Weve discussed the carpet installation process for all three types of stairs in our comprehensive guide. It has an incredible design with an ergonomic shape that ensures a firm grip. Using locking pliers, pry a small corner of carpet away from a riser to determine the material underneath and decide on renovation specifics. With this goal in mind, here are some things to consider before ripping up your carpet: As tempting as it may be to just grab a loose corner of carpet and start pulling, preparing ahead of time and following a proper sequence of steps will get you the best results and help you avoid wasted effort. Compared to carpeting in other parts of the home, stairs can begin to look threadbare much sooner. If you want the Hollywood style of carpeting, youll need a little extra length in order to have enough give to fasten the runner completely; add one inch for each nosing and at least 18 extra inches for spare. Resist the urge to jump in and just start ripping. To begin, use a utility knife to cut the padding into rectangles that are the same width as the length of each tack strip (to ensure that the padding wont stick out under the carpet), and three inches longer than the depth of the tread. Use carpet tool and rubber mallet to pack runner tightly between the tackless strip and the riser. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. Knowing how to carpet stairs will help you save money by doing it yourself, and will leave you assured that you have done a good job in installing the new addition to your staircase. Continue across the riser until all of the carpet has been removed. Once you have selected your carpet, measured, and prepped your stairs, you are ready to begin installing your new carpet. The tread is the top surface of the step. When it comes to carpets, neatness is the most important factor. If you dont pay attention to your carpet and dont use a good stretcher, youre going to face the formation of wrinkles on the carpet over time! If you follow our DIY guide on how to install carpet on stairs, you can upgrade your entire home dcor and give your staircase a stylish makeover all by yourself. Copyright 2023 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. Cut your tack strips into lengths that are four inches shorter than the width of your chosen runner, then count out two strips for each stair. Start at the middle, and work your way to each edge to minimize any bubbles in the middle. All You Need to Know about Muzaffarabad The Capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. While you can easily pull carpet padding away from tacks, it is an entirely different scope of work if the padding has been glued down. The amount of carpet you remove from your stairs may be small enough to be included with your household waste pickup, but if you are unsure about whether your garbage service will take the carpet, contact your local waste pick-up service and ask. This positioning tool is designed for use with low-profile carpet, and features teeth angled forward to help grip and hold the carpet. Finish removing any tacks that are still stuck in the stairs using a set of needle-nose pliers. You cant consider yourself a carpet connoisseur if you have never heard about Persian rugs. It has an intelligent design that allows you to adjust the temperature making it perfect for seaming! These combine the best of both worlds, being resilient yet warm and soft. But after years of use, carpeting just doesnt look or feel the same. After all, the entire look of the carpet can be ruined due to a poor cut by an inferior product! Make sure to wrap the padding around the nose of the treads perfectly and staple it in place before moving to the next step. Combination square Dust mask Scissors Stick on carpet edge binding found at Home Depot by the carpet runner or try this product. Just like wooden flooring, wooden staircases are also a favourite among homeowners in Pakistan. Nail more than one tackless strips to the risers as needed. Since you will probably be placing the seam together by hand, it may be too apparent. Once we cut the pad, we attached the pad to the stair tread using a hammer stapler. Another option is to carpet each stair individually where the foot lands. Proper carpet disposal is an important part of the project. Place the front part of a knee kicker (a professional carpet tool available for rent from your local big-box hardware store) about two to three inches from the second riser, then give it a jolt with your knee to tighten thecarpetingalong the edges. This Carpet Seam Roller is another stunning offering by the reputable brand ROBERTS! Line up runner between layout marks on first tread. It is strong and durable making it perfect for heavy-duty use! Purchase it if the grace of the carpet is important to you! Carpet padding on stairs increases the materials life and keep it from wearing out quickly. If you plan on carpeting your stairs, then you might want to invest in a superior carpet stapler. First, we cut the pad to fit each step. Before removing the carpet, you need to find out what kind of flooring is underneath. