tools needed to install carpet on stairs

What Are Witches Stairs and Why Do They Even Exist? For an 8 foot runner, they can cost anywhere from $175 to $450. Add a touch of elegance, texture and color to your homes interior staircase by installing a carpet runner. Home Home Decor Learn How to Install Carpet on Stairs, In This Post How to install carpet on marble stairs How to install carpet on concrete stairs How to install carpet on wooden stairs. WebMeasure the Stairs. It has the ability to drive the carpet into difficult to reach areas like gullies and crease carpet along the wall line. Theres a lot to love about carpet when its new. Most newly constructed homes in Pakistan boast marble or wooden staircases, while older constructions have concrete steps. In total, installing a high quality rug and pad on your stairs costs between $380 and $1050. But after years of use, carpeting just doesnt look or feel the same. Step 3: Attach padding to the stairs by using a hammer stapler. At top of last riser, cut runner tight to the underside of the nosing or molding. 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. 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. So make a wise decision unless you want to feel upset. You can also use a stair tool to secure the carpet into the seam. These are fairly simple to install; the same general process applies except the carpet is wrapped completely around the tread and stapled underneath. Near both ends of the tackless strip, staple the runner into the crease where riser meets tread. Step 2: Cut the carpet for installation but add about 20 percent for wastage. No bumps allowed! Plus, its possible to complete this installation project in only a few hours. You can also send us your suggestions and feedback on blog@zameen.com. They are also generally safer as you are less likely to slip and lose your balance while climbing carpet-covered steps. How To Build a DIY Slide: Indoor & Outdoor Instructions, 7 Types of Rugs to Know Before Buying One. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 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. To make the template, measure each individual step and riser, as they may not all be built to the exact same dimension. If you want to ensure that the carpet appears flat and tight across the floor, you must use a power carpet stretcher! If youre certain that its time for that old stairwell carpet to go, follow these steps to do the job right. Then, using a tape measure and a straightedge, cut the carpet to template size. Make sure the carpet forms a tight fit against the marble stairs. Dab edges and end with glue and staple into top of riser and along edges every 3 inches. Combination square Dust mask Scissors Stick on carpet edge binding found at Home Depot by the carpet runner or try this product. Attach finials (if any) to outside of each rod bracket. Apart from that, the swivel head does a wonderful job in stretching angles or corners. 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. A hammer tacker is a tool that differs from carpet staplers in the way it operates! Roberts Electric Staple Gun is a Favorite Electric Staple gun of Mine Why? The [amazon link=B000COXP1K title=ROBERTS Carpet Seam Roller/] is a perfect tool to consider for your carpeting project. Step 1: Fix the cracks and holes in the concrete steps. The [amazon link=B000CP2LLO title=Roberts Carpet Tools 3-1/2-Inch Stair Tool/] can be particularly useful when youre placing a floor covering on the stairs. Step 2: Measure the stairs (tread + riser) and cut the padding for each step. Free In-Home Estimates. link to How Can You Tell if a Rug is Vintage? Step 5: Unlike installing carpet on marble and concrete stairs, it is recommended to start carpeting a wooden staircase from the bottom-most step and then work your way up. 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. Dont forget to run beads of adhesive between the treads and risers of each step. Roberts Electric Staple Gun. This is one of the most popular glues in the market and rightly so. Carpeting is now often sold with installation costs included since so few consumers want to go through the headache of DIY installation. Grab a sharp utility knife and a measuring tape and get to work. There are two ways of installing carpet on stairs: the Hollywood method and the waterfall method. The carpet on a curved stair should be straight off of the tread nosing; otherwise, it will look crooked when looking up the staircase from the bottom. If this is the style of your stairs, you still need to check whats underneath the carpet, as the underlying material could be different from what you can see. Power stretchers have a lever and a pole which apply tension on the carpet across the room. You will experience more waste with patterned carpet than with non-patterned carpet since cutting and seaming pieces requires you to match the pattern. Carpet glue is necessary for one of the most popular installation methods out there which professionals choose over and over again. Find trusted local pros for any home project. Glue the carpet on the landing as per your preference and cut away the rest. It is an ingredient for a successful carpeting project! Once this happens, it is fixed to a tack strip. What You Need Tape measure Carpet knife Hammer stapler Straightedge Wall trimmer Stair tool Carpet Pad Tackless strips Hot melt seaming tape Seam sealer If the stair is open on the side with railing posts, the carpet must be cut around each post and re-joined on the other side. If you do get a fiber caught, gently pull it out using a flat-head screwdriver. Purchase it if the grace of the carpet is important to you! Next, to calculate