Staircase Makeover with a Budget of $180 on Weekend - Easy Steps

Simple and easy steps to transform your space

Unfinished staircase: 13 stairs
Total budget: $180 TOTAL

Yes, that's for the entire staircase ($14 for each stair). I know, you may have received $100+ quotes for each individual stair/step.

Supply

1. Vinyl flooring (5mm) with foam backing for the tread and nosing ($120):
https://www.homedepot.com/s/vinyl%20f...

2. Melamine white panel (4x8) for the riser ($40):
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Veranda-3...

3. PL 3X Premium adhesive or a glue suitable for foam boards ($20)
https://amzn.to/4b8hwtP

Disclosure: As an eBay Partner and Amazon Affiliate, I may be compensated if you make a purchase from the product links.

Jig and Making Nosing

Make a jig to:

1. Hold a vinyl plank;
2. And bend it to the size of your stair nosing, e.g. 1 inch

Steps to bend vinyl flooring with the jig:

1. With vinyl plank in place, heat its foam backing with a heat gun on HIGH temperature.
2. Move heat gun back and forth, not to overhead/burn one area.
3. It takes A LOT of patience, and likely 6 to 10 minutes before the foam backing and vinyl melt.
4. When vinyl melts and is soft enough, bend the plank to make the nosing.
5. Secure the bent vinyl plank with clamps.
6. Let it cool for multiple minutes.

Installation

Cut additional pieces:

1. Measure and cut an additional vinyl plank to cover the rest of tread beside the nosing.
2. Measure and cut the riser, e.g. using melamine white panels.
3. Test fit with the 3 pieces for each stair: riser, nosing, and additional vinyl coverage.

Once they fit, you may cut all pieces and test them on all stairs.

Starting with the lowest step of the staircase, use PL 3X premium or similar adhesive and repeat the following on each stair:

1. Glue the nosing.
2. Install and glue the additional flooring on the tread.
3. Glue the riser and compress it for a tight fit:
It will push UP on the nosing above.
It will also push DOWN the vinyl piece of stair below.

You can bevel the top-edge of the riser for a tight fit.

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Hope this is helpful.

God bless!