Installing Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring On Stairs – This post may contain references or links to products of one or more partners of our parent company and/or subsidiaries of our parent company. For more information, visit this page.
Vinyl plank is beautiful, easy to install and is one of the most durable alternatives to wood flooring available. But: can LVP go up stairs? Do all types of vinyl plank work? And how do you even install vinyl plank on stairs, especially if you have floating floors?
Installing Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring On Stairs
Below we will explain the different types of vinyl plank flooring (and which are suitable for stairs). We’ll go into the specialized pieces you need, answer some common questions, and even discuss some alternative types of flooring you can use for your stairs if vinyl doesn’t fit.
Rich Johnson Flooring Installations And Repairs
Finally, we’ll throw in a how-to guide for installing vinyl plank flooring on stairs for the DIY crowd.
Before we talk about installing vinyl plank flooring on stairs, let’s go over the basics. And yes – this is going to have a direct impact on whether or not you can put your desired LVP on stairs, so we want to be very clear!
Vinyl plank – sometimes known as “luxury vinyl plank” (aka LVP) or “luxury vinyl tile” (aka LVT) is a type of PVC flooring – meaning it’s made primarily of plastic. It is most often sold as a fake wood flooring option, although tile-look formats are not uncommon.
You get the best of all worlds with vinyl plank flooring. It’s waterproof, it’s durable, and it can imitate all types of wood floors, in addition to imitating porcelain and stone tiles. These days, the best vinyl plank flooring brands do an amazing job of mimicking almost every hardwood or type of tile you could possibly want.
Provenza Vinyl Plank Flooring Review
“LVT” was the original term for this type of flooring, and many people still use it as a catch-all. However, these days many flooring experts use “LVT” to describe luxury vinyl flooring that is cut and shaped to look like tile, while “LVP” is cut and shaped to look like wood.
Some even go so far as to call loose vinyl plank flooring (which usually has a flexible rather than rigid core) “LVT” but… well, that’s complicated.
The point is this: LVP and LVT are basically the same thing. The problems with luxury vinyl tiles are identical to the disadvantages of vinyl plank flooring. And for our purposes, we’ll use “LVP” or “vinyl plank” as our pick-up term (hence the vinyl plank flooring on stairs title).
Just remember: LVT and LVP are not the same as vinyl sheets, which you probably saw in every kitchen or bathroom of the second half of the 20th century. While sheet vinyl is water resistant, it is not as durable as vinyl plank.
Custom Stair Nosing
When it comes to installing vinyl plank flooring on stairs, one of the main differences between different LVP products is the core layer. This will affect so much of a floor’s feel and performance, including how it performs on stairs.
LVP cores can be either flexible or rigid, although rigid core luxury vinyl flooring is the most popular these days.
Also known as EVP (engineered vinyl plank) flooring, rigid LVP is generally sold with one of three main core varieties:
Wood floor costs can sometimes feel sky high. The cost of installing vinyl plank flooring is noticeably lower, even if you are installing it in a more difficult area such as stairs.
Installing Luxury Vinyl Over Existing Tiles
Of course, this cost will depend a lot on which brand you choose. If you want the absolute best LVP flooring you can buy (or at least a “super-luxury” product like Karndean vinyl plank flooring), you’ll pay far more than you would for a budget product like Home Depot’s LifeProof vinyl flooring or Floor & Decor’s NuCore floor.
And if you go with an “ultra-budget” brand like Lumber Liquidators’ CoreLuxe flooring or worse, StainMaster luxury vinyl, your costs are going to be even lower. But: you will replace your floors much sooner.
And to answer the first (and biggest question), yes – you absolutely can install vinyl plank flooring on your stairs!
In fact, putting vinyl planks on your stairs is a very practical choice – it’s strong, it can take a lot of foot traffic, etc. And in a high-traffic area like stairs, every little bit of extra help is essential.
How To Install Vinyl Plank Flooring (step By Step)
You probably already know this, but vinyl plank (rather than vinyl sheet) is better for stairs. This is because you can install it just like you would install wood planks, whereas vinyl sheeting has to be glued in one giant piece (which is nearly impossible on stairs).
