Installing A Stair Carpet Runner

One of the best tips I've learned is that carpet stores actually rent out the tools necessary to install your stair carpet runner! Why spend the money on the specific tools unless you plan on going into business installing stair carpet runners for a living.

Carpet Knife
Knee Kicker
9/16" Electric Staple Gun
Rubber Mallet
Carpet Tool
Hack Saw (for rod trimming)
Tape Measure
Framing Square
Sheet Metal Snips
Eye Protection Goggles

Safety first! This is clearly the most important option to consider when choosing you stair runner carpet. There are many types of safety including (but not limited to) mechanical safety and environmental safety. So, when considering improving the safety of your staircase or stairway, please do take into consideration these two different but important types of safety issues before installing your carpet.

Always keep tools out of the reach of animals and children when working on your stair carpet runner. Keep all solvents out of the reach of animals and children. And, when you reach a good stopping point, call it a day. Your stair carpet runner does not have to be (and may not be able to be) completed within a day. Rome wasn't built in a day! Always wear your eye protection and respirator while working on the project.

Mechanical Safety:

The most obvious consideration is the slickness of the stairs - are they slippery? If so, adding carpet runners to stairs maybe the right solution for you and your family. You may also wish to rule out other options that augment the surface texture of your staircase. Ruling out the other options and finally deciding that the stair runner carpet will best suit your needs is an important first step.

Environmental Safety:

Environmental safety is also a very important factor to consider when choosing a stair runner carpet. Do you or anyone in your family have multiple chemical sensitivities or allergies? If the answer is yes, you will most likely want to research natural and low emitting carpets and liners.

Carpet stairs offer warmth and comfort and are aesthetically pleasing to the eye. They are relatively easy to install and will require as little as six to eight hours for a strait staircase and many more for a winding staircase. In fact, if you are the lucky owner of a winding staircase, in your home, you may wish to seek professional assistance. You may still be able to save on costs however, by doing much of the legwork yourself. Staircases with windows also may require some additional planning stages and installation steps.

And, carpet runners come in a variety of colors, patterns, textures, fibers, and the like. So, if you enjoy shopping there will be plenty of options here. You can purchase them by the linear foot on a bulk roll at your local hardware store or custom order your carpet runner from a more elaborate showroom. Pricing can range from $20 per linear foot for synthetics to $100 per linear foot for wool. You will also need to purchase the carpet pad. A 2ft by 30ft pad could cost you from $90 to $139. You could probably find a better price if you really shop around.
You can either dress your stairwell up to the nine or, keep it nice and simple. Much of this depends both on your budget and your taste. Maybe you have that uncanny knack for dusting off the gold in the most unusual of places? You know how to find a big bargain with very little effort.

You can visit my website for more related information, such as more in-depth safety tips for installing a stair carpet runner and learn more about the different types of carpet runners for stairs.