stairs with a laminate, an angular profile is used (it is also called an edge threshold, molding). This is an overhead plank, similar to the corner sill, with its use the outer corners of the steps are decorated. When sheathing the stairs, two laminated panels, laid on the horizontal and vertical surfaces of the steps, converge at a right angle, which does not look aesthetically pleasing, the edges of the panels are visible.

The edge profile covers the joint angle and reinforces the attachment of the panels. It is superimposed on the top of the joint, fixed with adhesive or self-tapping screws.

The role of such profiles can be played by corner thresholds. Their other name is a stair profile for laminate. They can be made from various metals such as: aluminum, steel, brass. Coloring can be gold, bronze, steel or wood.

The metal molding carries a decorative load and protects the corners of the steps from wear. Often the stair profile has a corrugated surface, which has an anti-slip effect.
Plastic profiles are corners of various shades. It will not be difficult to choose a profile shade that exactly matches the laminated panels. The plastic molding protects the edge of the step, forming a beautiful corner, hiding all internal connections. Their advantage is their low cost. For their fastening, glue is used, which should be chosen of good quality, strength.
A wooden threshold is perfectly combined with a laminated coating, has a long service life, and allows for minor repairs such as sanding, puttying, painting. The only drawback of wooden molding can only be attributed to the high cost. It is mounted using adhesive or self-tapping screws.
In addition to corner thresholds, a specially designed laminated profile is used, which is ideal for laminate flooring. The Incizo profile of the Belgian company Quick Step is popular. This profile is perfectly compatible with the Quick Step stair laminate.

To fasten such a ladder profile to the sidewalls of the steps, using self-tapping screws, a base is mounted in the form of a metal bar. Next, the metal guide is covered on top with a laminated profile using glue. The profile is fixed firmly, the mount looks decorative, because there are no traces of fasteners on the surface - they are hidden.

Mounting the profile on a metal rail is the most optimal solution that combines reliability and invisibility.

Preparatory work with the staircase

Even before laying the laminate on the stairs, it is imperative to prepare the staircase structure itself, if necessary, make a complete or partial repair. This is an integral step of the whole complex of works.

Before purchasing panels for facing stairs with laminate, you should calculate its quantity. First, a measurement is made (length and width) of the largest horizontal surface (tread), the calculated value of its area is multiplied by the number of steps. The same calculation is done for risers.

After purchasing the laminated material, it is kept indoors in packages for 48 hours for acclimatization.

At this time, we are preparing the stairs for facing.

Checking the reliability of steps, replacing or restoring places with defects

In preparation for plating wooden stairs laminate, you need to make sure that its components are securely fastened and strengthen them, if necessary, using self-tapping screws. Cracks and cracks are puttied with wood putty.

Worn or defective steps must be replaced, after which they are leveled in height using plywood sheets.

When sheathing concrete stairs with a laminate, uneven or defective steps are leveled with leveling mixtures (cement, for large gaps, a concrete mixture is used). When the solution dries, the surface is polished with sanding paper. To get rid of cement dust, the steps must be vacuumed, then wiped with a damp cloth.

Removing the remains of the former coating

All steps should be well cleaned of loose paint, old linoleum, carpet or other finishes, this can damage the laying of laminate panels. Clean off traces of glue, grease. Remove protruding nails, self-tapping screws.

In case of damage to the wooden coating itself, it is necessary to level it. You can do this in several ways:

removal of the top layer with a polishing tool;
the use of a leveling substrate that can level out minor differences in height;
plywood alignment.

Treating the stairs with an antifungal agent and varnishing it

Fungal spores destroy not only the structure of the tree, but are also the initiators of various diseases in humans. Long-term contact with harmful flora can disrupt the functioning of the respiratory system and cause diseases such as: bronchitis, asthma, rhinitis. In this regard, the surface is treated with synthetic antiseptics.

To eliminate the recurrence of the appearance of the fungus, it is necessary, if possible, to reduce the humidity in the room, open access to the free penetration of air and sunlight.

