If the carpet padding is tacked on, simply pull it up and dispose of it in a contractor bag. Learn more here: How to Clean Carpet on Stairs: Step-by-Step Guide. The thin, dense pad helps to quiet and cushion footsteps, but it also prevents the runner from wearing out prematurely. Regardless of the type of installation method you use, you need a solid and dependable carpet knife! Using a blunt carpet knife can be frustrating and cause you embarrassment as you ruin your expensive new floor covering. There are different ways to install a carpet without tack strips, but we will show you how to use them. Carpet Installation: What to Know Before You Buy. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of interior design expertise. Runner should engage tackless strip and become taut. Drill 116-inch pilot holes at each mark. Removing carpet from the stairs requires more tools and safety equipment than you might expect. Other tapes in the market tend to lose their stickiness after a few days which can frustrate you. 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. Once all the flaws have been fixed, and the steps look smooth, let the concrete set completely before moving onto the next step. They dont need to be a certain width, just whatever size is comfortable for you to grip during removal and that will fit into your garbage bags. Repeat Steps 7 and 8 for each stair until you reach a landing or the top riser. Remove padding in the same fashion. Mark and cut rods to length with a tubing cutter or hacksaw. 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. For novice DIYers, the temptation is to shove the carpet tack strips (sometimes called "tackless strips") all the way against the wall or baseboard. When it comes to carpets, neatness is the most important factor. These are fairly simple to install; the same general process applies except the carpet is wrapped completely around the tread and stapled underneath. 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. If you do get a fiber caught, gently pull it out using a flat-head screwdriver. Resist the urge to jump in and just start ripping. The Carpet Power Stretcher is another tool that could come in handy during a carpet installation project! Using a pair of pliers, grip a piece of carpet on the riser, which is the vertical part of a stairnot the part you step on. Step 4: Measure the width of the carpet or runner. The tool originates from Germany and is quite handy. Professional installation by an experienced crew is now so inexpensive and quick that it's hard to justify doing this work yourself. So to add a bit of cushion to each tread, we installed an affordable carpet pad on each step. 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. It is also a good idea to make sure your padding is of very good quality. Before removing the carpet, you need to find out what kind of flooring is underneath. Never opt for an inferior carpet knife. Many installation teams will move furniture, remove and dispose of old carpet, install padding and new carpet, and move the furniture back in placeall within a few hours. If you plan on carpeting your stairs, then you might want to invest in a superior carpet stapler. Building codes control the dimensions of treads and risers. At times, people dont want to use carpet glue or a carpet stapler. Cut the rest using a carpet cutter. Start in the middle and work side to side. 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. To do this a superior carpet seam iron is needed. After all, it can secure the carpet at the edges of the stair and cause it to look more elegant! Wrap the carpet around each post. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Center the carpet on the bottom edge of the steps. Before you begin removing the tack strip, be sure to put on your safety glasses if youre not already wearing them. If not square, mark, then cut along backing with carpet knife. In other words, you wont have to put in too much effort to cut the tack strip making the installation go smoother! The [amazon link=B00BC1ZCK4 title=Crain 301 Cushion Back Carpet Cutter/] is designed to trim seam edges close to the tufts with neatness. Step 9: Repeat this step until you reach the last step. What Are Witches Stairs and Why Do They Even Exist? 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. Tip: If runner bulges and doesnt lie flat against the tread, lift it straight up off the strip and begin again. How To: Install Carpeting on Stairs. I'm Nancy and I love Home Decor! Jill Lawrence O'Hara, Bob Vila, 11 Ways to Make the Most of Your Towns Curbside Cleanup Day, 5 Ways to Prevent Cracks in Concreteand 1 Easy Fix, Make Your Home Less Chaotic With These 12 Simple Changes, The Biggest Mistakes Youre Making with Your Coat Closet, What to Know About Paying Off Your Mortgage Early, 14 Home Improvement Projects You Can Tackle with Your Tax Refund. If youre not going to use adhesives, you can consider using a carpet stapler instead! 