the length of your stair runner, add your measurements for the depth of the stair tread and the height of the riser, then multiply this sum by the number of stairs. They are attached to the subfloor around the perimeter of the room to provide the anchor point for the edges of the carpeting to be gripped. At times, people dont want to use carpet glue or a carpet stapler. The Crain 450 Deluxe Carpet Strip Cutter is one of the best cutters out there in the market! Hit kicker with knee. With this goal in mind, here are some things to consider before ripping up your carpet: As tempting as it may be to just grab a loose corner of carpet and start pulling, preparing ahead of time and following a proper sequence of steps will get you the best results and help you avoid wasted effort. The end result is an elegant and neat carpet that you can install with confidence! This way, you wont have to deal with any creases or bumps that may become evident once the carpet has been laid. Step 4. You cant consider yourself a carpet connoisseur if you have never heard about Persian rugs. This way youll be able to formulate a game plan for your renovation. Typically, carpet technicians install the riser of the bullnose separately from the tread to make it easier to wrap the carpet around the curve. Paint The thick and fluffy pile becomes hard and compacted, while stains and discolorations may be visible reminders of household spills and mishaps. 2/ 9/16 Electric Gun Staples. Smooth and stretch the pad, so it fits tightly against the tread and riser, then staple it to the riser. After you remove carpeting from your stairs, you may find that the carpet was hiding water damage, mold, cracks, breaks, or even pest damage. Step 5. It has been designed with an extra wide head which ensures reduced dishing in the seam. Best Rooms to Carpet: Room by Room Guide! You can do this with chalk, so its easy to remove. Study the carpet installation method before purchasing any tool. With all the padding in place, its time to install the runner, working from the bottom of the stairs to the top. Step 7: Repeat the process until you reach the bottom of the staircase. The name of the tool itself is pretty self-explanatory. Dab cut edges with latex carpet glue to prevent fraying. Stay connected to Zameen Blog, the best home dcor and real estate blog in Pakistan, for more DIY home improvement tips and tricks. Perhaps you want to use carpet tape to install the floor coverings successfully! 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. To install carpet on stairs and landing, youll need these materials. Trent loves this utility knife for projects like this. You will need the extra space in order to tuck the edges of the carpet over the strips. If you purchase an inferior carpet stapler, be ready to see it jam! Center the carpet at the bottom of the stairs, using an awl to push the carpet back into the tackless strip to create a clean line. Mark and cut rods to length with a tubing cutter or hacksaw. Carpet tack strips are typically sold in lengths of about three to six feet and will be required around the entire perimeter of the room. Now it was time to finally place the carpet runner! If youre not going to use adhesives, you can consider using a carpet stapler instead! A carpet seam roller has two small axles and a metal wheel which can be described as toothed. Your classy, comfy stairway is ready to make its grand entrance at your next celebration. In other words, the floor covering stays securely put and wont buckle. To install carpet on steps, you can measure the tread and riser for one step in inches and then multiply it with the total number of stairs. Cut the rest using a carpet cutter. To do this a superior carpet seam iron is needed. Take these five things into consideration before removing carpet from stairs. 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. Check end of runner with framing square. Cut carpet pad the same width as the tackless strips and 3 inches longer than the depth of the tread. Carpet Installation: What to Know Before You Buy. Nail more than one tackless strips to the risers as needed. Dont use standard foam padding; its too soft to provide the necessary support. She has vast experience with digital media, including SEO, photo shoot production, video production, eCommerce content, print collaboration, and custom sales content. Get rid of the tack strips and don't try to use the old padding. This tool is called a carpet stair tool. Ive experienced success in using it to tuck the carpet in various crevices. We know how important a tool like this can be so we only recommend the best! 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. The Roberts Carpet Stair Tool is a wonderful investment that will help you install carpets in your stairs with excellence. Make certain that the strips angle in toward each other, so that the points of the tacks will come close to touching. After you have measured and obtained the correct length of Stair Runner, you'll need some additional tools to complete the installation, including a. You might find it useful to know that there are a few types of carpet tapes: Carpet tape is usually available in a roll format. The seam iron should enable you to adjust the temperature and equitably distribute heat to the carpet fibers. Finish removing any tacks that are still stuck in the stairs using a set of needle-nose pliers. A carpet tack strip cutter is a tool that allows you to cut tack strips without exerting too much effort. 