How to Install Carpet Runners on Stairs With Two Landings

Cut carpet tack strip 1 1/2 inches narrower than the width of the carpet runner. Use a utility knife to cut the strip. Center the tack strip on the first riser. Place the strip 1 1/2 inches above the top of the tread and with the tack nails facing down. Nail the tack strip to the riser using the attachment nails in place on the strip.

Cut a second tack strip to the same length. Place the strip 1 1/2 inches away from the face of the riser. Center the strip. Place the tack nails facing the riser. Nail the strip into place. Repeat this for all of the stairs including the landing. Treat the landing like a tread.

Measure the tread depth and add 4 inches. Cut carpet pad the width of the tack strip and this measurement. Cut one pad for each tread. Do not cut one for the landing as it will be much larger. Press the carpet pad into the corner between the riser and tread, centered on the tack strip. Pull the pad forward so that it catches in the tack strip. Repeat for each tread.

Place the carpet runner centered on the face of the first or top riser. Tack the edge of the carpet to the riser 1/2 inch below the top of the riser. Drape the runner down and across the tread. Use a wide and blunt carpet-style chisel and drive the carpet toward the corner joint between the riser and tread. Make sure the carpet catches the tread tack strip well and remains centered and straight.

Pull the carpet over the rounded end of the tread and down the riser. Hammer the chisel driving the carpet into the corner. Pull on the carpet. Continue all the way to the landing. Cut and tack the carpet along the bottom face of the bottom riser.

Place painter's tape on the landing from the outside corner to the inside corner. Keep the tape straight. Draw a straight line on the tape with a marker. Take a section of runner and turn it upside down. Keep the side of the runner parallel with the downstair wall. This wall is parallel with the treads you have already carpeted. Mark the back of the carpet on each edge even with your marker line. Draw the marker line on the carpet using a straight edge.

Cut the carpet with a carpet knife and a straight edge. Align, mark and cut your second landing piece using the same technique. If your landing forms a U, repeat the taping process and cut your middle section with angles on both ends of the runner. Remove the tape once all the cuts are made.

Cut carpet pad to fit under the runner area. Install tack strip on your landing as if it were a tread, 1 1/2 inches from the face of the riser and centered. Tack the pad to the landing using carpet tacks and a hammer every 6 inches, 1/2 inch from the pad edges. Do not line up your angled seams. Pull your pad into the tack strip.

Line up the first half of your landing carpet. The runner will butt against the bottom of the riser and cross the landing to meet the angle of the downstairs runner. Tack the edges of the runner close to the riser so that the carpet looks continuous. Press the carpet into the tack strip with the chisel. Line up the angled cut of your downstairs runner matching the cut exactly.

Cut carpet glue tape slightly longer than your angled cut. Place the glue tape under the joint so that half of the runner is on half of the tape. The glue should be upward. Butt the carpets tight together. Place a heated carpet iron on the glue tape between and under the edges of the carpet. Allow the iron to heat up the glue. Move the iron one length of the iron toward you while still centered on the tape and press the carpet runner cut sides together and into the glue. Apply pressure to move the carpet edges tight to each other. Continue moving the iron and gluing the runners together until you reach the other end of the cut. Roll the seam with a carpet seam rolling tool. This tool will lift the carpet to look fluffy and even. Trim any remaining tape and discard.

Adjust the fit of the carpet on the landing so it is straight as it heads downstairs. Tack the carpet to the landing 1/2 inch from the runner edge using carpet tacks and a hammer every 6 inches. Usually the runner will have bound edges and the tack can be hidden deep in the carpet. Continue carpeting the rest of the staircase following the same techniques.