Things You'll Need:
- Work gloves
- Carpet knife
- Power stretcher
- Safety glasses
- Heavy-duty stapler
- Measuring tape
- Carpet runner
- Padding
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Step 1
Choose your carpet. Pick texture cut or cut pile berber carpets, which are thicker and easier to install and use on stairs. Visit Floor Facts to learn about different types of carpet (see Resources box).
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Step 2
Have a professional measure and cut the runner, as well as bind the edges of the carpet. Unbound edges will eventually unravel.
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Step 3
Make a small mark on each step where the runner will rest, an inside mark to show where the padding will go and an outside mark to show where the carpet will go. Cut the padding into rectangles slightly smaller than your runner and place on the steps.
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Step 4
Unroll the carpet a little bit, center it and place it a few steps up from the bottom. Have someone hold the roll as you pull the end to the bottom of the stairs.
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Step 5
Create a row of staples where the carpet meets the floor using a heavy-duty stapler. Pull the carpet taut and create another row of staples underneath the lip of the stair tread.
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Step 6
Use a power stretcher to pull the runner tight while you make another row of staples between the vertical part of the stair and the tread. Use the stair tool to push the carpet into the corner to hide the staples.
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Step 7
Call a professional if you are unsure you're installing the carpet properly. To see pictures of someone installing a carpet runner on stairs, visit the DIY Network (see Resources box).
