Installing an Area Rug Runner on Your Stairs

Tools and Materials that you will need:

• Stair runner
• Tackless strips
• Carpet pad
• Carpet glue; latex
• Carpet tacks; 3/4-inch
• Knee kicker
• Electric stapler
• 9/16-inch narrow-crown staples
• Carpenter's Square
• Rubber mallet
• Carpet knife
• Tape measure
• Tin snips
• Carpet tool

First you have to measure the width of the runner you purchased and subtract that from the width of the stairs then divide that by two. Then mark this distance on the stairs between the width of the runner. Then you'll need a tackless strip for each step you have in the project area. Use tin snips to cut each tackless strip 2-inches shorter than the width of the runner but make sure there is a nail within 1 inch of each end.

Then you put a piece of scrap tackless strip against the back of the step. Place a tackless strip in front of it, then center it, then butt it against the scrap with the pins facing the riser. Nail the riser in place and remove the scrap of wood. Repeat this step for each of the stairs in your project.

Then you have to trim the carpet pad to the same size as the cut tackless runners and 3-inches longer than the depth of the tread. Next, you butt the pad in to the front edge of the tackless strip then nail the edge in place with a 9/16-inch staple every three inches apart. Pull the carpet pad tightly over the edge of the step below the one you're working on and staple in place every three inches in the underside of the edge. Then cut the carpet pad where the back of the step and the edge of the step meet.

Make sure that the ends of the carpet runner are even. If they are not, then mark the runner and then trim with the carpet knife from the back. Apply latex glue to the edges to stop fraying. When the glue is dry unroll the runner up the staircase just enough to cover three stairs. Push the end of the carpet runner against the back of the first step being sure to line the runner up between the layout marks. Use the electric stapler to staple the carpet runner to the back of the step every 3 inches.

Line the carpet runner up with the layout marks on the first tackless strip then push it against the strip using your hand. The knee kicker will be used to make the carpet runner stay in place. Put the front of the kicker in the middle of the carpet runner about two inches in front of the back of the stair. Use one hand to hold the front knob down and the other to keep the shaft of the kicker level. Use your knee to hit the kicker to attach the runner and repeat every three inches side to side.

Use the carpet tool and mallet to make the carpet runner flush against the back of the stair and the tackless strip. Staple the runner in the crease where the back of the stair meets the tread. Then staple each edge of the carpet runner 2 inches above the bottom of the back of the step. Then repeat all of this until you reach the last step then cut the carpet runner flush against the underside of the edge of the top step. Put the latex carpet glue along the edges of the carpet runner then staple in place on the top of the back of the step every 3 inches.

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