Redoing stairs/laying new vinyl floor planks

veritree

Hey everyone,

I've just torn up the gross old carpet on my stairs and landing, and I want to lay down some click vinyl planks (on the landing). I'm going to keep the stairs as is, but just clean them up and paint them white. 

I'm wondering though what the best way to lay down the vinyl planks, so that it is flush with the top stair nosing? Or, do I take the current nosing off, square the stair off when I lay down the new subfloor (ply), then vinyl on top- thus having a 90 degree corner which I suppose I could put a 90 degree angle trim to match. Is that going to be easiest? 

The other thing is, I'm assuming I'll need to cut or alter that trim on the side of the stair so that the new floor fits into the slot.

So I guess the top stair won't have a protruding nosing, but a squared off angle trim. 

Thanks in advance!

Racky_Roo

Just a thought, Are you detached on the side of the stairs? Otherwise your neighbours will most likely now hear you going up and down the stairs with no carpet to deaden the sound. My neighbour has no carpet on his stairs, thankfully the stairs aren't on my adjoining wall, but his other neighbour says it's really loud and is always complaining to him

FreeBear

Some vinyl flooring manufacturers do a matching bullnose trim specifically for the task you have in mind. Contact your supplier and see what they have in stock.

veritree

Racky_Roo said:

Just a thought, Are you detached on the side of the stairs? Otherwise your neighbours will most likely now hear you going up and down the stairs with no carpet to deaden the sound. My neighbour has no carpet on his stairs, thankfully the stairs aren't on my adjoining wall, but his other neighbour says it's really loud and is always complaining to him

No, luckily the stairs are on the non attached side. I'm also going to put a stair runner on as well!

plumb1_2

Better fitting stair nosing

benson1980

When I did similar a few years back, I cut off the nosing as you are suggesting to give a 90 degree angle. I then fitted a new riser, and laid the planks with matching nosing trim (as freebear says). But then if I understand correctly what you are proposing, you'd just have this on the landing with the vinyl planks on so then you'd have a different stair nosing profile just on this step? I'd be concerned it might look a bit odd where it doesn't match. It does seem a lot of effort just to have the contrasting landing part- I'd be tempted to just sand and paint the whole lot white?

veritree

benson1980 said:

When I did similar a few years back, I cut off the nosing as you are suggesting to give a 90 degree angle. I then fitted a new riser, and laid the planks with matching nosing trim (as freebear says). But then if I understand correctly what you are proposing, you'd just have this on the landing with the vinyl planks on so then you'd have a different stair nosing profile just on this step? I'd be concerned it might look a bit odd where it doesn't match. It does seem a lot of effort just to have the contrasting landing part- I'd be tempted to just sand and paint the whole lot white?

Thanks, it sounds like I want to do what you initially mentioned! I want to cover the existing planks on the landing (pictured), and then the upstairs landing which is a much larger space, above the 3 steps to the left of the photo. The existing floor boards/planks are so old, warped, and have huge gaps, so just sanding and painting white won't look great I my eyes. Plus, the new vinyl planks will match the rest of the rooms upstairs.

But thank you, I appreciate your advice! Sounds like your initial idea is the best route for me, fitting a new riser, etc. 

Thanks!

veritree

benson1980 said:

When I did similar a few years back, I cut off the nosing as you are suggesting to give a 90 degree angle. I then fitted a new riser, and laid the planks with matching nosing trim (as freebear says). But then if I understand correctly what you are proposing, you'd just have this on the landing with the vinyl planks on so then you'd have a different stair nosing profile just on this step? I'd be concerned it might look a bit odd where it doesn't match. It does seem a lot of effort just to have the contrasting landing part- I'd be tempted to just sand and paint the whole lot white?

Actually just re reading this, maybe I take off the existing nosing, place down new, better fitting floor boards, paint those white, and reuse the old nosing (with a new, slightly taller riser to fit). 

benson1980

veritree said:

benson1980 said:

When I did similar a few years back, I cut off the nosing as you are suggesting to give a 90 degree angle. I then fitted a new riser, and laid the planks with matching nosing trim (as freebear says). But then if I understand correctly what you are proposing, you'd just have this on the landing with the vinyl planks on so then you'd have a different stair nosing profile just on this step? I'd be concerned it might look a bit odd where it doesn't match. It does seem a lot of effort just to have the contrasting landing part- I'd be tempted to just sand and paint the whole lot white?

Actually just re reading this, maybe I take off the existing nosing, place down new, better fitting floor boards, paint those white, and reuse the old nosing (with a new, slightly taller riser to fit). 

I'm not entirely sure I follow what you mean regarding the taller riser but fundamentally I'd agree that if you want a white painted staircase, I'd refurb what you have and if needs be look to replace the planks on the middle landing if you are sure they won't turn out well enough after sanding- rather than the contrasting plan on this section albeit matching with the upstairs landing. I think the former option would look better, personally. Others might have some better ideas. 

When painting just make sure you sand all of it to give a key- sounds obvious but some floor paints (which I'm assuming you are planning on using) give direction that it can be painted over all sorts, including varnish, which it can, but it won't give a durable finish.

diystarter7

can you not add a bit of good, think underlay under the plNKING to soften the feel. On hols about 7 years ago in Holland, we rented an apartmner in a small block that rose over 6 floors - it was  aup market place and people lived their FT and this one was rented out - in the morning i'd use the communal stairs for exercise as the place had a life and I recall the stairs to be covered in what I thought was leather they felt great if was that reddish/black colour.  I've thought about doing it to our property but like you I'm worried re egdging, getting good finish and edge not looking like the commercial edging and shapr/dangerous.

I'm also a bit worried re durability as the flooring may behave well on a level floor but on the stairs, it is a different story.

Main concern is accidents via slipping as we dont wear shoes inside the house 99.9% f the time and this video keeps on reminding me to stick to carpets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL6YvI7BIAs