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. The best thing about this cutter in particular is how the 30 degree blade ensures a clean and precise cut. If you want to ensure that the carpet appears flat and tight across the floor, you must use a power carpet stretcher! Start in the middle and work side to side. The tape is highly appreciated by consumers and is said to be safe for delicate surfaces like wood and vinyl. Carpets come in many different materials, ranging from natural fibers to synthetics such as polyester, nylon, and triexta. Smooth and stretch it to fit tightly. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Step 4 Shape Pad to Step Wrap the carpet down the riser and down the front edge of the stair. A Carpet Tack Strip Cutter does exactly what the name suggests, it cuts tack strips! In other words, it will get the job done without giving you too much trouble. Work from the middle out. They quieten footsteps by absorbing the sound, and they are significantly safer than harder-surface stairs. On average, you can expect to pay between $150 and $600 to carpet stairs, including new carpet for the landing. The tool originates from Germany and is quite handy. If you are satisfied with the material underneath the carpet and want to continue, begin at the top of the stairs. Tiny nails, tacks with wide tops, strips of adhesive and staples are usually used to keep a carpet in place on one of the high traffic areas of a home. Get rid of the tack strips and don't try to use the old padding. The thick and fluffy pile becomes hard and compacted, while stains and discolorations may be visible reminders of household spills and mishaps. Starting from the centre, move towards the edge to eliminate any air bubble. Timothy Dale, 11 Ways to Make the Most of Your Towns Curbside Cleanup Day. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. She is a writer and fact checker for TripSavvy, as well as a fact-checker for The Spruce. If your staircase curves or the walls aren't plumb, you won't be able to use a template to cut the carpet pieces for each step. Moreover, it has an easy opening which makes using the tool a piece of cake. The [amazon link=B000M34S08 title=ROBERTS Electric Carpet Stapler/] is the perfect tool if you want to avoid the use of adhesives. Visit a carpeting outlet to see samples of the patterns and colors available. Step 3. Finishing touches. Using a hammer stapler and starting in the center of each stair tread, staple the carpet pad in place. The end result is an elegant and neat carpet that you can install with confidence! Once you are satisfied with the runners position, use a carpet awl to push it tightly into the seam between the tread and the riser, and into your tack strips. WebLay each piece in place, and secure it with a hammer stapler. Of course, covering your steps with a carpet or a runner can be a little heavy on the pocket since youll have to spend a considerable sum on purchasing the material as well as pay a professional to do the job for you. While there are many carpet installation tools in the market, it is confusing to know which ones to get at the start. Covering these stairs with a beautiful carpet runner will only add depth to your dcor, along with making the steps safer for everyone in your home. A Roberts Knee Kicker. There are different ways to install a carpet without tack strips, but we will show you how to use them. Stairways get heavy wear, especially along the tread nosing, so choose a durable and easy-to-clean carpet. Apply a 12-inch strip of adhesive to the step and lay the carpet over the step, smoothing it out by hand. She has written nearly 100 articles for The Spruce, mainly covering everything having to do with carpeting from colors and filaments to runners to area rugs. 5. When the carpet is securely fastened, trim any excess. The third type joins various sections or pieces of the carpet to unite it. 3/ Roberts Carpet tucker. I read and read and read about home decor. Wrap the carpet down the riser and down the front edge of the stair. Supplies needed to install carpet runner on stairs Carpet runner Pneumatic staple gun these can be rented by the day Hammer Nippers Pry bar Tape measure this self centering one is perfect for this job! It is a strong performer that rarely ever jams. To keep things manageable, cut carpet pieces into smaller strips when you remove them. Tack strips are strips of wood with sharp pointed tacks. This will save you time, money, and effort. However, dont forget to put a thick layer of cardboard between the tackless strip and the baseboard to protect the surface from any damage. Trim the pad where the nosing and the top of the riser meet and, if using the waterfall method, clip the corners so you wont see the pad. Good padding is worth the investment, because