How to Install Nosing for Hardwood Flooring

Install a stair nosing for hardwood floors.

Adding hardwood flooring is an excellent way to update and beautify your home. Additionally, an update like hardwood floors will stay gorgeous for years, even if you happen to have five kids and a dog. This is because hardwood flooring handles wear and tear better than other types of flooring like carpet. One of the most visible places on a hardwood floor is the stair nosing. Stair nosings are installed on stairs, landings and sunken rooms. Because they are so visible, it is important to do a proper installation job on the stair nosings in your home.

Things You'll Need

• Stair nosing
• Measuring tape
• Chop saw or miter box
• Construction adhesive or wood glue
• Pneumatic nail gun
• Nail set
• Hammer
• Wood putty
• Wood stain
• Polyurethane

Instructions

1. Clean the subfloor. Remove staples or nails, and vacuum everything thoroughly.

2. Measure the area for the stair nosing. Use a measuring tape to measure and mark the stair nosing.

3. Cut the stair nosing to size with a chop saw or miter box. Dry fit the stair nosing to ensure that it fits into place smoothly.

4. Apply construction adhesive or wood glue to both the underside of the stair nosing and the prepped subfloor. Fit the stair nosing in place on top of the glued subfloor.

5. Use a pneumatic nail gun to nail the nosing in place. Set any nails that did not get pushed into the nosing. Allow the nosing to sit overnight so the glue can dry.

6. Use wood filler to fill the holes left by the nails. Let dry thoroughly.

7. Sand the stair nosing with large-, medium- and fine-grit sandpapers. Vacuum away the sawdust once you have finished sanding the nosing.

8. Stain and polyurethane the stair nosing as you stain and urethane the rest of the wood floors in your home.

References

• Art Finishes: Installing Stair Nose Molding