Should I Glue or Nail When Adding Molding to Stair Treads?

Preparation

• Whether you decide to glue or nail your stair moldings, you should take the time beforehand to prepare the molding for installation. Some home improvement websites recommend both gluing and nailing the moldings in place. If you're going to nail them at all, predrilling holes for the nails can help you avoid splitting or splintering the wood. Flooring Supply Shop recommends placing 2-inch packaging tape over the area you intend to drill and nail. This should keep the wood intact.

Gluing

• It is possible to glue transition moldings to stair treads with an industrial adhesive. This is advantageous in instances where you may be adding hardwood flooring to an existing concrete structure. For instance, a slab home with a raised area that has just a few stairs made of concrete may require industrial adhesive rather than nails, which cannot be driven into concrete. Use only enough adhesive to properly cover the underside of the molding. Too much, and it may seep out from under the moldings when you apply pressure. Weigh down the pieces with something heavy to ensure that the glue takes to the molding and the stair tread.

Nailing

• Nailing the moldings in place can be just as effective as gluing, but a combination of the two is more likely to secure them for life. In any case, use a brad nailer to drive the nails into the moldings and avoid splitting the wood. FloorExpert.com recommends using 6d finishing nails.

Tips

• When installing stairs and moldings, begin your installation at the top step and work your way down. This is the recommendation on many flooring and stair-related websites. Most also recommend checking with your municipality to determine local building codes. Always ensure that your stairs are the proper width and depth to ensure compliance.