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Many people love the thought of having carpet put in on their hardwood stairs in order to impart this section of the house a comfortable look. Furthermore, steps that are carpeted are safer and less given to cause a slip and fall where someone could become hurt.

If you have ever thought about carpeting your steps on your own, you may be amazed to know that installing carpeting on steps is a very simple process that most people can do. And although installing carpet on the stairs may not be as energizing as shopping for tropical wall hangings or wall decor art, doing so can save you a ton of money over hiring a professional carpet installer.

The key to appropriately putting in carpeting on the stairs is to take the precise measurements. In fact, this is the first step. Starting with the right measurements will allow you to start your carpeting installation on the right foot. The following is a simple step by step set of instructions for the “waterfall” method of installation. This method of installation is better suited for steps that are uniformly designed in both height and width. Let's look at how to take correct measurements when using this technique of carpeting installation.

Measure the width of the whole staircase

Your initial measurement will be of the width of the entire staircase. If your stairway is a ordinary one with uniformly sized stairs, all you need to do is to measure the breadth at the widest part of the stairs. Set one tip of a general measuring tape at one end, and then measure across the width of the step to the other end. Write down the width and consider that you may add two to four inches of extra breadth as a margin.

Measuring the breadth of each riser

The area of the stairs that you step on when ascending or going down a stairwell is referred to the riser. In the waterfall technique, you will basically need a single long piece of carpet that will encompass the total stairway.  Thus it is important to measure how wide every riser is. Measure from the peak of the riser up to the joint (or where the riser stops and the fall begins). Jot down this measurement.

Take measurements of the "fall" of every step

The fall pertains to the height or length between one riser and the next one. To measure this, start from the end of one riser and then extend the tape measure up to the beginning of the following riser. If your steps have nosing, the fall ends under this jutted out portion of each step. Take note of this measurement.

Combine the dimensions for the fall and the riser

This is  a simple operation; just tally the two measurements together and throw in a few inches for a margin. This will allow you to neatly disguise the edges and the corners with enough carpet during the installation. Once you have discovered the length of each step, including the allowance, you will simply want to multiply this number by the amount of steps that you plan to cover. This will give you the total length of carpeting you need for the stairs.

Take the measurements of the entire length and width to the carpeting store, and have a sales associate aid you in choosing the right amount of carpeting for your project.

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One of the most favorite types of carpeting on the market is integral pad carpeting, which is carpeting that has its own soft padding that is adhered to the back side of the carpeting and that eliminates the need to lay down additional carpet padding.  Also called cushion-backed carpet, integral pad carpeting is perfect for applying directly over concrete floors as traditional padding must be fixed to the floor with tacks and nails; integral pad carpet simply sticks to the concrete floor. Integral pad carpeting is also ideal for smaller areas such as bathrooms and closets as they can be located and fitted on the floor without the requirement for carpet tape. To prevent the edges from curling, however, larger sections can be easily anchored with double-sided tape. You can find integral pad carpet in a variety of styles, including cut pile and Berber, and in a rainbow of different colors.

Preparation

As you would when installing any other carpet type, checking the area to be carpeted is key; the flooring beneath should be dry, clean, and smooth.  Make sure that there is no dust, dirt, sticky residue or debris on the flooring. If the floor is not properly prepared, the double-sided tape will not bond properly. Besides the integral pad carpet, you will require double-sided carpet tape that is two inches wide, a carpeting cutter, a measuring tape or ruler, and a chalk for marking the carpet. If the installation requires seams, buy a seam adhesive that is recommended for your type of carpeting material, as well as five-inch carpeting tape to use beneath the seam.

Measuring and cutting

Take correct measurements of the perimeter of the space where the carpet will be put in, including the length and width of the area; add an inch to each side of the dimensions that you write down.  This means that if the width is 60 inches, you must cut the carpet 62 inches, which provides for an extra inch on both sides. Follow the same process for the length. Use the chalk line to mark the line where you will cut the carpeting.  Lay the carpeting on the floor so that it encompasses the whole space.   

Finishing the edges

Once the carpet is smoothly in place, start with a corner section and be careful not to slide the carpet out of position.  Lift up one segment of carpet and apply a border of rug tape beneath it, applying it to the floor beneath. Smooth out the tape in its position, taking away any air bubbles, and then peel off the backing of the tape. Drop the carpet onto the tape and apply force on the carpeting so that it will stick, smoothing it with your hands. A rolling pin might be used at this point to help smooth the carpet out nicely. This process should be replicated around the perimeter for all leftover carpet sides. Once you have attached all sides to the floor, you will need to trim any excess carpet from around the edges. To finish, push the edges of the carpeting below the baseboard. You can also position a shoe molding on top of the carpeting edges and secure it by nailing it on the baseboard, not on the flooring.

For carpets that need to be seamed, use five-inch carpet tape beneath the two sections and press the carpeting into the tape; follow the directions printed on the product label exactly.
The best benefit of installing carpet over a hard, concrete floor is that a once functional area can be turned into a cozy, inviting place suitable for living. After your carpet has been installed and the area looks more cozy, you might look at hanging informal accents like palm tree wall art and metal or ceramic sun wall art. No matter what you pick out, be sure to add your own personal expressive style to the space.

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