Installing a Runner on Stairs - Yes or No?

[oscarsnapkin]

When we bought our house years ago it was covered in this hideous, thick, green **** carpet from the 70’s. We removed all of it with the exception of the staircase, because we have dogs and hardwood stairs may be difficult for them. It’s now the last thing left to do so we’d like to remove it and install a runner going up the middle of the steps. I’ve watched a few how-to videos and it “seems” easy enough, but I also know things aren’t always as easy as youtube videos make them out to be. Yesterday I cut the carpet on both sides of the steps so I could strip and paint the wood (the white part). My thought is if I get all of the paint and trim work done ahead of time, my wife and I could possibly spend an afternoon removing the carpet & staples and install the runner. Since we’d be saving money by doing it ourselves I don’t mind buying or renting any tools we may need. It looks like we would basically need a carpet stretcher and stapler. Am I getting in over my head?

 

[CraigStu]

Not at all. I did that on our basement steps. I used a piece of 1/4 round at the top of the tread to riser junction for each step. I did not pull it tight under the nose of each step. I used an air powered brad gun w/ 1.5" brads. Started at the top and just pulled each steps worth of runner tight by hand and nailed it. I unrolled maybe 3 steps worth of runner so I had runner below the step I was nailing so I could keep the runner centered more easily as I went. Our steps were low end basement treads so I elected to paint them rather than a stain and clear.

 

[ScaldedDog]

I've forgotten the details, but we installed one on our hardwood stairs in 2009, or so. It is certainly doable by the average person who cares.

Mark

 

[BobnCO]

Yes, stretch by hand, Carpet layers use 1/4” (wide) pneumatic staple gun, although @CraigStu’s method is nice too.

 

[CoogarXR]

At my last house, we just stretched by hand, and I used a pneumatic stapler. It held up fine, never got loose or anything over the next 10 years that we lived there after installing it.

 

[oscarsnapkin]

Thanks for the replies. I definitely feel more comfortable tackling this.

 

[mikedodge]

Weve had runners on one of stair cases before. We stapled them at the back of the step and also just under the overhang of each step at the top of the back face so it wraps around and doesn't just hang there step to step. It looked better and also had problems with it stretching a bit overtime or pulling out with only the one area fastened down.

 

[Superbowl]

If you want to get fancy, use these rods.

Stair Rods - Brass Stair Runner Rods - Stair Carpet Rods | House of Antique Hardware

Stair rods are decorative brass runner rods used to help keep stair carpet runners in place. Note: when ordering, the length of the stair rod should be 1.5 inches longer than your carpet width.

www.houseofantiquehardware.com

stair runner brass rods at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

 

[egdede]

$85 each is pretty fancy

 

[oscarsnapkin]

$85 each is pretty fancy

I was considering them until I clicked on that link and saw the price. $85 X 12 stairs = a big no.

 

[lolaetype]

Our last house had oak stairs with carpeting down the middle; a permanently attached stair runner. About 12 years ago I pulled the carpet and tack strips and refinished the stairs. Then I bought stair runner by the foot at Lowes and found some relatively inexpensive stair rods at either Home Depot or Lowes. The Rods were about $10 each IIRC, probably more now. I stapled only at the top of the top riser and the bottom of the bottom riser. The rods added an elegant touch to the installation.

 

[egdede]

My house is 100 years old, furnished appropiately with many of my grandmother's 80 year old furnitures ('pieces' sounds too grey pouponish for me : ) If I had a straight staircase I might pony up to maintain the consistency (I know my wife would).

 

[nh_yota]

I think it looks better tucked up under the nose of the tread rather than running down at an angle to the top of the next tread.

 

[Jackfre]

Descending a set of steps in a customers home aftrer finishing the last of the punch list items with the owner my boot caught on their carpeted stair. I broke my ankle. It was a poor choice of carpet for a stair as it had to much loft.

 

[cgrutt]

I'd use a carpet pad and tackless at back of tread and bottom of riser. Glue or staple the pad to the tread. If treads have a nose you should pull runner tightly around nose and staple it under tread near riser. Believe pulling it taut around nosing and straight down is actually creating a tripping hazard. Use a carpet stretcher and chisel to make tight and attach to tackless. The stair rods are pretty much just decorative and are not actually used to secure runner to stairs.

 

[oscarsnapkin]

I think it looks better tucked up under the nose of the tread rather than running down at an angle to the top of the next tread.

I do, too. Plus, I wear size 14 shoes so my feet would always be kicking the carpet if it was at an angle like that.

 

[hmbemis]

At my last house, we just stretched by hand, and I used a pneumatic stapler. It held up fine, never got loose or anything over the next 10 years that we lived there after installing it.

Same here, and I stapled under the nose as well.

I wouldn't staple if it was a nice grade of stained wood underneath, in my case it was just painted pine so I didn't mind a dozen or more staple holes per step.