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. If you plan on carpeting your stairs, then you might want to invest in a superior carpet stapler. It is a Taiwanese product that will never disappoint you with its performance. The best thing about this cutter in particular is how the 30 degree blade ensures a clean and precise cut. Carpet seaming is a challenging procedure that is a part of carpet installation projects! 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. 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. This step-by-step The instructions will be much easier to follow if you speak the same language. Using the kicker, stretch the carpet over the side tack strips (if against a wall) by positioning the kicker to face the wall and stretching in that direction. Tack strips are designed to grip onto the carpet and be stuck between the strip and the wall. 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. Continue across the riser until all of the carpet has been removed. Through this method the carpet finds solid support and doesnt find any room for movement. Theyre made of synthetic fibers, wool, or a combination of both. Resist the urge to jump in and just start ripping. Bob Vila has partnered with Empire Today to help you easily get beautiful new floors at a great price. Start at the bottom of the staircase and work your way up, unless the more difficult steps are at the bottom. If you want an elegant staircase that has a perfectly installed carpet, you need a carpet stair tool! This is a disaster waiting to happen. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Dont worry about this happening to your precious floor coverings as the Delphin Dolphin Carpet Knife is adored by professionals for a good reason. The Carpet Power Stretcher is another tool that could come in handy during a carpet installation project! Step 8: Smooth the surface of the carpet with your hands. To begin, use a utility knife to cut the padding into rectangles that are the same width as the length of each tack strip (to ensure that the padding wont stick out under the carpet), and three inches longer than the depth of the tread. A Carpet Tack Strip Cutter does exactly what the name suggests, it cuts tack strips! CarpetandRugWorld.com is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. A carpet stretcher or a power stretcher is a specialized tool to use when youre installing wall-to-wall carpet. Fold the edges around the step and use a stair tool and a rubber mallet to crease the carpet into the seam and secure it to the tackless strip. These are expensive tools and it is much more economical to rent these tools rather than buy them unless you expect to install carpeting often. If not square, mark, then cut along backing with carpet knife. 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. Repeat every 3 inches, side to side. Weve discussed the carpet installation process for all three types of stairs in our comprehensive guide. If you have pie-shaped, or curved, stairs, install the carpet on theriser in the same way as mentioned above. Find trusted local pros for any home project. Sometimes people use a saw to cut this strip but that can be dangerous. Obviously, if your carpet has a pattern, seaming two pieces requires careful attention to matching the pattern between adjoining pieces. The idea is to ensure the carpet staple is properly driven inside the floor! 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. Be sure theres a nail within a couple of inches of each end. This leaves an option of using a double-faced carpet tape to install the carpet. Keep the padding within the inner perimeter formed by the strips. If the dimensions of your stairs are not within these guidelines, you'll need to rebuild them for safety. They are easy to clean, less likely to stain, and of course, they give your living space a modern and luxurious look. If your staircase curves or the walls aren't plumb, you won't be able to use a template to cut the carpet pieces for each step. Otherwise, you may end with a poor seam that isnt going to work! 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. WebLay each piece in place, and secure it with a hammer stapler. With this tool, you can be confident that your carpet will never suffer a poor cut! However, to achieve this at home, you need to understand how to install carpet on stairs. The 12 Carpet Installation Tools (You Need to do it Right) 1. 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. A Roberts Knee Kicker. Refold and track the carpet for the next rod. To determine how high to set the tack strips, use a spacer made out of two strips taped together. Learn more here: How to Clean Carpet on Stairs: Step-by-Step Guide. Carpet on stairs sees the worst wear and tear because of its frequent use. If you are planning to install carpet on stairs landing, leave a few extra inches, and use adhesive to secure it. Hold down front knob with one hand, using the other hand to keep the kickers shaft level. Carpet adhesives are a crucial part of the glue down installation method. We think so. Starting with the top-most step, put the glue on the tread and riser while staying about an inch with the chalk marks. These tools, available for lease at tool rental centers and home centers, include a seam iron, power stretcher, and knee kicker. Use XFasten Carpet Tape if you wish to protect pets, elderly and children. Compared to carpeting in other parts of the home, stairs can begin to look threadbare much sooner. Once youve finalized a stunning carpet, you have to get it installed at your home. Staple across the entire length of the pad. 