Installation Guidelines

Prepare, Fit and Install With Care

STEPIT LVP provides custom-fabricated LVP stair and transition components. These guidelines explain the approved installation approach, substrate requirements, field-fitting responsibilities, and conditions that affect the fabrication warranty.

Fabrication Only

STEPIT LVP does not perform installation, field measurements, substrate evaluation, stair design, code approval, or jobsite supervision. The customer and installer remain responsible for final fit, preparation, adhesive selection, and installation.

Substrate Requirements

Start With an Approved, Structurally Sound Surface

The substrate must be stable, clean, dry, properly prepared, and suitable for the adhesive selected by the installer. Substrate approval depends on both the material and where it is being used.

Approved Substrates

  • Solid wood stair treads
  • Existing hardwood stair treads
  • Properly prepared interior concrete stairs
  • Fully supported plywood at a landing or top-step area only, when installing a landing or top piece and its stair nose

Not Approved

  • Plywood used as the tread substrate on individual stair steps
  • MDF or particleboard
  • Existing LVP or laminate flooring
  • Carpet, padding, tack strips, or other soft coverings
  • Loose, damaged, contaminated, wet, flexible, or structurally unsound surfaces
Plywood limitation: Plywood is not approved as the tread substrate on individual stair steps. STEPIT LVP stair noses require a sufficiently rigid and supported base; movement or flex in a plywood step can contribute to stair-nose failure. Plywood may be used only at a fully supported landing or top-step area for installation of a landing or top piece and its stair nose.

Before Fitting

Complete All Surface Preparation First

Fabricated components should never be used to conceal a loose, damaged, uneven, or improperly prepared stair.

Remove Existing Materials

Remove carpet, padding, tack strips, staples, nails, existing LVP, laminate, loose trim, and old adhesive that could interfere with bonding or final fit.

Expose Bare Wood

Painted, stained, sealed, or finished wood must be sanded to clean, bare wood wherever the adhesive will contact the substrate.

Correct Defects

Repair movement, damage, loose tread sections, major unevenness, and other substrate conditions before attempting to install the fabricated component.

Clean the Surface

Remove dust, debris, grease, wax, residue, and contaminants that could weaken the adhesive bond.

Confirm Dry Conditions

The installer is responsible for confirming that wood or concrete conditions are dry and acceptable for the chosen adhesive.

Verify Every Step

Do not assume all stair dimensions are identical. Dry-fit and verify each component at its intended location before applying adhesive.

Field Fitting

Dry-Fit, Mark and Trim Before Adhesive

Standard components are commonly fabricated slightly oversized so the installer can make the final field cuts required by the actual stair.

Standard Components Field Trimming Expected

Submitted length is treated as a minimum. STEPIT LVP may fabricate the piece longer so it can be trimmed for final fit.

Standard Returns 14-Inch Return

Standard return pieces may be shortened during fitting. Left and right are determined while standing at the bottom of the stairs and looking up.

Double Returns Exact Fit Required

Components with returns on both sides require exact confirmed dimensions and should not be shortened like a standard field-trimmable component.

Back-of-tread return wedge: Back-of-tread return wedges are not included with STEPIT LVP return pieces. When a wedge is needed to finish the back of an open-side tread, the installer must measure and fabricate it in the field using a piece of scrap material from the matching LVP nosing supplied with the order.
Before applying adhesive: place each component on its intended stair, confirm orientation, check the front drop and profile, mark all field cuts, and verify that the piece sits correctly without rocking, forced bending, or unsupported gaps.

Required Installation Method

Install With Adhesive Only

Mechanical fasteners are not an approved installation method for STEPIT LVP fabricated components.

Adhesive Requirements

  • Installer supplies the adhesive and application tools.
  • Roberts 1487 Engineered+ Wood Flooring Adhesive is the standard STEPIT LVP recommendation.
  • The installer must confirm that the adhesive is appropriate for the substrate, LVP construction, and jobsite conditions.
  • Follow the adhesive manufacturer’s current instructions for trowel, coverage, open time, pressure, cleanup, cure time, and traffic restrictions.

Prohibited Methods

  • Nails
  • Screws
  • Staples
  • Brads or pin nails
  • Any mechanical fastening through the fabricated component
Mechanical fasteners, unapproved adhesives, improper substrate preparation, insufficient adhesive transfer, unsupported voids, or installation contrary to these guidelines are excluded from the STEPIT LVP fabrication warranty.

Scope and Responsibility

Important Installation Limits

These general guidelines do not replace professional judgment, applicable code requirements, or the current instructions for the flooring and adhesive being used.

Residential Interior Use

STEPIT LVP fabricated components are intended for residential interior applications. Exterior use is not approved.

Measurements and Final Fit

The customer and installer are responsible for all measurements, orientation, cutting, fitting, and confirmation that the final component configuration works at the jobsite.

Substrate and Adhesive

STEPIT LVP does not verify substrate moisture, flatness, structural condition, adhesive suitability, coverage, or jobsite conditions.

Codes and Stair Design

The installer and property owner are responsible for stair design, applicable codes, permits, handrails, guards, rise, run, nosing, and all other site-specific requirements.

Planning a Fabrication Request?

Submit the flooring specifications and required components for STEPIT LVP review, or contact us with a material or profile question before ordering.

Submit a Request Contact STEPIT LVP