How to Install Carpet on Stairs

Installing a carpet on the stairs will be beneficial, if you have kids at home. It also adds to the beauty of your home. You must have already tried to install a carpet on the floor and found it quite simple. But you must also be thinking that it is difficult to install a carpet on the steps, as there are many angles and no continuous uniform area to be taken into consideration. If you know the simple technique of how to do it, you can carpet steps yourself.

To begin with the most basic, the vertical part of the stairs is known as the riser, whereas the horizontal part is known as the tread. There are two methods to install a carpet on stairs. One is the waterfall method, which is most commonly used. According to this method, the entire single piece of carpet is used to cover the stairs from top to bottom. The other method is the cap and band method, which is mostly used by experts. In this method, the carpet is cut and is fastened individually on every single tread and riser.

Following are the things that you will need to install a carpet:

Carpet (runner)
Tack strip
Hammer
Heavy duty stapler and staples (1/5 inch long)
Utility knife
Knee kicker or seaming iron
Carpet pad (underlay)

How to Install Carpet on Stairs

It is better if you buy a carpet available in the standard size. This way, you will not have to cut and trim it, and it will save a lot of time. Also, the sponge rubber underlay and urethane are the two best types of carpet pads. Now let us see the step-by-step technique of the waterfall method on how to install a carpet on stairs-

1. Smoothen the surface of the steps and also vacuum it. In case of wooden ones, see that there are no nails sticking out, while, in case of cement staircases, see that the cracks and corners are properly filled. Also, if you are replacing your old carpet, it is not advisable to re-use the old carpet pads or tack strips.
2. Place the tack strips on the angle between the tread and riser. Use the hammer to fix them. Another way is to place the tack strips on both sides of the tread adjacent to the walls.
3. Carpet pads will protect your carpet from mildew. Therefore, do not avoid carpet pads and install the carpet directly. Place carpet pads under these tack strips. Using a stapler, attach the underlay to each riser and tread.
4. Now place the carpet (runner) along the entire staircase. Starting from bottom, tie the carpet to the tack strips, step-by-step. Fix it permanently in place using a hammer, in the corners where it will be folded. Stretch it into place using a knee kicker or a seaming iron. Repeat this at each tread before attaching the carpet to the tack strip on the next tread.
5. Cut out any extra pieces or uneven ends of carpet using a utility knife. And your installation is complete!

In the cap and band method, you need to cut the carpet in the exact size of every tread and riser and fix it to the stairs with an adhesive. This method is beneficial in case you have to install the carpet on a winding staircase.

You can see that installing a carpet on stairs in not as difficult as you always thought it to be. You will get the tools that you require at any hardware store. Also, the total time required for installation is approx. 3 hours, that is if you do it at a stretch. So go ahead and give your stairs that beautiful look, all by yourself.