Stair edges - Laminate University

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Stair edges

Posted by James Bowes on August 4, 2023 at 3:56 pm

Hi everyone.

I am sure this is a pretty standard task, but I cannot find a solution I can live with.

I have SPC plank that was made into a nosing/tread and requires a second piece to complete the full thread. While that worked well, the stairwell is fairly crooked leaving some gaps – nothing major but still, not quite polished either. I have tried a specialty caulking that is actually a nice match to the general plank colouring (Canadians and their spelling, eh?) and it doesn’t need painting like the usual painter’s caulking. Unfortunately, it is not what I think is a good solution even though it looks ok.

Next, I tried what seems to be a typical approach where you tape off and apply the caulking but that leaves a ridge and if the caulking tears when you are peeling the tape, it becomes a jagged edge which is ugly.

For my last attempt, I use the colour matched caulking, taped off leaving a reveal along the edge of the tread and along the stair skirt. But that leaves an uneven appearance from stair to stair – it’s not a good solution either.

I thought about using 1/4 round but the flooring manufacturer does not make those and as the flooring is several shades, it’s almost impossible to colour match with paint. At this point, I am stuck on these stair edges and how to finish them cleanly.

What I want to know is how do others manage this part of the project? What am I overlooking?

Thanks for your ideas in advance!

–james




Joe replied 1 year, 5 months ago 2 Members · 8 Replies
8 Replies

Joe

Administrator
August 8, 2023 at 7:44 am

Share pics and I will help.
James Bowes

Member
August 9, 2023 at 12:59 pm

Thanks Joe.
I will upload those tonight.
- James Bowes
  
  Member
  August 10, 2023 at 4:24 pm
  
  Hi Joe.
  Those are uploaded into the Stair Edges album.
  
  Thanks!
  - Joe
    
    Administrator
    August 11, 2023 at 9:31 am
    
    share the link, I don’t see it.
    - James Bowes
      
      Member
      August 11, 2023 at 10:22 am
      
      Hi Joe.
      Apologies, I assumed you could see all photos – here is the link:
      
      Members – Laminate University (sothatshowyoudothat.com)
Joe

Administrator
August 11, 2023 at 12:36 pm

https://somup.com/c0jXbzAirJ
- James Bowes
  
  Member
  August 11, 2023 at 2:10 pm
  
  Hi Joe.
  
  I agree – this is not something I prefer to do but as you say, here we are. I have attached some pics with more descriptive examples.
  
  I am not concerned with the contact/joint between the tread and riser. I have some specialized caulk which is a very nice match to the flooring and it looks great and you cannot notice any gapping – I got it from a supplier called Prosol up here in Canada. I also used it on the edges and it looked nice until I painted the stair skirt… When painting the stair skirt, the paint bleeds on the caulking and makes it look awful. I tried sealing the tape like I do when painting walls where 2 colours on connecting walls will meet which is a great technique but didn’t work in this application – I still get tear out and it looks very poor.
  
  So now I am thinking this:
  
  1.) Clean up and prep (for the 4th time)
  
  2.) Apply the colour-matched caulking.
  
  3.) Mask off tight edge using low adhesion tape, seal with clear caulking and remove as much excess as possible. Even if there is tear out it may not be noticeable due to the clear caulking…
  
  4.) Paint stair skirt and pull tape – hopefully live with the result.
  
  The photos show examples of edges with and without the caulking. I am pretty sure that process will at least look decent. Looking forward to your thoughts.
Joe

Administrator
August 11, 2023 at 2:25 pm

I believe the best solution is tape, caulk and paint. There just is no easy fix for this.