How to Apply Carpet to Stairs

Stair Preparation

• 1

  Cut pieces of tackless strip 1 inch shorter than the width of the carpet. Cut one for each tread and one for each riser, except the bottom-most riser.

• 2

  Center the first piece of tackless strip at the back of the bottom-most stair tread. Leave 1 inch of space between the tackless strip and the abutting riser. Hammer the tackless strip securely into the stair.

• 3

  Center the next piece of tackless strip at the bottom of the riser just above the first strip. Leave 1 inch of space between the tackless strip and the abutting tread. Hammer securely into the riser.

• 4

  Continue centering and hammering the tackless strips until the backs of all treads and bottoms of all risers have a strip (except for the bottom-most riser).

• 5

  Cut a piece of carpet pad for each tread, the same length as the tackless strip. Cut the width to allow them to reach over any tread lip and a short distance down the riser below.

• 6

  Center the carpet pads on each tread up against the tread's tackless strip. Staple the pads along the tread. Pull the pads down over the tread lip and staple to the riser below along the length of the pad.

Carpet Installation

• 7

  Cut the carpet to the desired measurements. For ease of installation, acquire or cut a carpet piece into the shape of a runner to avoid seams. Otherwise, ensure seams meet at the tread backs.

• 8

  Determine the direction of the carpet's pile, if any. Ensure that the pile faces downward on the riser at the beginning of installation.

• 9

  Tack the carpet to the top-most riser along the width of the carpet every 4 inches, starting at the top of the stairs.

• 10

  Pull the carpet down to the tackless strips at the bottom of the riser and the back of the tread below. Position a blunt chisel over the tackless strips and hammer the carpet securely onto the strips.

• 11

  Pull the carpet down to the riser-tread corners and hammer the carpet into the tackless strips until you reach the final riser.

• 12

  Pull the end of the carpet taught to reach the bottom of the final riser. Tack the carpet into place along the width of the carpet every 4 inches.

• 13

  Cut any excess carpet with carpet shears.