2/ 9/16 Electric Gun Staples. Carefully place the tackless strips to the riser and back of each tread. If you are satisfied with the results, staple the carpet to the riser and below the tread. The Roberts Carpet Stair Tool is a wonderful investment that will help you install carpets in your stairs with excellence. In other words, the floor covering stays securely put and wont buckle. Plus, its possible to complete this installation project in only a few hours. Even my own experience with it has been positive which is why I recommend it! Take these five things into consideration before removing carpet from stairs. Be sure theres a nail within a couple of inches of each end. If you want to ensure that the carpet appears flat and tight across the floor, you must use a power carpet stretcher! If there is no carpeting on the floor above, proceed to step 4. Deane Biermeier is an expert contractor with nearly 30 years of experience in all types of home repair, maintenance, and remodeling. Hold them in place and mark the locations of the screw holes. You can mix a small batch of concrete and fill these gaps with a trowel. Moreover, it has an easy opening which makes using the tool a piece of cake. The [amazon link=B000COXP2O title=Roberts 10-254V Value Kit Power-Lok Carpet Stretcher/] is a kit that can help you install wall-to-wall carpeting in a better way. If youre certain that its time for that old stairwell carpet to go, follow these steps to do the job right. In this method of installing carpet, which is considered simpler but doesn't necessarily look quite as polished, the carpet is attached to the edge of the tread and then drops down to meet the back of the next stair tread without adhering it to the riser. Once you have brought the carpet around the posts, wrap it around the side of the stair and fasten it underneath the side nosing. The tool essentially pushes the carpet seam together giving the illusion that there is no seam to begin with. Drill 116-inch pilot holes at each mark. The tread is the top surface of the step. If you plan to have a runner custom cut (or if you need help visualizing how your stairs would appear partially covered with a carpet runner), try draping brown kraft paper or a flat sheet folded lengthwise to determine the right runner width. He is a certified lead carpenter and also holds a certification from the EPA. Grab a sharp utility knife and a measuring tape and get to work. Then, staple the runner into the crease where the riser and tread meet on either end of the strip as well as each outer edge, two inches from the bottom of the riser. They are also generally safer as you are less likely to slip and lose your balance while climbing carpet-covered steps. Press rod into crease where tread and riser meet. The ROBERTS brand is trustworthy and so is this product which will amaze you with its brilliant performance! Step 1. The [amazon link=B000M34S08 title=ROBERTS Electric Carpet Stapler/] is the perfect tool if you want to avoid the use of adhesives. However, to achieve this at home, you need to understand how to install carpet on stairs. If you are satisfied with the material underneath the carpet and want to continue, begin at the top of the stairs. Before getting started, be sure to learn the terms for the different parts of your staircase. So make a wise decision unless you want to feel upset. To provide each of your wooden steps with a little more cushion, lay down a base of carpet padding. This helps hide the pad. Step 4: Spread the carpet adhesive on the treads and edges of the concrete stairs with a trowel. 10 Tools you will need To Install a Stair Runner Like a Pro. 1. This way youll be able to formulate a game plan for your renovation. Hit kicker with knee. This way, you wont have to deal with any creases or bumps that may become evident once the carpet has been laid. Visit a carpeting outlet to see samples of the patterns and colors available. They add some charm to any style of interior design. (Staple the pad just in front of the tackless strip.). Each tack strip should be 4 inches shorter than your runners width. 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. However, XFasten Carpet Tape has been designed to eliminate this problem for good. The [amazon link=B000COXP1K title=ROBERTS Carpet Seam Roller/] is a perfect tool to consider for your carpeting project. If you plan to install a stair runner without tack strips, you first need to be prepared. It ensures that your floor coverings will stay securely in place for at least 6 months. Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 13 years. You will need only those tools which suit your installation method and aim. Also, carpeted stairs are safer than hard-surface stairs, as they lessen your chances of slipping and pad your fall if you lose your balance. Find trusted local pros for any home project. Tip: Push stapler through the pile and against the backing before pulling trigger. Once you are happy with the carpet placement, secure the carpet down with staples. Moreover, dont forget to subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date about the latest construction and property trends in the country. Carpet Adhesive Beige #663/] is a perfect purchase if you want a successful carpet installation. It has a built-in heat shield and Teflon coated base which helps it protect the floor coverings. Since the glue tends to dry quickly, it is recommended that you tackle one stair at a time. Since you will probably be placing the seam together by hand, it may be too apparent. There are a few carpet installation tools that you need to have. If you want to install a carpet in the stairs, you absolutely need this stair tool! Take measurements of the stairs before selecting your runner area rug to be sure the rug will have sufficient length and width. The hassle such a poor tool will cause is likely to frustrate you! Dispose of carpeting, tack strips, carpet padding, and any other debris according to your local waste disposal regulations. While some carpet seam irons can end up harming the fibers, this one is designed to never do so. The special thing about this product is that it will give you time to make minor adjustments as you stick the floor covering on the floor with it. Installing