Carpet Runners

For homes with hardwood stairs, you want to do all you can to protect the wood, which includes installing carpet runners. With high traffic, and perhaps children and pets, scratches and dents happen. Unfortunately, the cost to repair hardwood floors can be expensive. By using something as simple as carpet runners on your stairs, you can eliminate a huge headache and loss of money.

For this type of project, you need a few specific tools to include a stair tool, hammer stapler, awl, utility knife, carpet knife, power stretcher, measuring tape, safety glasses, and work gloves. To get started installing carpet runners, you need to measure and then cut a piece of the carpet to the exact length. Unless you know how, we suggest you have the edges bound by a professional. However, you can also purchase carpet runners to size.

Next, mark the location on the stairs where you will place each runner, as well as the place where the edges of the padding will extend and the distance of where the carpet will extend. You will also need a piece of padding for each of the stairs. Place the padding into position and using a hammer stapler, secure it. For the carpet, place it a few steps above the bottom, pulling the end toward the bottom. Keep in mind that you need a little slack while keeping the roll centered as you work your way up the stairs.

Now, run a row of staples along the bottom of the bottom riser, at the position where the carpet meets the floor. While pulling the carpet tight, run a row of staples along the top of the riser at the point where it meets the thread of the step. With the power stretcher, pull the carpet tight, placing yet another row of staples in the corner, going between the riser and tread. You would then use the stair tool for wedging the carpet runners into the corner. As you work your way upwards, repeat this process.

While installing carpet runners are a little bit of work, the results can be beautiful while adding protection to your hardwood floors. You will notice the staircase having a warmer look as well. If possible, we recommend you work with a friend to make the process of installing carpet runners more convenient.