it can extend the life of the carpet on this highly trafficked corridor. One of the most important components of home comfort is carpets & rugs and at the same time, it is one of the poorly covered topics on the Internet. Drill 116-inch pilot holes at each mark. Plus, its possible to complete this installation project in only a few hours. The only concerns people have with the usage of carpet glue revolves around the fact that it isnt environmentally friendly and can make it difficult to remove the carpet. The [amazon link=B00107M76M title=Economy Adjustable Knee Kicker/] is designed to make carpet installation projects easier. Finally, youll want to use a steam roller to press down your new carpet to make it stick to the adhesive underneath it. These pads should not cover any of the tack strips, however. Now that you have the low-down on how to install carpets on your stairs, it is time to get stuck into your next DIY project. Tip: When using the waterfall method, clip 3 inches off the corners of the pad where it curves around the nosing. If so, here are six tips to make DIY carpet installation go more smoothly. [amazon link=B00336I62W title=Henry, W.W. Co. It has the ability to stretch up to 38 feet, making it suitable for use in the home. After all, it can secure the carpet at the edges of the stair and cause it to look more elegant! However, XFasten Carpet Tape has been designed to eliminate this problem for good. It will ensure you maintain the integrity of the carpet and cut through the backing with ease. Roberts Electric Staple Gun. Hit kicker with knee. If you are satisfied with the results, staple the carpet to the riser and below the tread. It is also a good idea to make sure your padding is of very good quality. Therefore, I decided to share my experience and knowledge in this niche. When installing a carpet in the stairs, you need a tool to help you drive the carpet in some areas to improve the overall look. Measure each step and riser and create a template to cut the carpet to size, to know the size and how to lay it. Either method works, but the knee-kick will make removal much easier. (Staple the pad just in front of the tackless strip.). Reach under a corner of the carpet and pull it across the tread to dislodge it. A carpet seam roller has two small axles and a metal wheel which can be described as toothed. Use XFasten Carpet Tape if you wish to protect pets, elderly and children. If the stair is open on the side with railing posts, the carpet must be cut around each post and re-joined on the other side. The Crain 450 Deluxe Carpet Strip Cutter is one of the best cutters out there in the market! Be sure theres a nail within a couple of inches of each end. You'll need some slack to work with so that you don't tug too hard on the bottom and cause the entire roll to fall down on you. 3. This is a disaster waiting to happen. Then, pull the padding tight around the stair nosing and staple it underneath (onto the riser), again spaced every three inches. Step 7: Repeat the process until you reach the landing. If you want to install carpets with perfect seams and properly cut edges, rely on a cushion back carpet cutter. Slice into the carpet, starting in the back corner of the tread and continuing across it. A carpet stapler has heavy duty staples that can secure a carpet to the floor. You can, therefore, save some money by specifying that you want to buy carpeting without installation labor. Repeat steps 7 through 10 to continue installing carpet on stairs until completed. To make the template, measure each individual step and riser, as they may not all be built to the exact same dimension. There are a few carpet installation tools that you need to have. He is a certified lead carpenter and also holds a certification from the EPA. Building codes control the dimensions of treads and risers. Remove padding in the same fashion. It is a superior product that has a slow setup time which means you can make small adjustments during the installation! If you want an elegant staircase that has a perfectly installed carpet, you need a carpet stair tool! Before you get started, there are a few simple tools you will need to install carpets on stairs: There are DIY tool kits for carpeting stairs available, but a few of the simple tools should be enough to help you complete your project with little fuss. The tools you need depend on the type of carpet installation method you choose. WebUse a placer of two strips taped together to measure how high to place it. You can use it comfortably without having to worry about the performance. The Crain 301 Cushion Back Carpet Cutter is a perfect addition to your carpet installation equipment! But by the time you buy or rent the specialty tools, padding, seaming tape, and other supplies necessary, the extra $1 to $1.50 per-square-foot cost for pro installation starts to seem like a bargain. To install a carpet, you may need some tools from the following: carpet glue, knife, seam iron, seam roller, stapler, tape, stair tool, knee kicker, cushion-back carpet cutter, hammer tacker and tack strip cutter. 