If you have stairs in your home, it may consist of the same floor covering as the rest of the house, or it may be different. Many homes have hardwood flooring on the stairway, even if the rest of the home is carpeted. People with small children often choose to carpet their staircase so it will help to avoid slips and falls. It also gives a warm look to any homes interior.
The process is fairly simple to add carpet to any staircase by following a few easy instructions. First and foremost, determine the color and type of carpet you want to install. If you already have carpet, its a good idea to try and match the same color of the existing carpet so it does not clash. If this is a replacement, rip out the old carpeting first and remove all glue, padding, and debris.
Once the old carpet is ripped out, its time to cut and measure the carpeting for the staircase. Remember that the measurement has to include the steps and not just the length of the stairway straight down. The landings must be measured, but an easy way to do this is to measure one stair and then multiply it by the number of stairs. Do not forget to include the top and bottom landings as well, and keep in mind that it is always better to measure too much than not enough, as you can always cut excess carpet off later.
When installing the padding, it will really only need to be added to the landing of each step, and can be done easily with a staple or nail gun. There will not be as much padding as there will be carpeting, since it will only need to be applied to the steps themselves. Be sure to apply the padding securely and evenly on each step.
Begin fastening the carpet from the bottom up. The carpets will most likely need to be stretched so its important to use the right tools to ensure it stretches properly without ripping. A special tool called a knee kicker can help to stretch it the right way and get it to stay tight in all of the crevices and corners. Use a staple gun to staple the carpet to the rise for each step.
Be sure you are stapling underneath the riser where it will not be visible. Its also important to staple it here so no one steps on a sharp staple on the stairs with their bare feet. Take your time with this process, since the carpet must be tight to each stair. If it is loose, it can cause bumps and these will in turn encourage tripping or falling.
