RS has a degree in Mass Communication and a passion for creative writing. After you have measured and obtained the correct length of Stair Runner, you'll need some additional tools to complete the installation, including a. The carpeting should be even with the floor, but if not, just trim the edge with a carpet knife. Stair runners are priced by the linear foot, and available in two widths: 27 inches and 32 inches. Install a stair nose over the front edge of each tread and conceal the edges of the carpet with binding tape. Fasten edge of pad to tread with 916-inch staples spaced every 3 inches. Not to mention, having carpeting on the stairs can soften the look of your home and absorb sound waves. If you have pie-shaped, or curved, stairs, install the carpet on theriser in the same way as mentioned above. But by the time you buy or rent the specialty tools, padding, seaming tape, and other supplies necessary, the extra $1 to $1.50 per-square-foot cost for pro installation starts to seem like a bargain. The Roberts 10-254V Power Carpet Stretcher is a wonderful tool that ensures you successfully install the carpet. For an 8 foot runner, they can cost anywhere from $175 to $450. Carpet runner can, however, be cut and hemmed from any wall-to-wall carpet roll; just know that each side must be stitched with a border to prevent fraying before you start. The tape is highly appreciated by consumers and is said to be safe for delicate surfaces like wood and vinyl. First, we cut the pad to fit each step. This tool is called a carpet stair tool. One thing is certain, if you use the right carpet glue, your carpet will be more securely attached to the floor and have a long life. Apart from that, the swivel head does a wonderful job in stretching angles or corners. Ensure you have tools such as: carpet adhesive, seam iron, seam roller glue, stair tool, cushion-back carpet cutter, knee kicker, tack strip cutter and hammer tacker. Before you get started installing your carpet, you first need to determine the look you want in your home. Hold them in place and mark the locations of the screw holes. Please remember that this material should fit between the tackless strips and the bottom of the risers. Best Rooms to Carpet: Room by Room Guide! Pre-hemmed runners are usually sold in one of a few widths, most commonly 27 and 32 inches, so choose the one that fits your tread size with as much (or as little) wood showing as desired. You can either mark this point on the top stair or on each step, depending on what seems more convenient to you. The best thing about this cutter in particular is how the 30 degree blade ensures a clean and precise cut. The third type joins various sections or pieces of the carpet to unite it. While it may be a little pricey, the Crain #905 is certainly one of the most respected seam irons out there. Carpeting is now often sold with installation costs included since so few consumers want to go through the headache of DIY installation. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Mark and cut rods to length with a tubing cutter or hacksaw. WebPlace a bracket against either edge of the runner at the intersection of the tread and riser. You wont have to exert a lot of pressure on the Delphin Knife to cut the floor covering. Runner should engage tackless strip and become taut. Once you are satisfied with the runners position, use a carpet awl to push it tightly into the seam between the tread and the riser, and into your tack strips. When you finally reach the top riser, fold the carpets upper edge back on itself and staple it just underneath the overhanging lip of the flooring. Roberts Knee Kicker is an Industry Standard, there are others, but most of us Pro's use a 2. Foam-backed rugs: Avoid pinless rods entirely on spiral staircases. The [amazon link=B00107M76M title=Economy Adjustable Knee Kicker/] is designed to make carpet installation projects easier. It is strong and durable making it perfect for heavy-duty use! These are usually made from 80 percent wool and 20 percent synthetic material. Its thick and fluffy, feels great on your feet, and adds warmth and comfort to your home. It has a heat-treated hammer mechanism which will let you shoot staples according to your needs. When you're satisfied with the carpet placement, staple the carpet onto the riser just below the tread. Smooth and stretch it to fit tightly. Step 7: Press the starting edge of the carpet on the top-most tread and then continue to press it down on the riser. Starting from the middle of each step, staple the padding on the stairs. 