After antiseptic treatment, the wooden span should be varnished to fix the structure and create a protective layer.

Painting or varnishing railings

Painting can be done with powder paints or dyes based on drying oil (both synthetic and natural). It is also possible to darken and change the structure of the tree with the help of various stains. In this case, it makes sense to first apply the composition on a small area or on a cut off part in order to avoid unpleasant surprises.

In the case of varnishing, preference should be given to matte varnishes, since with frequent contact with the surface of the railing during their operation, the gloss will quickly lose its appearance.

If the house is new, and the staircase has not yet been mounted, then it is better to paint the elements before installation. In this case, it will be easier to get to hard-to-reach places, which will give a better result.

All further work is carried out only after the complete drying of all stair elements.

Cleaning the surfaces of steps from contamination

After painting work, a wet cleaning of the workplace should be carried out. Simply wipe the surfaces with a damp microfiber cloth. Do not abuse water.

Clean up from top to bottom. This way you can sweep away all the debris without soiling the washed part.

The use of detergents is best limited and used only when necessary.

Preparing a template for trimming laminate panels

It is made from cardboard or thick paper. They measure the length and width of the step (tread and riser), put it on a cardboard sheet, maintaining the shape and size of the step, an individual template is made for a non-standard step.

According to the template, a mold is applied to the laminate panel, then the workpiece is cut (using a grinder, jigsaw, etc.) along the applied contours. The prepared panels are numbered in order to know in the future which step it belongs to.

Technological process of sheathing stairs with laminate

We consider in detail the technological process of sheathing stairs made of laminate with our own hands.

Using a specialized profile

Using L-shaped thresholds

This method is easier to perform, but the quality of the finish may be lower - in terms of decorativeness and strength. We believe that the staircase is prepared, the lamellas are cut to size and numbered.

An adhesive composition is applied to the surface of the riser, distributed with a notched trowel. Then it is necessary to glue the laminate panel to this surface, leaving a gap below, the size of which is equal to the thickness of the lamella.
An adhesive composition is applied to the surface of the tread, distributed with a notched trowel over the entire surface. We apply a laminate board to the horizontal plane of the step, pressing it to the step.
A selected threshold is fixed at the corner of the step. The fastening of the metal nut is carried out using screws, screwing them into the finished holes. Fastening plastic sills - by applying glue. Fastening wooden sills can be done in any of two ways.
This work must be done for each of the steps below.
After completing the work on the sheathing of the stairs, you can’t walk on it for about a day, and with glue fastening, it’s better than 48 hours.

According to the material, L-shaped sills can be divided into three groups:

plastic;
wooden;
metal.

By type of installation, there are two main methods:

open;
closed.

In the case of an open fastening method, self-tapping screws are used (suitable for a metal profile), for a closed one - glue (for plastic and wooden profiles).

Quick step and incizo

To form the surface of the stairs you will need:

auxiliary aluminum profile;
Incizo profile;
special knife for trimming the profile;
Quick Step laminate;
glue;
self-tapping screws.

Step by step installation process:

An auxiliary metal profile is superimposed on the corner of the step.
The aluminum profile is fastened with self-tapping screws to both surfaces of the step.
A lamella is glued to the lifting part of the step (vertical). Use spacers for the bottom to leave a gap to form the cover of the next step.
Glue is applied to the horizontal part of the step (on the step itself and on the auxiliary profile). Lamel is installed.
A plastic nozzle is pressed into the locking part of the upper bar for connection with the Incizo profile.
Using a special knife, the Incizo profile is formed in one of 5 ways, which is suitable for connecting with a metal bar.
Glue is applied to the Incizo profile and installation is carried out.

The technological process of sheathing stairs made of QUICK STEP laminate (quick step) using the Incizo profile can also be viewed on the video:

We examined the main ways how to sheathe a staircase with a laminate with your own hands. We hope that by following our recommendations, you will succeed, and you will be satisfied with the result, which will please you for many years.