Flush Stairnose Installation for a Step-Down and Landing

Tool List:

Router (Plunge or Fixed)
Router Bit
Table Saw or Miter Saw
10″ 60- or 80-tooth carbide-tipped ATB or triple chip saw blade
Splines
Hammer
Power Drill
6d Finish Nails
Construction Adhesive

1. Beginning at the riser, measure and cut a piece of laminate to fit flush with the subfloor.
2. Glue in place by applying a 3″ serpentine bead of construction adhesive to the back of the flooring.
3. Press in place.
4. Begin by cutting flush stairnose to the appropriate length.
5. When more than one length of stairnose is required, each subsequent piece should be cut on a 45° angle.
6. End-glue to the next adjoining piece using laminate floor glue.
7. Adhere the stairnose to the subfloor using a high-quality, construction adhesive.
8. Apply a 3/16″ bead of adhesive in a 3″ repeating serpentine pattern to the back of the stairnose. Carefully read cautions on container and follow the manufacturer’s recommended instructions on the adhesive label.
9. Predrill holes in the moulding and anchor with finish nails.
10. Install underlayment next to the installed stairnose.
11. Begin installation of laminate flooring from the stairnose.
12. Match the factory tongue on the length of the plank to the factory groove in the stairnose. Serpentine glue to back of nosing 6d finish nail Factory Tongue Factory Groove
13. When installing laminate perpendicular to stairnose moulding, cut the boards in the row to maintain the desired staggered visual appearance.
14. When cutting locking laminate, cut both the stairnose and laminate beyond the tongue and groove to make a blunt, flush edge, and then use the router bit to create a groove in both.

Setting the Router Bit
1. Set the depth of the router bit by placing two pieces of flooring on a flat, sturdy surface with the factory grooves facing each other.
2. After the bit has been installed into the router, place the router on the surface of the flooring and adjust the bit height visually to match the groove position.
3. To check the accuracy of your router bit setting, rout a groove on the tongue edge of a piece of scrap.
4. If there is a slight scrap of the tongue left above or below the groove, adjust the bit depth accordingly and recheck your adjustment.

Gluing Splines
1. Use splines when gluing groove to groove.
2. Apply a bead of glue to both sides of one edge of the spline and insert it into the groove of the stairnose.
3. Apply another bead of glue to the top of the exposed portion of the spline.
4. Apply a bead of glue to the bottom lip of the groove of the piece of flooring to be installed.
5. Place the piece of flooring into position and gently tap the pieces together using the tapping block.
6. A small, continuous bead of glue must ooze to the surface to ensure a waterresistant joint.
7. Remove the excess glue with a damp cloth followed by wiping with a dry, cotton cloth.

Expansion Zone
All expansion zones between the edge of the laminate flooring installation and all vertical surfaces parallel to the stairnose should be increased per the chart below: If distance between nosing Expansion zone and vertical surface is: should be:
5′ - 9′ 1/4″
10′ - 14′ 3/8″
15′ - 19′ 1/2″
20′ - 24′ 3/4″
25′ - 29′ 7/8″
30′+ 1″