How can I attach wooden nosing and fill the area between tread and riser with wood when gluing sheet vinyl to stairs without covering existing boards?
Asked by Lucia Evenrud 
3 months ago
Last Updated: September 29, 2024
Hey, I need some advice. I’m planning to glue sheet vinyl onto these stairs, but I’m trying to figure out how to incorporate wooden nosing and wood for the tread-riser junction without covering the existing tread with new boards. Any thoughts or product recommendations? Thanks in advance!
Check out the wood molding in the lumber section. It resembles long, thin wooden strips that are typically around 8 feet long. There are various styles available on the long edge, such as 1/4 round and bullnose. You can find the perfect edging for your needs there. Take it home, cut it to size, and then either glue or nail it to your treads. Feel free to finish it however you like.
I’ve walked on stairs with bullnose edges before. It was really uncomfortable.
Since sheet vinyl is thin, it can be challenging to find a bullnose that matches perfectly. A workaround is to use a router to round off the top of the current tread and then install the sheet vinyl in a waterfall style, similar to carpet. To prevent slipping, you might also want to apply some grip tape to each stair.
Perfect for a fresh coat of paint!
Do you have any top-down or closer shots available by any chance?
Hey , I haven’t been able to get any closer than this with a top-down view.
Hey , did you just place it close to the edge? Is there a gap?
We had bullnose treads installed just under the overhang by my husband. Since my house and stairs are over 100 years old, there was a small gap with the new treads that was bothering us, but the trim took care of that. Fernando, do you have anything else to mention?
Consider using a product known as “Cap A Tread” for a seamless transition. It’s a single piece cover that can be placed over existing treads and easily trimmed to fit without leaving a lip from covering the cut vinyl edge. It’s an easy installation for both DIYers and professionals.
Ready to be painted!
What changes did you make to them?
Krist cleaned and lightly sanded to remove anything loose. Then, he primed and applied a couple of coats of color, followed by a couple of coats of matte clear for safety. Since it was a rental, he refrained from painting a faux look on the risers, suggesting you can look for ideas on Google. Another option is to paint the risers white and the steps a different color, using a wood grain stencil tool to mimic the look of wood. If you decide to paint them, keep in mind that touch-ups are easy, but the process takes longer due to drying time. And if you ever get tired of the color, you can always repaint, making it an easier task than other methods.
Instead of going with that option, have you ever looked into something called Cap-A-Tread?