attaching stair treads

[Brian]

anyone used PL 400, or other adhesive? I'd like to avoid nails or screws.
How long till you can walk on them? All the bedrooms are upstairs.

[myboynoah]

I'd like to help you out Brian, but I have no experience with stair treads.

[Brian]

I'd like to help you out Brian, but I have no experience with stair treads.

neither do i.

[Surfah]

No clue. The website says it doesn't cure for 48 hours though.

[pellegrino]

Is there a reason you want to avoid using screws or nails? If it were me I'd apply the pl400 and secure the treads and risers in place with screws while it cures. That would basically guarantee no squeaks. I don't know that it would be worth the risk of having them move before it cures and that means you and the fam are sleeping on the couch.

[Brian]

Yes, I see the 48 hour cure time, but wondered if anyone had experience in how long it takes to dry before people can walk on it.
The treads are beautiful, I can't bring myself to putting holes in them.

[pellegrino]

Yes, I see the 48 hour cure time, but wondered if anyone had experience in how long it takes to dry before people can walk on it.
The treads are beautiful, I can't bring myself to putting holes in them.

can you hide the screws/nails?

Lee Valley sells this handy little chisel/plane that lifts up a small shaving of wood, you nail underneath it and then glue it back into place. I've never used it but the concept is very appealing. It would take a while to do each riser and tread, but if the end result is what you're looking for then it's likely worth it.

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...83&cat=1,41182

[Surfah]

When you glue down hardwood floors you're supposed to wait 24 hours to walk on them. So I imagine it has to be at least that with stair treads.

[Brian]

can you hide the screws/nails?

Lee Valley sells this handy little chisel/plane that lifts up a small shaving of wood, you nail underneath it and then glue it back into place. I've never used it but the concept is very appealing. It would take a while to do each riser and tread, but if the end result is what you're looking for then it's likely worth it.

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...83&cat=1,41182

Yes, I'd heard of those, and considered using them.
But every screw up is expensive......

[Brian]

When you glue down hardwood floors you're supposed to wait 24 hours to walk on them. So I imagine it has to be at least that with stair treads.

I'm gluing some test pieces and see how long they take to really setup. I can live w/ 24 hours. No showers on the ground floor, so I hope those around us can live with it as well.

[pellegrino]

Yes, I'd heard of those, and considered using them.
But every screw up is expensive......

Run some tests, if you don't like it then return it. I'm sure scandell can give you advice on that.

The only reason I even suggest it is that I am leery of using only adhesives to secure anything other than a joint. I'm sure it will work fine, I just don't don't have enough experience with it to feel comfortable with it. I'm interested in seeing how it turns out.

[Donuthole]

anyone used PL 400, or other adhesive? I'd like to avoid nails or screws.
How long till you can walk on them? All the bedrooms are upstairs.

I actually just caught an episode of This Old House where they did stair treads. They specifically mentioned not to rely on adhesives only for treads, even if the product says it can be used in place of nails. Tommy said it with a thick Bahstan accent, so it seemed even more believable. Don't shoot the messenger.

[pellegrino]

so Brian, did you ever make a decision about this? I'm curious to see how it went.

[Brian]

so Brian, did you ever make a decision about this? I'm curious to see how it went.

I'm going to use the adhesive. When I went to pick up the rest of the treads I talked to the guys for a while. They said to just let them sit overnight with about 60 pounds of weight on each tread and it will be fine. A lot of professionals that buy stuff from them use this method.
I put down the treads on the landing on Monday and am very pleased. The landing is such that I can lay them down and easily avoid stepping on them while they dried. They feel rock solid. No squeaking while I'm alive.

I think I'm going to do this in phases, every other tread. Get home from work, put down half the treads, put a thick towel down then a big bag of rock salt or whatever cheap heavy thing home depot sells. Then we'll just giant-step it upstairs for bedtime.

I test glued a couple of pieces of scrap and after an overnight dry the stuff won't move.
I'll put up some pictures. Although if you're my friend on facebook, I have a pictoral diary of this whole entire project.

[FN Phat]

I'm going to use the adhesive. When I went to pick up the rest of the treads I talked to the guys for a while. They said to just let them sit overnight with about 60 pounds of weight on each tread and it will be fine. A lot of professionals that buy stuff from them use this method.
I put down the treads on the landing on Monday and am very pleased. The landing is such that I can lay them down and easily avoid stepping on them while they dried. They feel rock solid. No squeaking while I'm alive.

I think I'm going to do this in phases, every other tread. Get home from work, put down half the treads, put a thick towel down then a big bag of rock salt or whatever cheap heavy thing home depot sells. Then we'll just giant-step it upstairs for bedtime.

I test glued a couple of pieces of scrap and after an overnight dry the stuff won't move.
I'll put up some pictures. Although if you're my friend on facebook, I have a pictoral diary of this whole entire project.

Your friends of CUF should have the same priveledge!! You do amazing work. If there is any doubt check this out....http://www.cougaruteforum.com/showth...ht=brian+built.