carpet on stairs can be tricky and time-consuming, but it can be accomplishedeven by noviceswith some understanding and patience. Once youve finalized a stunning carpet, you have to get it installed at your home. The idea is to ensure the carpet staple is properly driven inside the floor! Then pull the end toward the bottom. Staple end of runner to bottom of riser every 3 inches. The tape has such an adhesion which will never fail! Installing a stair runner on a straight staircase is a relatively easy project, even for novice do-it-yourselfers. Then, secure the runner to the riser just beneath the next tread with staples, spaced roughly three inches apart. Are you excited about decorating your home? A carpet installation project often requires seaming pieces of the floor covering together. Begin at the bottom step and staple the carpet to each tread, then stretch the carpet over the riser. The Delphin Carpet Knife is a favorite among professionals for its precision and performance. Mark and cut rods to length with a tubing cutter or hacksaw. You need to fold the edges around the step, using a rubber mallet and stair tool to crease the carpet into the seams and attach it to the tackless strip. Repeat the process as you work your way down the stairs. The tools you need depend on the type of carpet installation method you choose. In case you fall, carpeted stairs will provide you with much better padding than the cold, hard marble, wooden, or concrete steps. Subtract the width of the runner from the width of the staircase (between baluster and skirtboard) and divide by two. Install Tack Strips With a Gap Between the Wall, For Patterned Carpet, Buy an Extra 5 Percent, Do Not Attach Padding Over the Tack Strips, Consider Carpet Pile Direction When Seaming, How to Get Wrinkles Out of Carpet Without a Stretcher, Carpet Installation: What to Know Before You Buy. Carpet on stairs usually requires some sort of hardware. If the French cap method of installing carpet seems a little overwhelming or the carpet is too thick, use the waterfall method. Whether you plan to pick up a runner that is ready to go, or craft something totally custom, youll first need to collect all your necessary measurements. Measure the Room. There are different ways to carpet stairs, but well be discussing the ones that are easiest to follow, even for those who are new to the world of DIY home improvements. If so, here are six tips to make DIY carpet installation go more smoothly. If you have pie-shaped, or curved, stairs, install the carpet on theriser in the same way as mentioned above. By submitting your email, you agree to our, $28 to $33 per linear foot (synthetic runner); $30 to $100 (wool), 5 Easy Ways to Remove Scratches from a Glass Window, This Quick Tip Will Help You Space Balusters Evenly, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. How to Repair a Carpet With Carpet Patching, Filtration Soil: What It Is and How to Get Rid of It, available for lease at tool rental centers and home centers. They are strong cutters which provide increased cutting force. It is recommended to sit two steps below the stair you are covering so that you can properly lay down the carpet. 3/ Roberts Carpet tucker. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. The end result is an elegant and neat carpet that you can install with confidence! Tamp it down to hold in place, or as an alternative secure it with staples. This importance is not lost if the stairs have a carpeted surface. It has an intelligent design that allows you to adjust the temperature making it perfect for seaming! Once you remove a piece of carpet, roll it up, use a piece of duct tape to hold it in place, and place it into a large contractor garbage bag. Make certain that the strips angle in toward each other, so that the points of the tacks will come close to touching. Glue the carpet on the landing as per your preference and cut away the rest. Bob Vila has partnered with Empire Today to help you easily get beautiful new floors at a great price. Before you get started installing your carpet, you first need to determine the look you want in your home. However, dont forget to put a thick layer of cardboard between the tackless strip and the baseboard to protect the surface from any damage. The Hoteche Heavy-Duty Hammer Tacker is a carpet installation tool that will help you avoid the mess adhesives create and enjoy a successful project in little time! You wont have to exert a lot of pressure on the Delphin Knife to cut the floor covering. When you're satisfied with the carpet placement, staple the carpet onto the riser just below the tread. While there are many carpet installation tools in the market, it is confusing to know which ones to get at the start. 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! When youre installing a carpet, the finesse and precision of a cut can significantly impact the appearance of the carpet. Not to mention, having carpeting on the stairs can soften the look of your home and absorb sound waves. Replacing Carpet on Stairs With Hardwood Get the latest This Old House news, trusted tips, tricks, and DIY Smarts projects from our expertsstraight to your inbox. Two types of stretchers are essential to a good carpet installation: a long power stretcher that will brace against the walls to stretch the carpeting taut across the entire room, and a knee kicker that will help you push the edges into corners and over the tack strips around the perimeter of the room. Prepare for the possibility that youll need to replace parts of the stairs, fix breaks, or treat infestations after removing the carpet.