18 Designs for Basement Stairs that Add Style and Function, Step 7: Begin Installing Carpet on Stairs, How to Paint a Staircase to Spruce Up Your Entryway, How to Pour Concrete Steps for a Porch or Outdoor Entryway, 38 DIY Headboard Ideas for a Low-Cost Bedroom Refresh, How to Build Outdoor Wooden Steps to Spruce Up Your Entry, 34 Fun Window Treatment Projects to Add Personality to Any Room, How to Install Loose-Lay Sheet Vinyl Flooring in a Few Hours, How to Build Storage Under Basement Stairs in Only a Few Hours, Your Step-by-Step Guide to Reupholstering a Chair, How to Build Wide Deck Steps for a Grand Backyard Entrance, How to Make a Pallet Potting Bench for Your Gardening Projects, How to Make Your Own Colorful Punch Needle Designs at Home. Take these five things into consideration before removing carpet from stairs. To install carpet on stairs and landing, youll need these materials. Center the cut strippins angled toward riserbetween the layout marks. A hammer tacker is a tool that differs from carpet staplers in the way it operates! Secure both ends in the brackets. Step 2: Cut the carpet for installation but add about 20 percent for wastage. The carpet on a curved stair should be straight off of the tread nosing; otherwise, it will look crooked when looking up the staircase from the bottom. Start at the bottom of the staircase and work your way up, unless the more difficult steps are at the bottom. Tip: Staple carpet directly to stairs, never through the pad. There are two types of nylon variations to choose from, nylon 6 which has better recycling capabilities and nylon 6.6 which has a higher resilience. Pull toward you to release the carpet from the tack strip. However, to achieve this at home, you need to understand how to install carpet on stairs. Unroll the measured carpet and place its end corner on the bottom edge of the stairs. You can use an awl or straightedge to push the carpet into the tackless strips and form clean lines between the riser and the floor. What Are Witches Stairs and Why Do They Even Exist? Deane is a member of The Spruce's Home Improvement Review Board. What Makes Islamabads Sparco Tower an Ideal Investment Choice? Ensure you have tools such as: carpet adhesive, seam iron, seam roller glue, stair tool, cushion-back carpet cutter, knee kicker, tack strip cutter and hammer tacker. Carpet runner Marble adhesive Carpet cutter Measuring tape Chalk Caulking gun (optional) Straightedge (optional) Procedure Step 1: Measure the stairs to calculate the length of the carpet youll need. Mark and cut rods to length with a tubing cutter or hacksaw. A carpeted staircase can add a touch of comfort and softness to your home. Slide a putty knife under the tack strip to help protect the stair, then place the edge of a pry bar on top of the putty knife and under the edge of the tack strip. CarpetandRugWorld.com is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. It is an ingredient for a successful carpeting project! You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Step 1. Move the electric carpet tacker between the edge to fix the staple impressions. If you plan to install a stair runner without tack strips, you first need to be prepared. Also, you need to know the importance of cleaning carpets on stairs. The carpeting should be even with the floor, but if not, just trim the edge with a carpet knife. Carpet Knife. Mark and cut rods to length with a tubing cutter or hacksaw. Take care not to staple through the fold. Carpet lovers evaluate Persian rugs for their high durability, unusual patterns, and bright colors. Ive always been a lover of vintage rugs. Make sure to hold the carpet straight and keep it taut. Stay connected to Zameen Blog, the best home dcor and real estate blog in Pakistan, for more DIY home improvement tips and tricks. Butt pad to front edge of tackless strip. To do this a superior carpet seam iron is needed. Wrap the carpet around each post. The Delphin Carpet Knife is a favorite among professionals for its precision and performance. Its usually attached with stapleslots of them! Cut pad where nosing and top of riser meet. Dab cut edges with latex carpet glue to prevent fraying. (For upholstered installation, staple edges to riser, then staple runner to underside of nosing every 3 inches.). Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. There are two different ways to install carpet on stairs. Moreover, it has a checkered head which prevents the hammer from slipping when securing the carpet to the floor. Slide a putty knife under the tack strip to help protect the stair, then place the edge of a pry bar on top of the putty knife and under the edge of the tack strip. While you have to squeeze the carpet stapler to staple the carpet, you have to use the carpet hammer tacker by smacking it into the carpet like a hammer.