Now, when it comes to the best vinyl plank flooring for stairs, you’ll want to consider two things:
The best vinyl flooring for your stairs will usually have a thicker wear layer, as you want something that can handle a lot of foot traffic. But remember: not all layers are created equal. Check out our vinyl plank flooring reviews to see how different brands stack up in this regard.
As for cores: WPC core products are ideal for stairs, as they offer a little more cushion than other LVPs (so they’re easier on your joints).
Procore Plus 2.5 In X 94 In Dove Tail Oak Finished Vinyl Oak Stair Nosing At Lowes.com
If you’ve read our COREtec flooring reviews, you’ll know this brand is the inventor (and still the poster child) for WPC – but they’re far from the only manufacture. These days, even Lowes’ in-house SmartCore flooring is offered in a WPC variety.
However, if your floors see a lot of traffic (we’re talking kids and pets running up and down for years and years), you may want to consider using an SPC flooring product for your stairs instead. SPC cores are even more robust than their WPC siblings.
That’s really the end of that question, but we’ll go a step further. Not only is vinyl plank suitable for your stairs, but we would actually recommend it.
If you already have vinyl flooring, adding it to your stairs helps create a matching, smooth flow throughout your home.
Can Vinyl Plank Flooring Be Used On Stairs?
Vinyl planking is easy to install, but it must be done properly—especially on stairs. Poor installations can create a risk of the boards becoming loose or uneven. And this can be a concern on a staircase, where you don’t want an increased risk of someone tripping.
The best way to make sure your vinyl planks are secure is by taping them. We want to be very clear here – regardless of whether you’re installing floating vinyl plank flooring or the adhesive variety, you should always glue vinyl plank on stairs.
Fortunately, even if you’re using a click-together flooring product, that’s no problem—manufacturers make special, matching pieces specifically for this purpose.
Now: as we mentioned, most of the best vinyl plank flooring brands sell matching specialty pieces—different types of moldings, transitions, and the like.
Vinyl Flooring On Stairs (pros And Cons)
When it comes to putting vinyl plank on stairs, it is no different; if you buy from a quality company, you should have no problems finding matching bull noses for your project. And you can simply use ordinary boards as risers and treads! Some companies, like Shaw, even make specialty vinyl stairs.
Some are square, others round, while still others are only semi-circular. You can even install a bull nose with no overhang; it just covers the edge of the stair to protect the corner.
At the end of the day, it comes down to what aesthetic you like. Some versions are specifically non-slip, so it may be worth looking at those styles first.
It’s no secret that massive shipping delays have caused constant chaos in the supply chain in recent years. And unfortunately, floor dealers are not immune to this issue. With the majority of the world’s LVP produced overseas, things l
ike matching LVP stair noses have (in some cases) become remarkably difficult to come by.
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Fortunately, there is a solution to this problem. Rather than using LVP noses, you can always use aluminum (and possibly swap for matching ones when they become available).
The compromise is style. Aluminum bull noses create a very industrial look. If it suits your style, or if you are not concerned about the appearance of the stairs, aluminum may be a good option for you.
Before we get into our how-to (or discuss all your alternatives for installing vinyl plank on stairs) we want to clear up any remaining questions.
If you have vinyl planks installed on the floor above your stairs, you will want to make the transition to the stairs as smooth as possible. The key to a successful shift lies in the shape and nose.
Easiest Process To Lay New Plank Flooring
When you go from the floor to the top of the stairs, your top step will need nosing, even if it’s just an extension of the floor. This piece is less about safety and more about creating a uniform look. It is critical to ensure that the nosing on this area is flush with the vinyl planks. Otherwise, people are likely to trip and fall down the stairs.
You’ll want to ensure that your vinyl planks are about as secure as Fort Knox. Since you will be relying on glued down vinyl plank flooring, it is best to have a pressure sensitive adhesive.
This means that it requires pressure for the bonding process to activate.
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