How to Cover Basement Stairs Using Vinyl

Give old basement stairs a fresh look with vinyl treads.

When your basement stairs could use a little more traction and a quick, finished look, cover them with heavy vinyl. Vinyl stair treads cover the tread of the stair, the nose, and frequently part of the riser behind the tread as well. They come in wide variety of colors and styles, and are easily installed using an adhesive. Use vinyl stair treads to add function and visual attractiveness to your old basement stairs.

Things You'll Need

• Broom
• Scrub brush
• Soap
• Stair nose caulk (optional)
• Utility knife (optional)
• Contact adhesive

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Instructions

1. Turn on the furnace to warm the air or perform your installation during the summer. The temperature of the area around the basement stairs must be 70 degrees Fahrenheit or higher for 48 hours before your installation, during the work and for 48 hours afterward.

2. Sweep the stairs with a broom so they are clear of dust or debris.

3. Scrub the stairs with soap and water and allow the stairs to dry completely.

4. Fill any gaps or dents in the stairs with the appropriate industrial fillers. One good filler for this purpose is stair nose caulk, which is designed with this purpose in mind. Another filler is epoxy putty, which works well for both cement and wood. if the stairs are made of wood, you may also use wood putty.

5. Test the vinyl tread covers to see if they fit the stairs well. When the tread covers are pressed to the stairs, there should be no gaps at all. If necessary, use a utility knife to trim the vinyl down and make it fit.

6. Apply a thin coat of contact adhesive both to bottom of the vinyl tread and the stair where the tread is going to sit. Start at the bottom of the stairs and work your way up so you do not trap yourself in the basement.

7. Wait for at least two minutes. The contact adhesive typically needs time to cure slightly before both parts are pushed together. If the contact adhesive you have chosen says otherwise, follow those instructions.

8. Press the vinyl cover to the stair.

9. Repeat steps 6 through 8 for the other stairs.

10. Allow the adhesive to cure for the time listed on the packaging. During that time, do not use the stairs.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are applying vinyl treads over wooden stairs, inspect the stairs carefully and pound down any loose nails with a hammer.

References

• Musson Rubber: How to Install Stair Treads
• This or That: Contact Adhesive