Covering stairs with carpet

Whether you are having a completely new staircase covered or are fed up with the old covering on your current staircase, there are many different options for making your staircase look beautiful. Carpet not only makes your stairs look nice, it also dampens sound, insulates and walks nicely. But what does it cost to have your stairs carpeted? And which carpet to choose? Read the answers to these questions and more in this article. The price depends on the following factors, among others:

• The number of turns in your staircase
• The number of steps
• The carpet you choose
• Having an open or a closed staircase
• Whether or not to cover of the stair cheeks (sides) and risers (in the case of a closed staircase)
• The choice of a stair runner or full carpet

Check the table below for the average prices of carpeted stairs.

Why choose carpet to cover your stairs?

Upholstering your staircase has several advantages:

• It gives extra walking comfort
• It works as a sound dampener
• Available in many different styles
• Less chance of slipping
• Covering can fit well on the lower or upper floor
• It works as an insulator

Which carpet is most suitable?

Not all types of carpet are suitable for covering your stairs. First of all, the pile density of a carpet determines whether or not you can use it on stairs. This is because the pile density of carpet indicates how close together the hairs, also called piles, of the carpet are. For example, with carpet with a low pile density, you can see the back of the carpet in the places where it curves around the steps. Secondly, not all types of carpet are sturdy enough for stair covering. This is because a staircase is used a lot, so it wears out faster. By looking at PRODIS symbols you can see if a carpet is suitable for stair covering. The logo for stairs in your home can be recognised by a black staircase with a white house inside.

Carpet types
Carpet types like Bouclé and Frisé are very suitable for your stairs, as they have a solid yarn structure and a dirt-repellent protective layer. Natural carpets like Sisal and Coconut have a beautiful effect and are also suitable for lining your stairs. However, they do fray faster and attract moisture. So damp shoes can make it dirty quickly. Don’t want to cover your beautiful wooden staircase completely with carpet? Then opt for a stair runner. The staircase specialist will cut the carpet to fit your stairs perfectly.

Step plan for carpeted stairs

Covering a staircase with carpet takes a staircase specialist about a day and consists of several steps:

Step 1: Measuring the stairs
The measurement of your stairs is important to determine how much carpet is needed. The stair specialist measures from bottom to top and notes the longest dimension of the treads, risers and stair nosings. The stair specialist also measures how much underlay you need by adding 4 centimetres per step to the measured measurements.

Step 2: Cutting underlay
The underlay should go around the stair nosings. At the risers, underlayment is not necessary. For each step, the stair specialist makes a mould out of paper to know which shapes to cut out. When cutting out, it is important that there is a margin of 2 centimetres on all sides so that the underlay cannot be too short.

Step 3: Gluing or stapling the underlay
The staircase specialist starts at the top by securing the underlay with carpet glue. For extra reinforcement, the stair specialist staples the underlay under the stair noses with some staples.

Step 4: Cutting carpet
Cutting the carpet works the same as cutting the underlay. However, the stair specialist has to make new templates because the stairs are now covered with underlay. The staircase specialist now also measures the risers and cuts carpet for these.

Step 5: Carpet installation
After cutting, the staircase specialist starts applying the carpet. Again, glue is used. He then taps the carpet at the edges, risers and stair noses with a hammer. Do you want the whole thing to continue on the landing? Then the specialist will smooth the transition from the stairs to the landing. The specialist will also lay down patterns in your carpet nicely, so that everything is in the same direction and flows into each other.

Step 6: Remove frayed threads
The staircase specialist removes frayed threads or other unevennesses so that the whole thing looks nice and smooth. Then the staircase needs to dry for 24 hours before you can walk on it.

Traps if you want to carpet the stairs yourself

There are several things to watch out for when carpeting your stairs. You can of course get a carpet from shops like the Leenbakker, Kwantum or Carpetright, but then you have to do the laying yourself. By using a staircase specialist, you will not only get professional advice on which type of carpet to choose, but you will also be sure of a beautiful result. So consult a staircase specialist to calculate the amount of flooring needed and install the carpet.

Do you opt for the cheaper solution and decide to lay the carpet yourself anyway? Then pay attention to the following pitfalls:

• The carpet should be sturdy, because stair covering wears out faster than the stairs themselves. Therefore, stair covering needs to be replaced more often than the whole staircase. So think carefully about the type of carpet you choose.
• Think carefully about the colour. Stains in the carpet are difficult to clean.
• Removing glue residue from the previous carpet is difficult and hard work. Adhesive residue left behind makes reupholstering the stairs a lot more difficult. So be precise in removing all glue residues.

Frequently asked questions about carpeting your stairs

1. How long does it take to carpet a staircase?
How long it takes to carpet a staircase depends on several factors. Consider the number of steps, the type of staircase and the type of carpet being laid. In almost all cases, stairs can be covered in a day.

2. Can all stairs be carpeted?
Yes, all stairs can be carpeted. Whether it is an open or closed staircase, a spiral staircase or an attic staircase, everything is possible.

3. Is carpet on stairs safe?
Carpet is a sturdy and safe surface, not only for the stairs, but actually all rooms in your home. Carpet is not slippery, so you are less likely to slip. If you do fall, you will have a soft landing.