How to put down carpet on steps??

[ndemge]

I just got free carpet and pad that is in great shape, want to put it on my basement steps.<br /><br />I see this as about a 5 year life span until the kids are a little older and then get replaced cause it's gonna get trashed.<br /><br />How do you go about doing this yourself? Do I need to do tack strips, or can it be nailed/stapled in place as you go down the steps? I have a wide crown stapler.<br /><br />If it has to have the tack strip and the knee kicker deal..., I'll just pay someone that does carpet to put it in, but if there is another method that I can do, I'd rather save the $.

 

[fireship1]

Re: How to put down carpet on steps??

I did this once with a heavy wool runner for steps. I used an Arrow heavy duty stapler with the largest longest staples I could find. It worked just fine. Held up for years until I decided to pull the rug and tile the steps. Tack strips are for perimeter installations in rooms. Rug guys use an electric stapler that shoots thin long staples. The Arrow gun worked fine for me.

 

[ndemge]

Re: How to put down carpet on steps??

my stapler is a pneumatic, shoots 1/2"x 1.5" construction staples. My brother just used it at dad's house to hold the carpet tight where we cut it at where it went into a room that we put down hardwood, and then put threshold on top of it. the staples disapeared into the nap.<br /><br />I think I'll give it a go. Worst case, it turns out like crap and I rip it up... wouldn't be my first project to end up that way.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: How to put down carpet on steps??

Tackless makes a better installation for more expensive carpets installed wall to wall on steps or concrete (a must)....<br />If you are going to install cheap, fuzzy rug over pad you can staple it....<br />The staples you are talking about are overkill....<br />You could probably rent a Duo-fast staple gun 9/16" divergant staples & a kicker pretty cheap....<br />It is good to tighten the slack out, even by just leaning against it (the kicker).....<br />If you go with your own stapler, (it will probably work), but I do recomend the kicker.... Hope this helps ....JK

 

[ndemge]

Re: How to put down carpet on steps??

Thanks Haut<br /><br />What do you do about the edges? Drywall on one side, concrete on the other.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: How to put down carpet on steps??

Nothing, I'm assuming that you have walls (or stringers) at the sides.....It is important that you cut the carpet pretty much exactly the width of the tread.....<br />This may mean that you will have to cut the steps indiviually if they vary too much....<br />.IE Say the first step is 33" & the next one is 33 1/8 The next Four are 33 3/8....<br />If you have fuzzy rug I would cut the first two together @33 1/16 X approx. 40" long (riser & step is generally 20" or so).......& so on...<br />Any variation greater than 1/8 generally means another piece....<br />I have seen all 13 go on in one piece & I have seen them all go on individually.....<br />It is better to be slightly shy Than to full or you will get ripples across the width....<br />Strech at the center first, then work to the sides....Don't overkill with staples, 10-15 a step is enough.....<br />Of course a straight edge & square will be helpful....<br />Keep in mind indoor/outdoor will require closer tolerances or you will see gaps at the sides...<br />Hope this helps .....JK<br />BTW, I work bottom to top....<br />If you put on pad, a roofing stapler is the way to go for tacking it down ....<br />I use 6 on front edge 3 on back...<br />Cut the back edge of the pad 1" shy of the riser, this will leave a "gully" to help hide the staples....Run the edge of a blunt screwdriver down the gully to make a neat crease....

 

[ndemge]

Re: How to put down carpet on steps??

Haut.... Beer's in the fridge, when ya comin over?

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: How to put down carpet on steps??