Vinyl Plank Flooring on Stairs | Where Can I Install Vinyl Flooring?

How to Install Vinyl Plank Flooring on Stairs

Can you install vinyl flooring on stairs? Sure, you can! With the amazing assortment of wood and stone looks available for stair parts such as treads, risers, and stair noses, you can use these vinyl accessories to beautify your stairs and coordinate them with the flooring in your home. And in many cases, installation is just as easy as installing vinyl plank on your floors.

Why Install Vinyl Plank Flooring on Stairs?

People often overlook staircases when embarking on a flooring project. And yet, the staircase can be among the first things one notices when entering a home. Giving your stairs a fresh, updated look—particularly one that complements your existing flooring—can enhance the appearance of an entire space. And if you have carpet on your stairs, changing it out for wood-look or stone-look vinyl can add an instant contemporary style.

With vinyl, you can get these beautiful looks at a budget-friendly price. Retrofit designs allow you to install it right over your existing hard-surface stairs. Vinyl plank is also an excellent material for stairs. As a waterproof product, liquids won’t damage the surface and clean-up is a breeze, so spilled coffee or muddy shoe prints are no cause for worry. Choose a thicker wear layer for higher-level protection from scratches and scuffs. And with rigid core vinyl plank, you get superior dent resistance and wear resistance, too.

How Do You Install Vinyl on Stair Treads, Risers, and Noses?

Before diving into how to install vinyl flooring on stairs, it’s important to understand the components of a stair. The tread is the horizontal surface you step on, while the riser is the vertical portion. Stair noses are the protruding, often rounded-off edges of stair treads. At LL Flooring, we offer retrofit vinyl treads and risers, as well as stair noses—including noses with treads attached.

Before starting a stair renovation project, one thing to remember is the importance of maintaining the existing dimensions of tread depth to riser height for safety. Also, make sure you’re starting with a clean and level surface. Be sure to follow all instructions included with your specific product since incorrect installation can lead to loose or uneven treads.

Tools and Materials

The basic items you'll need are a tape measure, a pencil, and a tool for cutting and trimming your items. Specific tools and materials will, of course, depend on the particular installation instructions for your product. This might include a miter or table saw. Other items include eye protection, a hammer or nail gun, and finishing nails. A screw gun can also be really handy—we recommend walking your stairs before you begin installing your new treads and risers, and using screws to secure any areas that squeak.

Another tip is to always use a tread tool. These are great for measuring treads and risers accurately. No step is perfectly square, so this tool will allow you to take the precise measurements you'll need for a secure installation.

Once your stairs are in place, you'll need to make sure you've got the materials to clean them. A scraper may be necessary to remove stuck-on debris and to ensure a clean surface.

Stair Treads

For retrofit tread and nose-tread combinations, installation can be as simple as measuring, cutting to size, applying adhesive, and affixing to your stair. We offer an array of colors, grain patterns, and stone looks. Our treads also come with a “universal” left or right return. If your stairs are open on the left or right-hand side, these treads can be adjusted to fit either configuration.

Tip: When installing retrofit vinyl treads, always apply a generous amount of adhesive to the nose section, so there are no voids behind the new nosing.

Tip: When removing spindles, replace each one in the position removed. A simple number on the bottom of each will help, plus record where the original holes are to ensure you can replace them in the same spot.

You can also choose to use normal vinyl plank flooring for your stair treads, as long as it’s cut to size and does not include an attached pad. When measuring, leave room to include a separate stair nose. Our stair noses are tapered to ensure a smooth transition.

Stair Risers

Risers are just as easy to install. First measure and cut to fit, then apply adhesive as directed and press firmly in place—the tread tool is really handy for this. Choose a design to match your treads or go for an eye-popping accent. You can also use white risers to brighten your staircase to create a more open feel. And just as in the case of treads, you can opt to use regular vinyl plank flooring.

Tip: Cut you risers with a slight angle from front to back (10 degrees of so) this will make installation easier.

Stair Noses

Stair noses (also referred to as bullnoses) are the protruding, rounded edges of stair treads. This helps transition from your floor to the top of a stairway. Once measured and cut, stair noses are easy to install using an adhesive and finishing nails. We offer separate stair nose trim that coordinates with our stair treads and vinyl plank flooring.

Maintaining Your Vinyl Plank Stairs

A big plus for vinyl is that you can wet mop without worry and also steam mop at a low setting. For everyday maintenance, you can sweep your stairs or use a vacuum attachment with a felt brush-type head. For a deep clean, use our Bellawood Floor Cleaner.

Ready to transform your stairs? Shop LL Flooring for vinyl plank treads, risers, and stair nosing, and also explore all the vinyl flooring options we offer.

We also have many of the tools and materials you’ll need to complete your installation project.