My staircase has Mohawk 3/8" laminate wood plank, and I like to remove
the laminate wood and prep the surface to receive carpet.

Here are some pictures of my staircase:
http://www.geocities.com/dchou4u/photopagetan.html

The complex thing about this is that the balusters and newels are
resting directly on the laminate wood treads. So if I remove the
treads, the height will be a little different.

The treads are about 11.5" and the riser are about 5.5".

Do I need to replace the plywood under the laminate surface?
If the plywood is missing the toe, can I glue and screw in a 1/2 round
to create the toe for the treads?

Will a general contractor be able to redo the stairs for me, or do I
need to hire a stairs specalist?

Thanks

ask a carpet installer, it can probably go right over the laminate

wrote in message
....
My staircase has Mohawk 3/8" laminate wood plank, and I like to remove
the laminate wood and prep the surface to receive carpet.


I was never so happy as to get rid of my stairs carpet and ut in laminate
instead. Had I known, we could have just traded.



Here are some pictures of my staircase:
http://www.geocities.com/dchou4u/photopagetan.html


Picture don't always tell the whole story, but they look to be in good
condition. It looks as though the laminate was done properly.




Do I need to replace the plywood under the laminate surface?

Probably not, unless it is glued in place and it leave bit divots when you
take it off.


If the plywood is missing the toe, can I glue and screw in a 1/2 round
to create the toe for the treads?

Should work.


Will a general contractor be able to redo the stairs for me, or do I
need to hire a stairs specalist?

A good carpenter can probably handle what you want. The big question is the
type of installation of the carpet. If it is a runner up the center and the
edges exposed, you have to refinish the stairs to look good. If it is a wrap
around, that is not so important. Have you talked to the carpet installer?
They nail a strip to the riser for the carpet to grab onto. If he can nail
it in place, you may be able to go over the laminate. It is tough stuff to
nail so it may have to be drilled and then the strip screwed in place.
Takes more time, but less than tearing up the whole stairway.
--
Ed
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome/

Make your life easy.
Find the best carpet retailer in your region and have them sew a runner for
you.

%= Clinton Gallagher

wrote in message
ups.com...
My staircase has Mohawk 3/8" laminate wood plank, and I like to remove
the laminate wood and prep the surface to receive carpet.

Here are some pictures of my staircase:
http://www.geocities.com/dchou4u/photopagetan.html

The complex thing about this is that the balusters and newels are
resting directly on the laminate wood treads. So if I remove the
treads, the height will be a little different.

The treads are about 11.5" and the riser are about 5.5".

Do I need to replace the plywood under the laminate surface?
If the plywood is missing the toe, can I glue and screw in a 1/2 round
to create the toe for the treads?

Will a general contractor be able to redo the stairs for me, or do I
need to hire a stairs specalist?

Thanks