Vinyl Plank (LVP) on Stairs: How It's Installed, Stair Nose Options and What It Costs

Stairs finished in the same vinyl plank as the floor make a house look finished, and they are much easier to keep clean than carpet. The job is different from a room, though: every tread and riser is cut and fitted by hand, and nothing floats.

First the old covering comes off: carpet, pad, tack strips and staples. Each tread is checked for squeaks and loose boards, and fixed before anything goes on top.

Riser pieces are cut and glued to the vertical faces. Tread pieces are cut to depth and glued down. A stair nose caps the front edge of each tread and is fastened per the manufacturer's instructions.

Flush stair nose: the plank and the nose sit at the same height for a clean, built-in look.

Overlap stair nose: the nose sits slightly over the plank. It is common with floating floors at the top step and is a little more forgiving.

Rounded (bullnose) treads need a bit more work. Some are trimmed square and capped; others keep the curve with a matching piece. We decide which during the measure.

The number of steps, rounded versus square treads, open sides that need finishing, landings, and how much repair the old stairs need. That is why stairs are quoted after a measure rather than per square foot.

For the rest of the house, our own insured crews install vinyl plank for $1.75 per sq ft over a sound, level slab.

Stairs take concentrated wear at the front edge, so a thicker wear layer pays off: 20 mil or more, or our 8mm plank with a 28 mil wear layer for busy homes and pets. Match the stairs to the floor at the top and bottom so the stair nose blends in.

Call 254 Floors in Waco at (254) 332-2272 or Liberty Hill at (512) 355-5120. We measure, price the stairs with the rest of the floor, and our own crews install it.