Installing Carpet on Stairs

Do you have wooden stairs in your dwelling with your kids running all day with only their socks on? Do you have the obvious knack to decorate the house adding a personal touch of creativity? Hang on, all that you need is installing carpet on stairs. A beautiful carpet installed on the stairs, will not only look catchy but it will also enhance the safety measures of the stairs. Well, it is not that easy a task considering the uneven surface and the angular structure of the steps. All that you need to know is the basic technique of installing the carpet on the risers (vertical part) and the treads (horizontal part). The most popular methods of installing carpet on stairs is said to be the waterfall method and the cap and band method. Let's learn how to install a carpet on stairs by the cap and band method.

Material and Tools Needed

• Carpet runner
• Carpet Padding (as underlay)
• Sharpened utility knife, chisel, hammer and saw
• Tack strips
• 1/2 inch stapler and staples
• Measuring tape
• Carpenter's square

Instructions

• Attach the tack strips to each of the risers and treads. As they come with the pre-hammered nails along their edge, it is relatively an easy job.
• Measure the centers of all the risers and treads and mark them for easy installation. Also measure the width of the steps and deduct 1-2 inch from the width, this will give the exact idea of the size of the tack strips. Normally 2 tack strips are required for a single tread.
• Always start installation from the last step at the bottom by attaching the tack strip at around 3/4 inch from the bottom of the riser. Also remember to place the pointers of the tack strips towards the bottom.
• Now attach the tack strip to the tread in such a way that it will touch the edge of the next riser. Strips attached to the treads must always be pointed towards the top of the staircase. Work the same procedure throughout the length of the stairs.
• Cut the carpet padding in a rectangular shape according to the measurements and run it in the downward direction i.e., from the top portion of the tack strip on the riser to the front edge of the tack strip of the tread. Try to leave a bit of slack in each of the carpet padding. Fix the padding to all the treads and risers, using the stapler.
• The measurement from the forehead of the tread and the face of the riser and the surface distance between each of the treads will give you an idea about the exact length of the carpet.
• Now, cut the carpet sections according to the measurements and using the blunt chisel, fix its ends onto the tack strips. This time you should start from the bottom of the staircase. Staple the carpet at the meeting point of each riser and tread.

Repeat the same procedure for each of the steps. Tack strips are easily available in any home improvement stores near your house. Tack strips are used as support system of the carpet as they hold the carpet and increase its durability.

As I said earlier, installing a carpet on stairs is an easy job if you know the basic technique. All the tools required for carpet installation on stairs are easily available. The process of carpet installation on stairs is less time-consuming and satisfactory too. I hope this article will be useful in your DIY carpet expedition!