Stair Rug Installation

Measure the width of the desired rug and staircase. Subtract the first measurement from the second and divide by 2. Mark this distance on each tread where it touches the stair’s riser, from the skirtboard on one side and spindle on the other.

Cut lengths of tackless strip 2 to 3 inches short of the rug’s width, one for each tread. Lay a tackless strip on each tread, 1/4-inch from the edge where it meets the riser. Align it with the marks on the stairs. Position the hooks on the strips toward the risers. Insert nails into each strip to penetrate the wood stairs and hold the strip in place.

Cut carpet padding with a utility knife. Keep each piece as wide as the tackless tape, but 4 inches longer in depth than each tread. Butt the carpet pad to the front edges of the tackless strip.

Insert 9/16-inch staples every 2 to 4 inches through the carpet pad to secure it to the stair tread. Extend the pad taut over and around the nosing or edge of the stair. Insert a row of evenly spaced staples into the underside of the stair nosing to secure the pad. Cut excess pad between the nosing and the upper edge of the stair riser. Repeat this process for each stair.

Unroll the rug up to four treads, centered over the tackless strips. Push the end of the rug against the floor at the topmost riser and insert a row of staples to secure it.

Line the rug between the layout marks on the first stair tread. Pull it up over the first tackless strip. Position the edge of a knee kicker over the middle of the rug, 2 inches away from the stair riser. Apply force on the kicker with you knee so the rug hooks into the strip and becomes taut over the riser. Repeat this process every 4 inches along the tread.

Insert a staple near the corner of the tackless strip to secure the riser to the tread. Repeat the process of securing the rug to the remaining stairs.

Cut the rug at the bottom riser so it falls flush with the lower edge of the nosing. Glue the ends and insert staples every 3 inches into the upper edge of the riser.