Need an adhesive recommendation

[lolaetype]

I've bought rubber stair treads to go on the wooden stairs in the garage. Those stair treads are painted wooden 2X12 material. I want to glue them down so they stay down.

I've tried contact cement and outdoor carpet adhesive, both to no avail. The stuff doesn't want to stick to the backside of the rubber stair treads. and yes, I cleaned them with solvent to remove the mold release agent. These are the treads I'm dealing with.

https://tinyurl.com/ypdy9vt7

So, what kind of adhesive would you recommend.

 

[yatg]

Try PL Premium. Can get it at most big box stores.
Never tried it on rubber, but it sticks to everything else. Wear gloves.
Would squeeze some out, spread with putty knife, put big flat weight on tread for 24 hours, like a piece of plywood and a bunch of bricks.

 

[four.cycle]

^ is that the goop that bonds anything to anything, underwater, in freezing temperatures?
looks familiar.

 

[yatg]

^ is that the goop that bonds anything to anything, underwater, in freezing temperatures?
looks familiar.

That's what they claim. Its a polyurethane.
But it doesn't specifically say it bonds to rubber, so OP @lolaetype should run a test.
I used this and Liquid Nails on a project. I will never use LN again.

 

[cgrutt]

I'd recommend some sort of mechanical fastener (screw or nail) in addition to the adhesive you don't want them slipping or pulling up (esp if it has a nosing) on stairs. I replaced rubber (or maybe vinyl) treads that were in a commercial building because people were tripping on them.

 

[nitroracer20]

Perhaps a cove base adhesive?

 

[fritz29]

If I remember correctly they used double sided tape at work
take a look at https://www.americanstairtreads.com/stair-tread-adhesives/

 

[goldtang]

Have a look at the sika flex range, I would give the rubber a light rub with a wire wheel or emery to remove the shine then clean before glueing

 

[mike93lx]

I think I'd probably use some Pl Premium or Quad and a few ring shank nails.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Maybe sand the stair treads to give them a better 'tooth' for the adhesive?

 

[PCustoms]

Isn't there a purpose made carpet adhesive?

Edit:

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

I just finished a complete rebuild of a bigfoot fiberglass trailer and discovered this stuff part way through. I haven't found anything yet it doesn't stick together including rubber to steel painted with POR. Once it dries it is seriously stuck plus it sets up fast. Don't get it on your hands or you'll be wearing it for weeks.

That said, the aforementioned "STAIR TREAD ADHESIVE" does seems like it was meant for attaching stair treads.

Foam Bond 60 PRO Foam Adhesive

Foam Bond 60 Adhesive is one of the fastest curing universal one-component adhesives that is EPS, XPX and ISO foam board safe!

tytan.com

 

[PWC Repair]

What brand contact cement did you try? Generally it sticks fine to rubber.

 

[The Cobbler]

Roberts 2 sided flooring tape or contact cement is what I always used
are you using solvent based contact cement & letting it dry to touch ?

 

[KenC]

I'd bet the ones you've tried will work, after lightly sanding the tread backside. I don't know what it is about that shiny side that's against the mold, but it really acts like a release agent until it's no longer shiny.

Or, a real stair tread adhesive might work as is.

 

[KenC]

Roberts 2 sided flooring tape or contact cement is what I always used
are you using solvent based contact cement & letting it dry to touch ?

The last two thing mentioned are key. Real solvent contact cement on both surfaces and dry. Use a few dowel rods or similar to hold the tread up until positioned, then remove the center one.

 

[kctgb]

Hot glue? All you have to do to replace is warm with a heat gun and pull them up.

 

[fourjeepin]

Try PL Premium. Can get it at most big box stores.
Never tried it on rubber, but it sticks to everything else. Wear gloves.
Would squeeze some out, spread with putty knife, put big flat weight on tread for 24 hours, like a piece of plywood and a bunch of bricks.

This stuff was on sale on Home Depot last week for less than half price. Check the thread in hot deals if interested.

 

[Racer_X]

According to ThisToThat, Barge Glue is the right thing to use.
They didn't specify which one though, so you might have to do some reading at the Barge website.

 

[cgrutt]

According to ThisToThat, Barge Glue is the right thing to use.
They didn't specify which one though, so you might have to do some reading at the Barge website.

 

[lolaetype]

Thanks everybody. Looks like I've got some good ideas to look at.