How to Attach a Stair Nose

The stair nose acts as trim on hardwood stairways to give it a finished look.

A stair nose provides a way to protect the flooring material that is used on stairs such as wood and laminate. Usually, the nose is made of the same material as the floor, which adds a clean look to the stairs. Stair nosings can lie flush along the stairs or overlap the stair material depending on the design style you prefer. Once you install the flooring material on the stairs and the shims, or spacers, the flush and overlap stair nosings are attached using two separate methods.

Things You'll Need

• Stair nosings
• Construction adhesive
• Tape
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Damp cloth

Instructions

Overlap

1. Measure and mark the desired overlap. The overlap portion of the nose should cover 1/4 to 1/8 of an inch of the floor on the tread portion of the stair, while still leaving a space between the shim and the rest of the nose. You can lightly mark the desired measurement with a pencil to ensure correct placement on each step.

2. Glue the nosing to the step. Place construction adhesive on the subfloor and attach the nosing to the subfloor of the step. You can also nail the nosing to the subfloor, but this requires pre-drilling the holes and then covering the nails with matching putty after installation.

3. Allow the adhesive to dry. The adhesive needs to dry overnight before you subject the stair nose to regular use.

4. Remove any pencil markings with a damp cloth.

Flush

1. Apply glue to the shim. To lie flush, the stair nose is attached directly to the shim.

2. Attach the nose to the shim. The shim and nose need to fit perfectly together without any space in between. You also have the option of nailing the flush nose to the subfloor. Drill holes in the nose first to prevent any cracking and insert nails into the part of the nose that features the subfloor underneath.

3. Place tape over the seam. The tape helps keep the riser and the nose securely connected while the adhesive dries. Leave the tape on overnight and remove in the morning.

Tips & Warnings

• If you use tape with strong adhesive, such as duct tape, it will leave a film on the floor. Opt instead for masking tape or painter's tape that provides a strong seal without leaving behind adhesive.

References

• Fast Floors: Correct Use and Measuring for Molding/Trim
• Artistic Finishes: Stair Nose
• Simple Floors: Stair Trim Solutions
• Wood Floors Online: Installing Different Types of Moldings