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. Ensure there arent any air bubbles trapped under the surface of the carpet and that it has been fitted tightly against each step. While it may be a little pricey, the Crain #905 is certainly one of the most respected seam irons out there. If any hardwood floor is involved, there may be a need of tapping the staple with a hammer. For the tread, fasten the carpet to the floor under the nosing, and bring the carpet straight over the lip and across the tread. 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. 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. First, install the tread as described above. They are strong cutters which provide increased cutting force. Keep carpet pile consistent from piece to piece. Carpet Glue. When it comes to carpets, neatness is the most important factor. The Henry #663 Carpet Adhesive is a terrific glue that will amaze you with its performance. Before removing the carpet, you need to find out what kind of flooring is underneath. CarpetandRugWorld.com also participates in affiliate programs with ShareASale and other sites. Either method works, but the knee-kick will make removal much easier. If the French cap method of installing carpet seems a little overwhelming or the carpet is too thick, use the waterfall method. Repeat the process as you work your way down the stairs. different types of tile flooring options in Pakistan, best home dcor and real estate blog in Pakistan. It minimizes deflection and cuts the tack strip neatly! WebHow much does it cost to carpet 13 stairs? Fit the cut carpet to the stair. Other tapes in the market tend to lose their stickiness after a few days which can frustrate you. First, we cut the pad to fit each step. Foam-backed rugs: Avoid pinless rods entirely on spiral staircases. Good padding is worth the investment, because it can extend the life of the carpet on this highly trafficked corridor. The durable chrome-plated steel stair tool is highly durable and uses heavy duty blades to set carpets in difficult crevices. You can use it comfortably without having to worry about the performance. You can either use a straightedge or your fingers to press the carpet to the riser to make sure it sticks properly. The Crain 301 Cushion Back Carpet Cutter is a perfect addition to your carpet installation equipment! Measure each step individually and cut a quality carpet pad to fit each step and riser as shown. Now, you can either cut the carpet for each step individually or use a long strip. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Instead, you'll need to measure each step and cut the carpet to fit. 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! Apply a 12-inch strip of adhesive to the step and lay the carpet over the step, smoothing it out by hand. Once we cut the pad, we attached the pad to the stair tread using a hammer stapler. 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. 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. What Should You Do With Tools That You Dont Frequently Use? Or perhaps you are carpeting many rooms at the same time, or have many irregular shapes or stairways that mean your cost savings will be more substantial if you install the carpeting yourself. 5. Safety glasses are especially important during this part of the project, when tacks and wood can fly off in all directions. Smooth and stretch it to fit tightly. Wide Economy Knee Kicker The Economy Knee Kicker secures carpet during The Economy Knee Kicker secures carpet during installation and makes it easy to fix loose carpet. Better Homes & Gardens - 100 years of powering your passions at home. Once you have selected your carpet, measured, and prepped your stairs, you are ready to begin installing your new carpet. Wrap the carpet around each post. This hemming process requires a special sewing machine used by carpet professionals, so youll need to hire a pro and provide full measurements (see Step 3) for a custom cut. Carpet Adhesive Beige #663/] is a perfect purchase if you want a successful carpet installation. Please remember that this material should fit between the tackless strips and the bottom of the risers. It will ensure you maintain the integrity of the carpet and cut through the backing with ease. Cheryl Simmons is a flooring expert who grew up in the flooring industry, working in her family's retail store since her youth. By Timothy Dale | Updated Dec 14, 2022 5:31 PM. Before getting started, be sure to learn the terms for the different parts of your staircase. Just like wooden flooring, wooden staircases are also a favourite among homeowners in Pakistan. Trim the excess carpet at the end. Undertaking a project like this requires patience, endurance, and forethought to ensure that you can achieve the results you want, and with the least amount of effort. Prepare your stairs for carpet installation by installing tack strips,thin pieces of wood resembling yardsticks with tacks pointing upward. Center the runner so that there are equal amounts of wood on each side, thenpress it into the very first tack strip (at the bottom of the riser), using a carpet awl to get a clean look between the bottom of the stair riser and the flooring. WebTools Needed: Tack strips Staples or upholstery nails Measuring Tape Knee Pads Knee kicker (check your rental store) Stair Tool (check your rental store) Utility knife Hammer Safety glasses Obviously you'll need to remove all the old carpet. 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. WebTo install carpet on stairs without tack strips you can use carpet adhesive, magnetic flooring, or staples; adhesive is the most common method. Start with the ideal width of your runner. All You Need to Know about Muzaffarabad The Capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The Roberts 10-254V Power Carpet Stretcher is a wonderful tool that ensures you successfully install the carpet.