1/ Roberts Electric Staple gun. A carpet with an attached padded backing is easier to put down, but installing carpeting on stairs with this type of product isn't recommended, as they tend to wear quickly. This tool is designed to cut through carpet backing yet be precisely straight when in use. They are strong cutters which provide increased cutting force. Plus, its possible to complete this installation project in only a few hours. Measure each step individually and cut a quality carpet pad to fit each step and riser as shown. Weve discussed the carpet installation process for all three types of stairs in our comprehensive guide. Safety glasses are especially important during this part of the project, when tacks and wood can fly off in all directions. So to add a bit of cushion to each tread, we installed an affordable carpet pad on each step. There are a number of tools that can help you install your carpet. Carefully place the tack strip and any pieces or tacks into a contractor bag. Carpet Seam Iron. Instead, you'll need to measure each step and cut the carpet to fit. In case you fall, carpeted stairs will provide you with much better padding than the cold, hard marble, wooden, or concrete steps. To make the template, measure each individual step and riser, as they may not all be built to the exact same dimension. A carpet stretcher or a power stretcher is a specialized tool to use when youre installing wall-to-wall carpet. Wrap the carpet around each post. Slide a putty knife under the tack strip to help protect the stair, then place the edge of a pry bar on top of the putty knife and under the edge of the tack 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 give it a jolt with your knee to tighten thecarpetingalong the edges. Caitlin Sole is the senior home editor at BHG. To install a carpet, you may need some tools from the following: carpet glue, knife, seam iron, seam roller, stapler, tape, stair tool, knee kicker, cushion-back carpet cutter, hammer tacker and tack strip cutter. He is a certified lead carpenter and also holds a certification from the EPA. Using a knee kicker, stretch the carpet tight to the back of the tread, and hold it in place until staples can be applied to the back of the tread behind the tack strip. The pad should be cut to precisely fit between the tackless strips you'll be nailing to the back of the tread and the bottom of the riser. Are you excited about decorating your home? Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. It is true that carpeting that is advertised as "free installation" is not really free, since the cost is actually slightly inflated to cover the labor of the team who will come to install it. Dab edges and end with glue and staple into top of riser and along edges every 3 inches. The design of the roller helps it apply pressure on the seam. 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. Next, make a slit directly in line with each post to the edge of the carpet away from the stair. Depending on the depth of the stair, you may need to make two or three slits to achieve the proper coverage. While the basic process will remain the same, the type of staircase you're working with will determine how you finish the installation. Meanwhile, you can check out ways to get rid of stains from your carpet, so your stairs will always look clean and well-maintained. With all the padding in place, its time to install the runner, working from the bottom of the stairs to the top. The end result is an elegant and neat carpet that you can install with confidence! Get rid of the tack strips and don't try to use the old padding. Refold and track the carpet for the next rod. Sometimes people use a saw to cut this strip but that can be dangerous. Both carpet staplers and hammer tackers allow people to evade hassle but the latter is more useful when you need to install a carpet in a larger area. If so, here are six tips to make DIY carpet installation go more smoothly. Before removing the carpet, you need to find out what kind of flooring is underneath. What You Need Tape measure Carpet knife Hammer stapler Straightedge Wall trimmer Stair tool Carpet Pad Tackless strips Hot melt seaming tape Seam sealer The thin, dense pad helps to quiet and cushion footsteps, but it also prevents the runner from wearing out prematurely. Whether you are planning to install or replace carpet on steps, here is a list of tools and materials youll need to get the job done. The width of the carpet depends on whether you want to cover the width of the entire step or want to leave some marble peeking out from both sides and only cover the centre part of the stairs. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Get the latest This Old House news, trusted tips, tricks, and DIY Smarts projects from our expertsstraight to your inbox. If the padding overlaps, then youll have a fat lump around the edge of your carpetnot very attractive. Removing the carpet is just part of the jobonce the carpeting is gone, youll still need to pry up the carpet padding and tack strips. Use carpet tool and rubber mallet to pack runner tightly between the tackless strip and the riser. It is found most commonly at the very bottom of the staircase as the first stair. WebTo install carpet on stairs without tack strips you can use carpet adhesive, magnetic flooring, or staples; adhesive is the most common method. When assessing any carpet seam roller for effectiveness, the ease with which it can be moved backward and forward is always considered.
