How to Install a Stair Runner with Rods. amazing tutorial we found here, on Annie Selke, click here for tips on reading a tape measure. I just used each stair as a guide and cut. And of course, it gives some pizzazz to an otherwise boring staircase. A traditional stair runner carpet would have stair rods to hold the carpet in place. Only because they can all vary. Because it requires specialized sewing … Once you cut the rods, the install part goes pretty quickly. In the end, the runner looks amazing, is secure, and provides so much style, safety, and comfort to the staircase. Use … Premade stair runners are purchased by the linear foot or yard. And below, we listed 15 stair runner ideas to inspire you. Remodelista’s members-only directory of architects, designers, and landscape professionals. Third, drill one bracket into your step (typically on either side of the runner.) And then add in a bit more for mistakes. That’s your center. So measure twice – cut once. Here’s a little more detail on what we did …. But after installing one in our old house 7 years ago it has become one of our favorite projects – just because we truly believe anyone can do it, and whatever runner you choose can give you a totally different look (and a nice grip underfoot, but more on that functional upgrade in a minute). How are stair runners installed? There are different variations on stair runner installation, but I went with what was quick and simple. Start here for sourcing and advice. That depends on your choice of carpeting and the complexity of installation. There are two different styles you’ll see when you’re looking for how to install a stair runner … I’ve learned to let go of perfection (or at least, I’m trying.). “But they’re purely decorative.”, “It depends how wide your stairs are,” says Kirk. I laid the carpet pad down on each step and used the step as a guide for where to cut the pad. Our ideas are diverse. I recommend you do the same. “Often people buy broadloom and have it cut to size,” says Kirk. Kirk cites two big pros: It reduces noise made by people clattering up and down the stairs, and it adds a finished look to a stairway. Then, insert it into the other bracket and drill it in place on the other side of the runner. Vacuuming stairs is usually an awkward chore. Heading somewhere? This is the formula for measuring your stairs- Measure the rise and the run of your stairs multiplied by the number of stairs total. It’s very simple, actually. I would love to see! For example, our stairs are 34½” wide, and our runner is 28″ wide. Determine Rug Length Needed 2. “Dark shows all the lint, while light-colored carpeting shows dirt and scuffs. Simply measure the width of the stair with your tape measure and then divide that number in half. It’s inexpensive and works like a charm. WHY? See more ideas about stair runner installation, stair runner, installation. Well, unless you have straight steps you lucky dog! That … If anything, I hope this gave you the courage to move forward. Who we are, plus details on Remodelista events and books. Don’t make our mistake. The one-stop sourcebook for the considered home, guiding readers artfully through the remodeling and design process. To help the runner line up better with the straight steps, we had to fold a bit of the rug under at the sides and staple this part down to get it to look even up and down. Before we attached the stair runner, we had to figure out the landing. This was my first stair runner installation and I learned as I went. Install Runner on Stairs Installing the stair runner comes next. 3. Installing a stair runner may seem intimidating, and the good news is that adding ours was pretty darn easy and we love how it looks (and feels underfoot). Use the whipping to add personality to your runner, a bold choice will make the carpet really pop. We subtracted 28 from 34.5 and divided by 2. “A standard-size runner is your most cost-effective choice,” says Kirk. We ordered a set of matte black stair rods from eBay. People first and foremost want the looks, and wool delivers that.” She’s a big fan of the striped flat-weave runners made of 100 percent wool by the British company Roger Oates Design. We started with the riser. You may not run into this issue if you have normal stairs (aka non-1920s pie/curvy stairs). Stairs stair runner from my latest vids on curved stairs works like this past summer and install a fit of the basic stair runners serves to cut pile is one curved stair runners over carpeted stairs patterned stair runner on curved stairs install carpet on curved stair tread stair rods and then painted the. Our dogs and daughter have all slipped and fallen down the stairs already. Stair runner cap a tread co 94 in l x 1 2 how to carpet stairs with pictures how to glue down carpet doityourself cap a tread co 94 in l x 1 2 How To Install Carpet On StairsWhat Is Padding Glue With PicturesInstalling Laminate On Top Stair To CarpetThe Three Types Of Carpet […] Since our runner was 2.5 inches wide, I ordered one at 2 inches wide. Adhering