How do you install carpet on stairs?

While taking advantage of professional help is always a wise move when you want carpet fitted around your home, if you’re handy about the house and want to install some on your stairs, read on for some useful advice before you get started.

Tools for the task

To fit your stair carpeting you’ll require a staple gun and staples, a cutter, and a metal ruler. You’ll also need a dedicated carpet tucker and stretcher tool. Many of these items can be bought together in a single kit for fitting carpet to cut back costs.

Stage one – Gripper rods

Reusing the existing gripper rods if they’re in working condition, or fitting new ones when damage has occurred, is the first step. The rods must be placed on either side of every tread as well as at the back of every tread at the base of the next consecutive step.

Stage two - Underlay

Begin by adding a piece of underlay on your first step, place it within the grippers leaving a little overlap. Staple the underlay down and then trim any unwanted excess. Repeat the process for every step.

Stage three – Cut and fit your carpet

If you have a short staircase, you may be able to use a single piece of carpet. For longer ones, use shorter lengths and join them.

Measure out the first piece of carpet. Begin with four steps’ worth and, using your ruler for a straight edge, cut the amount you need. Now you can staple it into place - begin with the front edge of your length of carpet and staple it to the base of your first step, ensuring it is entirely level with your floor.

Employing the fitting tool, push the carpet against your gripper rods at the point where the first step meets the second and force it into the corner. You can use your knee for additional pressure and run the carpet tucker along the step top from the front of your first tread to the second step’s base. Take time to make sure you have a snug fit.

Continue this process until you reach the end of your first length of carpet and cut the material at the steps base before it ends to get rid of unwanted excess. Now you can start your next length – beginning on a full step you’ll be able to hide the join at the bottom of the step’s base.

Stage four - Joining up your carpet

Measure and cut your next length and ensure the joins are perfectly in line. If a pattern is present, make sure it matches from the first to second length of carpet. You can then employ the carpet stretcher and tucker as you did before, and carry on carpeting your stair until the job is complete.

While carpeting a staircase is not the most complicated task, if an installation isn’t performed correctly, it can lead to your carpet wearing out over time. If you are at all unsure about the process, don’t hesitate to take advice from professional fitter.