Are Stair Nosing Adhesives Right for You?

At Stair Rods Direct, we understand the importance of sturdy and easy to fit stair nosings. Using an adhesive option instead of traditional drilling can give a smoother look to your stair rod, whilst saving you time. 

In this quick guide we’ll run through a few of your options in regards to stair nosing adhesives, including using adhesives to add infill nosing, using adhesives to attach stair nosings, and using self adhesive stair nosings. Stair nosings help to protect your stairs, whilst giving a beautiful classic look to your house. 

There are a variety of stair nosing profiles available, serving different purposes and giving different looks. It’s important that you install them correctly, and in such a way that they will be strong for many years to come.

Using Stair Nosing Adhesives to Attach Infill Nosing

At Stair Rods Direct, we typically recommend attaching our range of stair rods with drilled and countersunk fixings, to give a stylish and secure look. If wanted for additional support, infill nosing can then be attached to the stair nosings. This would give the potential benefit of obscuring the fixings, should you want to hide them, and can also add stair treads, to make your stairs safer. Apply an adhesive such as Sikaflex to the underside of the infill nosing, and attach it to the top of the stair nosing, before screwing them both in. Then remove excess adhesive and leave to dry.

Using Stair Nosing Adhesives to Attach Stair Nosings

It is also possible to glue down stair rods using strong adhesives, though there are competing opinions on this. Products like Sikaflex or Q-Fix are expressly designed to attach stair nosings to surfaces like wood, metal, or concrete. They are intended to offer a sturdy and lasting grip. They are both applied along the inside of the stair nosing, and pressed into the stair to create a solid seal. A single tube of Sikaflex claims to fit up to 5m of stair rod, such as aluminium stair nosing, whilst giving a clean finish without any visible screws.

Self-Adhesive Vinyl Stair Nosings

There are also a range of self adhesive vinyl stair nosings available. These can come in a range of styles and colours, with a peel activated adhesive strip on the underside. This can be handy as it means you will only have to buy one item, with adhesives properly distributed across the nosings. 

What is the Best Adhesive for Stair Nosing?

Your main options for specific adhesives are going to be products like Sikaflex, PL Premium, or Gorilla Glue. Make sure that the glue you use is specifically designed to work on the surface type of both your stairs and your stair nose. Family Handyman.com listed PL Premium as the strongest construction adhesive on the market today. It will stick effectively to wood flooring and vinyl floors.

Should You Stick With Screws?

Screws, or a combination of screws and adhesives, remains the industry default when it comes to stair nosing installation. The honest answer as to whether or not you can simply use just adhesives for your stair nosings depends on what you will be using your stair nosings for. 

In all outdoor environments screwed in stair nosings are advisable, to protect from elements such as rain and wind. In heavy duty environments with high foot traffic, like communal indoor environments, screwed in stair nosing is also advisable, to guarantee a longer lasting support for your stairwell. In a more personal location, or for stair nosing that serves a more decorative purpose, stair nosing adhesive, or self adhesive stair nosing should be perfectly acceptable. 

There are several products specifically designed to attach stair nosings to stairs without screws, which have a proven track record and will allow you to attach your stair nosings. Ultimately, the method of stair nose installation you choose is up to you.

Our Range of Stair Nosings

Stair Rods Direct sells a range of stair nosings and lips, in beautiful styles and colours. We sell easy to clean Premier Lips Stair Trims, in a range of ten colours including brass, chrome, and pewter. We sell different sizes to suit every staircase, with our stylish looks matching with a wooden staircase. 

Alternatively, our Stair Nose LVT FUll Bull Brass Finishes give a firmer look to the ends of your stairs, allowing for expansion, in a range of colours and sizes. We also have Bendy Bullnose Stair Nosing, specifically built from rubber to work around corners, in colours like brass, chrome, and black. We offer free delivery on all orders over £75 across the UK. If you have any questions about our range of stair edging, or the best ways to fix them to your stairwell, please contact our dedicated customer service team, who will be happy to assist you in any way they can.