How to Lock Floors on Stairs

Remove any carpet or vinyl from the stairs. Locking flooring can be fitted over low-pile carpet or vinyl on flat surfaces but on stairs it needs to be glued down on a hard surface. Pull out any nails or tacks and clean the surface so it is smooth.

Measure the stairs carefully. Measure how wide the stair nosing is and subtract that from the first measurement. You'll need enough flooring to cover the remaining space.

Cut the planks to fit the remaining space. They should be equal in width. Use the full width of one plank and cut a second plank lengthwise to fit the space at the back of the stair.

Set the stair nosing onto the edge of the stair. Fit the plank into the stair nosing's groove and lay it flat. Connect the last piece of plank into the small space left and lay it down. If you cannot get the pieces to fit together, cut the locking mechanism off the planks and stair nosing. Use a circular or miter saw with a fine-tooth blade to cut the pieces.

Apply a serpentine bead of wood glue to the back of the stair nosing and fit it over the lip of the stair. Hammer the stair nosing in place with finishing nails.

Apply serpentine wood glue to the backs of the planks and a bead of glue along the locking mechanism. Slide the plank into position and drop it down. Fit the smaller piece behind the full plank in the same manner.