to Detail. You have to measure EACH AND EVERY STEP. I generally like simplicity with home decor. Adhering to Detail 2. There is no exact answer here. Those curvy stairs can be tricky, but it’s totally doable. Yay. This is because the carpet can slip underfoot which on … Let me explain. The least expensive way to install a stair runner is to do-it-yourself, which confines the cost to that of the runner and supplies, like padding, strips and the rental of a knee kicker. These are not your standard-sized steps here. But in the end, it turned out really good and we are so thrilled with the new look of our staircase. Easy peasy. If you have a rug without a pattern – this will make your life even easier!!! We are not professionals – but we wanted the pattern to line up as best as possible. The strips should be approximately 1/2" from and parallel to the corner between the riser and the tread. “The decision usually depends on how your stairs are constructed,” says Kirk. Whether you plan to pick up a runner that is ready to go, or craft something totally custom, you’ll first … We’re done! Do you really need one? (Another option: the no-shoes-in-the house rule.). When installing Stair Rods with a Stair Runner, the bracket should sit on the stair case itself, directly alongside your stair runner. Measure and cut a piece of carpet to the appropriate length. I prefer bare wood. In those cases, you’ll need to have the edges bound. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. So you will have three pieces of tape for each carpet pad on each step. But frankly, you can’t see them at all so it was unnecessary. Still, the look is more suited to traditional homes than modern ones. Most homeowners aren’t aware that there are two styles of installation for stair runners: “Waterfall,” in which the runner flows over the stairs and is tacked down at the base of each step; and “Hollywood,” where the runner is tacked down around the tread and fits close to the risers. I have 11 treads and 13 risers and bought a 20’ runner.I ended up with about 2 feet leftover after making two cuts, but I’m glad I … “An all-wool carpet is preferable aesthetically,” says Kirk. For us, it came down to safety, comfort, and style (and some noise control too). Measure twice – cut once. Stair Runner Install Prep Work Before you can start stapling away, you need to do some prep work to make sure your rug is installed well. This might not be the professional way to do it, but it’s holding up and it looks great. I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but we are DIY’ers. On curvy, pie stairs! Starting at the top if your rig is like mine it has a nice folded edge that you can start with. Unseen staples typically hold the padding and runner securely in place, though sometimes a “tackless strip” is used—a piece of wood that runs the width of the steps and is studded with sharp nails or tacks. What the heck are pie steps? Yay. Have you ever heard of pie steps? Here are the steps in a nutshell and then I’ll go through what we did in more detail …. Use your bolster chisel to crease the runner into the corner of the stair, then staple as close as possible to the crease. That’s what I meant by improvising. To begin your runner installation, place the top edge of your rug runner right up against the underside of your top step. Kunskap tid och engagemang till vr breda erfaren. (I’m sorry we didn’t make one!). Check out this easy DIY stair runner project - you can quickly make over stairs in an afternoon because I'm sharing my tutorial for how to install a stair runner, and I promise it's super easy. We had to find a way to cut the rods down. “Maybe for a grand staircase in a house in Greenwich, Connecticut,” says Kirk. We moved to those dang PIE steps. To get some answers to common questions about stair runners, we talked with designer Victoria Kirk, who established Victoria Kirk Interiors in 2007. Or if you do get them to line up straight you will have spent hours doing so! Clicking through to the retailer that sells the product may earn us a commission. We only installed carpet runner on the step itself, not over the nose and not down the riser. However, these are our reasons for going with a carpet pad. Hold the rod over the runner at the back of the step and make a mark where you need to cut. Ok, we have our carpet pads cut! We have pie steps! A stair runner is a piece of carpet that doesn’t cover the entire width of the stair.It is typically installed over hardwood or tiled stairs. ONE: Because of the way the step turns and the tight angle, the runner would not line up with the runner installed on the straight steps. Planning for stair runner installation? They are narrow and curvy. We installed this stair runner on our curvy stairs this past summer. Measure the width of the runner and the width of the stair tread. And what about those rods that hold stair runners in place? You will need the following tools to install your stair runner: Using a tape measure (click here for tips on reading a tape