Do you know how to install carpet on stairs?Hollywood Stair Runner or waterfall stair runner?
Bob Vila and Lawrence O'Hara.
A carpet runner is a clever compromise to showcase the beauty of wood stairs without sacrificing the comfort of carpet.All the benefits of carpet, such as additional grip, shock absorption, and noise reduction, are still provided by this narrow rug that runs down the center of the staircase.It is the best of both worlds.It is possible to complete this installation project in a few hours.Take it step by step.
You need to determine the look you want in your home before you start installing carpet.The Hollywood method and the waterfall method are used to install carpet on stairs.
Time to pick a carpet.The most convenient option for easy installation is a machine-hemmed, prefabricated stair runner.The carpet runner can be cut and hemmed from any wall-to-wall carpet roll; just know that each side must be sewn with a border to prevent fraying before you start.The hemming process requires a special sewing machine used by carpet professionals, so you will need to hire a pro and provide full measurements for a custom cut.
Pick up a runner that is ready to go, or craft something totally custom, you will need to collect all your necessary measurements.The ideal width of your runner is the first thing you should start with.Pre-hemmed runners are usually sold in two sizes, 27 and 32 inches, so choose the one that fits your tread size with as little wood as possible.If you're going to have a runner custom cut, you might want to use brown kraft paper or a flat sheet folded in half to determine the right runner width.
If you want to calculate the length of your stair runner, you need to add your measurement for the depth of the stair tread and riser, as well as the number of stairs.If you want the Hollywood style of carpeting, you need at least 18 extra inches for spare and one extra inch for each nosing.
Attach thin pieces of wood resembling yardsticks with tacks pointing upward to prepare your stairs for carpet installation.The carpet backing will be held in place by these.
Count out two strips for each stair from the lengths of your tack strips, which are four inches shorter than your runner.One on each riser, centered, 14 inch from the bottom, and one on the tread, also centered.The points of the tacks should come close to touching if the strips angle in toward each other.
Place a base of carpet padding on each of your wooden steps.Stair padding is thicker than wall-to-wall padding and can be found in many shapes and sizes.Good padding can extend the life of the carpet on this corridor.
To begin, use a utility knife to cut the padding into rectangles that are the same width as the length of each tack strip, and three inches longer than the depth of the tread.The tack strips should not be covered by these pads.Attach one end of the pad to the tread with a hammer tacker and then staple it all across.Then, staple the padding around the stair nosing and underneath the riser, spacing it every three inches.If you use the waterfall method, clip the corners so you don't see the pad.For the entire staircase, repeat this process.
The runner needs to be installed from the bottom of the stairs to the top.To get a clean look between the bottom of the stair riser and the flooring, center the runner so that there are equal amounts of wood on each side, then press it into the first tack strip.If the carpeting isn't even with the floor, just trim the edge with a carpet knife.The runner needs to be secured to the riser just beneath the next tread.
For a tailored Hollywood look, secure the runner to the underside of the nosing, spacing each staple three inches apart.
The runner should push the carpet back over the nosing and toward the next strip.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 use your knee to tighten the carpeting along the edges.Start at the middle and work your way to the edge to get rid of any bubbles.Pull the runner up from the tack strip if he begins to buckle.No bumps allowed!
Once you are satisfied with the runner's position, use a carpet awl to push it tightly into the seam between the tread and the riser.Attach the runner to the crease where the riser and tread meet on either end of the strip as well as the outer edge.