How To Install Carpet On Stairs

[netfree]

Installing Carpet On Stairs

Materials Required

* Tack Strips
* Staples or Upholstery Nails
* Measuring Tape
* Knee Pads
* Knee Kicker
* Stair Tool
* Utility Knife
* Hammer
* Safety Glasses

Instructions

* In case you have an old carpet, get rid of the tack strips and old padding. Ensure that all the nails and staples are removed. Sweep down the area to be carpeted, making it clean.
* Now, the first step before installation would be to measure the area. This would help you know how much material you would require.
* Calculate the width of the carpet by measuring the tread, while the length can be measured by determining each riser and the thread of each step. Make sure you add three inches per step as well. In case the steps have nosing, add one foot to the total flight measurement.
* Now, for installing the carpet, apply the tack strip to the stair crotch location, right where each side meets the wall. Attach them with a hammer and either nails or stapes.
* Tuck the carpet along the step, making sure it fits. Attach the carpet to the staircase, sticking the edges of the carpet. Make sure at least some of it catches onto the tack strips.
* Using a knee kicker, tighten the carpet. The knee kicker is a piece of metal tubing, with a pin plate attached to it. One of its ends has a padded cushion, wherein you can position your knee and apply pressure to the carpet.
* At the time of attaching the tack strip, use the knee kicker to stretch the carpet straight from the center of the tread and hook it at the crotch. Once attached, all you need to do is firmly attach it, by sliding your carpet tool back and forth, to compress the pins.
* The last step would be to trim the edges of the carpet, using a utility knife. This would give finesse to your carpet. Repeat this process on each side of the tread.

Tips

* At the time of stapling, make sure the carpet is smoothed out on the riser and then stapled to the stair lip.
* Before going to the next tread, make sure that the previous one is completely smooth and evenly done. This would save you from the trouble of pulling the carpet off and re-installing it.