Home Restorations : Laying Carpet On Steps

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Because of the frequent changes in elevation, it is harder to lay carpet stairs, than, say, your corridor. But don't let that put you off, if you have successfully carpeted other rooms, then the steps? Steps can be carpeted with fitted carpet, on what’s generally known as a runner – a strip of carpet. Fitting runners to steps A woven carpet runner also enables the carpet to be moved now and then to equalise wear. Old-fashioned step rods with side clips might be used to hold a runner in place and form part of the step decor, but it is now a load more common to use gripper strips. Unique pin-less grippers are offered for use with foam-backed carpets, the carpet is held in tight jaws. The wooden strips are utilized in pairs, one behind the tread, and one at the base of the riser, or you will get a metal version that's already formed into a right angle.

Cut the strips to length, this is critical : 38mm shorter than the width of the carpet employing tin-snips or secateurs for wooden strips, or a hacksaw for the metal type. Nail them into place, omitting the bottom riser. The gap between each pair of wood strips should be just wide enough to squeeze the carpet down into. Cut the underlay to fit between the rods and tack near to the rods, omitting the bottom tread. No underlay is required with foam-backed carpet. Carpeting the bottom step With a runner, an extra length of carpet is included so that it can be moved up to even out the wear taken on the treads : this is folded under the bottom step.

The pile desires to run down the stairs to stop uneven shading and promote longer wear. Begin at the bottom of the steps. Tack the end of the carpet face-down to the bottom tread, at the back near to the gripper. Lay it down over the tread to the bottom of the last riser, fold it back and tack the fold to the riser and tread. Run the carpet up the stairs, pulling it over the gripper rods and pushing it down between them with a brace.

It should join the landing carpet at the very top of the last riser. If there is no carpet on the landing take the step runner OTT of the final riser, turn under the edge and tack down. Fitting carpet to the steps The fixings for a fitted step carpet are as for a runner. The extra length of woven carpet isn’t required at the bottom, though an underlay will need to be fitted to all the steps. The gripper rods really should be the full width of the steps. Fit the carpet from the head of the flight. The landing carpet will need to overlap on to the steps and down to the base of the uppermost riser.

The stair carpet should then be stretched over the gripper rods as always and pushed down between them. Additionally, it'll have to be trimmed to fit at the sides. No fixings are required at the perimeters. Carpeting spiral steps Where the stairs go round a bend, gripper rods can not be utilized in the regular way. The carpet may be cut or folded to fit the turn.

Woven carpet : Fit the gripper rods just to the treads on winding stairs. Fold the spare carpet, with the fold falling down, and tack it to the base of the riser at 75mm intervals. Lay the carpet on top of next rod up and repeat the folding and tracking procedure.

Foam-backed carpet : Omit the pin-less rods altogether on spiral steps. Tack the carpet to the tread, ideally at the back so that the tacks are not too obvious. Fold down the surplus and tack tidily on the underside of the riser.

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