Construction Adhesive for Rock-Solid Stairs
Andy Moore and his crew at Modern Oak Construction use PL Premium Max construction adhesive to build strong, long-lasting stairs in this remodel project.
Sponsored by Loctite PL Premium Max
In this video, Andy Moore of Modern Oak Construction demonstrates how he and his crew use Loctite’s PL Premium Max construction adhesive to build out a new staircase in an old home, ensuring a long-lasting, squeak-free installation.
Here’s the transcript:
Hi, I’m Andy Moore with Modern Oak Construction, and we’re on a remodel in central Virginia. Today we’re working on a new staircase to access an attic space that is now going to be a new office. We will build a new skirtboard, risers, and treads, and lock it all together using Loctite PL Premium Max. This is a remodel and we want to make sure that this staircase is solid for the next phase of its life.
The skirtboards are used to protect the walls and also lock the whole staircase together. We’ll use about a 3/8-in. bead, placing two beads between each joist bay to adhere in between studs to make sure that the skirt stays in place really well. In addition to the adhesive, we’ll place two 16-gauge nails at every stud while the adhesive sets up.
After the skirtboards are installed, we’ll be installing the risers. For the risers, we do have some cutting and fitting to do. Once they’re ready to go, we’ll be applying that same 3/8 to the front of each stringer where we’re going to be applying the risers.
Then we’re going to follow up with four pocket screws into the skirt while the adhesive sets up. The point of the pocket screws is just to pull the skirt into the risers. The adhesive is actually the true bond here. The pocket screws will all be hidden by the tread and a small trim detail under each tread.
After the risers are installed, we’ll template the stair treads. We’ll be using a stair jig to find the actual angles of the stair treads to be able to cut them for final fitment. Once we have the stair treads cut and ready to go, we’ll apply another bead of adhesive to the tops of every one of these stringers and securing the tread in place.
This is one of the more critical adhesive points. We want to make sure we have plenty of adhesive, and we’re not really worried about squeeze-out. For the treads, we’re relying on the PL Premium Max because it’s the strongest, most durable adhesive in Loctite’s lineup. The 16-gauge fasteners are just holding the treads in place until the adhesive sets up.
I like remodeling because it allows us the chance to breathe life into some of these older homes. It gives us a chance to use newer products that are maybe better than what had been used in the past. We always use PL on every staircase we do.
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Please provide relative strength and cost differential between pl premium and pl premium max…
I can't help but wonder what the final project looks like considering those pocket holes on the faces of the risers. The narrator says they will get covered up with trim. What does that look like?
I wondered the same thing and did find this article online that gives one example: https://midcountyjournal.com/adding-moulding-underneath-stairs/
They used 11/16" MDF cove moulding. I didn't read closely enough to see whether or not they were covering up pockets, but there are several photos showing what it looks like, which might be all you're after.