measure), you need to measure both the stair tread and the stair riser. Measure Width 3. What t… Starting with the straight stairs assured us that at least those steps would get a fresh, even start. We researched a bunch on Pinterest to see what stair rod look we were drawn to most. (Not to mention that a runner also protects your wooden stair treads against wear and tear from the clickety-clack of heeled shoes and little—or big—pet paws.) And they must be properly installed with no loose corners to trip over. TWO: The second issue we faced was that our curvy steps at the bottom of the stairs are tighter than they are at the top. “There’s a theory that a synthetic or blend will hold up better, but I don’t really believe it. I love the black and white, classic. You may be wondering, do you even need padding under stair runners? No lining up any patterns that will drive you crazy! And we didn’t find the time to install the stair rods until this past Fall, with help from my Dad while he was visiting. So that’s it for measuring. Then it’s easy as, well, pie. For example, our stairs are 34½” wide, and our runner is 28″ wide. And when I say that it is easier than you think, you have to believe me. I placed this under the lip of the floor (on the first riser) and begin stapling across the top. DIY Stair Runner – Staple Gun Time Subtract the measurement of the runner from the measurement of the stair. We have a 1920s home. WAYS TO LAY A STAIR RUNNER. There are millions of stair rod options! (You don’t want to know what a bunch of kids running down an old wooden staircase sounds like.) Order more runner than you think you need. The typical Victorian design is a patterned centre panel with plainer side sections, termed as rails. With 1920s stairs. The runner is very true to color, and the size was just what I needed. It’s just a runner. installing a stair runner yourself We've been living in our house for four years now, and in that time we've done a lot of work. WAYS TO LAY A STAIR RUNNER. To help hide the staples and bunchy parts of the carpet at the back of the step and to give our staircase a more authentic, decorative touch. Make bradawl guide holes for the screws for your first bracket, adjacent to your stair runner, then screw the bottom half of the bracket to the stair. You don’t want the stair runners coming off! Do this for each individual step. This is however not an adequate method of fixing the carpet in place and stair rods nowadays are simply used for decorative purposes. More on that in a bit. Cut the strips so they are 4" shorter than the final width of your runner. Everyone was fine but we wanted something safer and to help with a little of the squeakiness. There aren’t many staircases that couldn’t benefit from a neutral and subtle touch of Stitches Stair Runner. A tubing cutter is an inexpensive tool that basically just slices a tube or rod in a circular motion. Staple up into the bottom of the tread. See more ideas about stair runner, stairs, carpet stairs. For this tutorial, I’m showing you how we did this on curvy stairs or pie stairs. It’s almost like we made mini runners for each of these steps. The first riser is located between the floor and the first tread. There are two ways to install a stair runner: waterfall and French cap. Easy peasy! Staying Centered. They are. A final touch for our staircase, the stair rods. Then, using masking tape, put a mark in the resting place. Well, instead of having a landing to change the direction of the staircase, we have a triangular step (a few, actually) that wind the staircase instead. Order 2 feet EXTRA of the runner! There are two ways to install a stair runner: waterfall and French cap. This allows it to stick to the step and also allows the carpet pad to stick on top. For each tread, fold the carpet over and hold it tightly in place. We had to improvise a bit when it came to installing on the pie stairs. Don’t worry if the center of the curved steps looks off from the rest of the steps. Rejuvenation is another good option if you have the budget. Everything you need except for the drill. 2. Redesigning a space? Again, starting in the middle and working my way out. I would definitely check the instructions/manual on your specific staple gun. But if your stairs are five feet across, you’d adjust your runner proportionally—maybe to a seven-inch reveal on each side.”