Why use adhesive to hold your wooden stair parts together?

When installing a new wooden staircase or replacing existing stair parts, you'll need to make sure the pieces stay firmly in place. An adhesive or wood glue for stairs is a fantastic way to secure wooden stair pieces as they're simple to use, dry quickly and aren't visible if applied correctly.

To find out everything you need to know about wood adhesives and why they're a solid choice for securing stair parts, read on today.

What is an adhesive?

A popular alternative to screws and nails, an adhesive is a type of bonding substance suitable for securely glueing stair parts into place. It's used to install new staircases or replace old parts that are no longer fit for purpose. Wood glues can be made from various materials, including PVA, polyurethane or silane.

Stair parts that can be suitably fixed into place using wood glues or adhesives include:

• Wooden stair treads

• Spindles

• Handrails

• Newel posts and caps

What's so special about using an adhesive over other fixings?

Typically, when installing primed pine or solid oak wooden stair parts, there are three fixings to choose between – nails, screws or adhesives.

So, why choose adhesives over more traditional methods?

An adhesive is more discrete than nails or screws

 If using screws and nails on the inner face of stair parts, the mechanical fasteners will be visible from the outside once secured in place, which can ruin the premium look of a wooden staircase.  Therefore, many people prefer to use adhesives, as the bond will remain hidden from the outside face once constructed - this makes it the perfect way to maintain a high standard and smooth finish.

Applying adhesive requires little expertise

Unlike screws and nails that need to be hammered accurately into place using tools and some expertise, an adhesive can be applied easily by anyone. We explain how to apply stair glue further down.

An adhesive is quick to apply and dry

As there's no preparation or measuring involved, adhesive application times are significantly lower compared to using screws and nails.

Similarly, wood glues typically have a fast-drying time, meaning you won't have to wait around to use your staircase.

Most adhesives offer matched strength and durability

Your stairs can experience a high volume of foot traffic every day, with adults, children and pets all using them. Modern wooden stair adhesives are extremely robust and can withstand constant weight and pressures, preventing stair parts from coming loose and potentially detaching, causing accidents and an unsightly staircase, just as they can if using nails and screws.

This means that adhesives are just as good, if not better, for constructing staircases – leaving people free to choose this option.

How to use wood glue for stairs

Here are our easy steps on how to correctly apply wood construction adhesives to your stairs and balustrade structure:

1. Simply clean and vacuum the area around your staircase to ensure there's no dust or dirt.

2. Apply an adequate layer of adhesive – just don't apply too much, as it could lead to unsightly drips down your stairs and increase drying times. If you are installing treads, apply a layer of adhesive along the back of the tread where it will meet the riser. You can also strengthen the joints between risers and treads using glue blocks on the inside of this meeting point. If you need new handrails, spindles, base rails, newel posts and newel caps, however, apply the adhesive where each part joins to the next.

3. Finally, to achieve a sturdy finish, you should always clamp the staircase parts together using a clamp when the glue is wet. This will ensure each part will be tightly locked into place when dry and will also increase the quality of the finish.

4. If there's any excess glue residue on or around the timber parts, you can simply wipe it away with a damp cloth before it sets.

It's a fairly simple job!

Stair adhesives – the verdict

Stair adhesives will provide a strong bond to securely fix your wooden stair parts and prevent movement, saving you the time, equipment, and stress of using screws and nails.

But you could also use a combination of wood glue and fixings for additional strength.

At Stair Crazy, we couldn't recommend stair glue highly enough for constructing new staircases and fixing wobbly parts that have come loose.

Get in touch with Stair Crazy today

We are trusted UK suppliers of bespoke stair parts and some of the most super durable adhesives available, including our brand of Stair Crazy adhesives and glues.

For more information regarding our stock or general enquiries, complete our online contact form or contact us on 01942 365 509, and we'll be in touch.