. I actually use them under our throw rugs too. You can use the end of the rolled carpet runner in order to outline where you would want it to be laid. I didn’t make this part difficult or precise. When measuring stairs to add a carpet runner, measure each stair tread and up each risers. It makes the staircase looks more appealing, safer to walk on especially for children and pets, and more comfortable. Hotels, restaurants, and shops featured on Remodelista. But it’s safe and it looks great. Measure as you go, making sure your runner is staying straight. Mark Cut Lines on the Rug Pad 5. The runner will loosen a bit with time and use. Installing a stair runner is easier than you think. Winding stair runners stairs toronto stair treads and frequently repeating this striking architectural is important. All rights reserved. If I had carpet on them, I’d be afraid of sliding. Repeat for the bracket on the other side of your runner. There are different variations on stair runner installation, but I went with what was quick and simple. It is so easy to do! This width ranges from 2 to 3 feet or more. Remember in Step 2 we found and marked the center of each step? For a flat top installation, mark a cut line on the rug pad ½-inch from the front of the stair tread. Fold your carpet pad in half (as best you can on those pie steps), and stick the middle fold of your carpet pad down on this center piece of carpet tape. Waterfall Installation // Source: whitewashedhouse.tumblr The waterfall method involves bending the carpet over the edge of the stair and bringing it … Clean the Stairs and Walls. Here’s a quick before and after shot for you. How to install carpet runner on stairs: 1. Mmmm kay? Stair runner carpets can be purchased in a wide variety of attractive patterns and designs. The runner is very true to color, and the size was just what I needed. All Remodelista stories—from house tours and expert advice to product roundups. For more how to. But you can’t really tell unless you are staring at it and studying the rug. In our last step before the runner can be installed, we marked with painter’s tape the exact measurement of the outside edge of the runner. Some of the rods were too long for some of our steps. The first time I ordered the runner for our stairs we did not have enough. We attached the runner here and stapled under the nose of the step. We have pie steps! All content on this website is copyrighted to Decor Hint, unless otherwise noted. If there’s no molding, you go with the more tight-fitting installation, Hollywood.”. Keep on marking the resting position on every step. For us, it came down to safety, comfort, and style (and some noise control too). Because vinyl stair runners have tiny teeth on the underside, a lesser amount of work and securing implements are needed. Stairs designs stair runner for commercial or binding to. You can save money by simply painting a runner (or stripes) on the stairs, as in this Remodeling 101 post on Nautical Stripes on the Stairs. Well, I spent a lot of time looking at different tutorials on installing stair runners and the only ways to not have visible staples are to use tack strips and professional carpet installation tools (like stretchers, etc.) That way your runner is sure to wear well and to enhance your home. Jaime used painter's tape to make sure the runner would be centered on the stairs. NO matter what they will not line up straight. Your resource for finding the best storage and home organization solutions for every room in the house. 4 Cut the carpet padding with a carpet knife so that it covers the treads. It’s a handheld tool, you don’t even have to plug it in! Why did we install stair rods? Place the edge of … Stairs stair runner from my latest vids on curved stairs works like this past summer and install a fit of the basic stair runners serves to cut pile is one curved stair runners over carpeted stairs patterned stair runner on curved stairs install carpet on curved stair tread stair rods and then painted the. First, measure your steps with each rod. Be sure to tag me on Instagram if you have any questions or if you attempt this project. Ok, things just got real up in here. Let me explain. But after installing one in our old house 7 years ago it has become one of our favorite projects – just because we truly believe anyone can do it, and whatever runner you choose can give you a totally different look (and a nice grip underfoot, but more on that functional upgrade in a minute). Mark off where you need to cut your rod, if applicable. But, she says, “sisal or jute is a great look and it’s cheap.” These days indoor/outdoor polypropylene that looks like sisal is becoming popular—it’s durable and easy to clean. Don’t worry – it will be covered up later. What size staples do you need for your stair runner? Instead of working with the whole runner as we did on the straight steps, we cut individual pieces of stair runner to fit each curvy step (the riser, the step and under the nose). Our catalog of more than 10,000 products featured on Remodelista. 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Just choose a color that contrasts nicely for an instant runner effect, no vacuuming needed. HOW TO INSTALL A STAIR RUNNER. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small commission - at no extra cost to you. The easiest way I found to do this was to put a strip of carpet tape down the center of each step first. To begin your runner installation, place the top edge of your rug runner right up against the underside of your top step. In our last step before the runner can be installed, we marked with painter’s tape the exact measurement of the outside edge of the runner.