hi,
we’re looking to install a carpet runner over hardwood stairs, and i’d like to hear from anyone who has ideas on how best to do it. i’ve seen retaining rods that go at the base of every stair, but, how do you finish at the top and bottom stairs? a rod across the top stair seems like a tripping hazard to me, and i sure don’t want to tack carpet into my nice hardwood if i don’t have to… are there other ways of doing stair runners besides the retaining rods?
many thanks for any and all help,
bert
if it’s worth doing at all, then it’s worth doing well.
Replies
This reply won't answer much, but will at least serve to "bump" you up so others can see your post. I don't know how it's generally done, but could you tack the ends of the runner under the nose of the first and last riser?
You're on the right track--stair rods are how you do it. They fit snugly against the riser on the tread, so you really can't trip. THey're really decorative and don't actually hold the carpet down--you still have to have tack strips. But I guess the stair rod does keep you from stepping on the tack strip over a thin runner...?They're a lot more common in the UK!
Edited 1/18/2007 8:46 am ET by Reyesuela
Reyesuela, You sound like you are pretty familar with this subject. And you are right, NO ONE uses runner in the U.S.. Ok, someone must, but it is not typical in most homes and not even in relatively upscale homes either. Anyway, I am still curious.
Do you usually tack the runner to the underside of the tread lip as well or does the runner just "waterfall" over the edge leaving a space between the riser and the runner?
As a side note, many new homes try to achieve the runner look by installing hardwood treads on each end of the tread and leave a gap of say 30 inches in the middle and then fill the gap with regular wall to wall carpet. It is ok, but we all know it is a work-around.
Normal carpeted stairs are installed streched to the back with tackless strip. You would nail a piece of tackless strip to the floor then bump the carpet taught with a knee kicker.
The Nails in tackless strip will be embeded in your nice hardwood.
There are two methods of carpeted stair application, "waterfalled and cap and band style". The cap and band style usually would have one piece of tackless on the back of the tread with padding on top of the tread only. The carpet is bumped on and stapled in place using an upholstery tacker (If you are going to do this yourself ask for a duofast or crain tacker at your rental yard). The stapling in the lower corner would be smooth before you move to the underside of the stair nose. You then staple along the underside of your stair nose ( further ruining your nice hardwood). Proceed to bump the next stair.
If you waterfall your stairs you apply opposing tackless strips in the inside corner of each stair. You then pad each tread. The stairs would be bumped into position then you would strike each inside corner with a stair tool (wide blunt chisel) creasing the corner. Move to the next stair.
After your stairs are installed you can add the brass rods.
This process will ruin the wood stairs for any future user.
Jason
I have installed my own carpet on basement stairs, particleboard treads (no harm done), in waterfall fashion.
My question, was about stair runners not carpeted stairs! If you use a runner and you us decorative rods, do you install the runner in the waterfall fashion? If so, you would have a strange wedge shaped gap behind the runner and infront of teh riser. This would seem odd to me. If you do not run the runner in waterfall fashion, you must staple (as you stated) up under the lip of the tread. This seem odd as the point of using the rods is to give the appearance of the use of no fastners, and the formed fitted appears of the tacking under the tread constrdicts this idea.
??
thanks for the reply and the detailed info.i was already uncomfortable putting little stair-rod screw holes into the hardwood floor, but full on tack strips? no thanks. unless someone knows a way to affix a runner which isn't so destructive to the floor, the runner idea is out (for us).any other ideas on how to make hard-wood stairs less slippery would be appreciated.cheers,
bert
if it's worth doing at all, then it's worth doing well.
I haven't done it. *g* I just personally like the look and was wondering a while ago how the heck I was supposed to make a runner look right on curved stairs, and so I found out a lot while trying to get that info. I STILL haven't figured that one out--I know it involves creating a template and cutting to the template, putting the seams under the bullnosed edge of the treads, but I'm still nervous about how that will turn out.Anyhow, it seems that in the Victorian era, the rods were functional and the runner had some slidy room, but now they're just decorative. If you don't use a carpet pad (which you could choose not to do for a more "authentic" feel), I think you'd have to put something over the back of the tread to hide the tack strip, but it would probably be a lot better to use a thin carpet pad, anyhow, and to staple it under the bullnose and have a tack strip on the tread up against the riser. I've seen the waterfall-type installations and just don't like the look myself. They'd be more historicaly accurate, though!With the thinness of most runners, I'd be inclined to put the rods no matter what, because I'm sure you'd feel those tacks if you stepped on the back corner if you didn't! It's not like a big thick carpet.At some point, the stairs have got to have carpet or to be replaced. The bare wood simply wears out from all the feet. That's probably why it's still so common in the UK--they have a LOT more older houses, and the stair are either already damaged or are bing protected from damage by the runners.If you were really, really worried about damaging the stairs, and if you didn't have any curves, you always could get the rubberized/foam/whatever rug backer meant to keep floor rugs from sliding and use that with the stair rods. That might work to preserve the stairs better. Just don't know if that would pass code or not.Oh, hey, and you don't like the fake zebra striped runner, guys? *pouts* That's what I had my HEART set on. And a disco ball and mirrors with those weird "marbelized" yellow lines through 'em. *winks*
Edited 1/19/2007 2:48 pm ET by Reyesuela
I think you have to decide if you want a runner or not. If you do, forget about "damage to the stairs", it goes with the choice. If you are in to pure unblemished wood, why are you covering it with a runner? It is one or the other.
So Reyesuela, you are saying that the waterfall install is the classic runner look? I would think you are correct and understand why you might not like the look, afterall it is just NOT DONE any more, and it is typical that if something is different from what we are used to we don't like it or think it odd looking.
You also said that at one time the rods were functional. If so, why would it not be possible to install runners today in that fashion and not use carpet tacks?
>So Reyesuela, you are saying that the waterfall install is the classic runner look? Yep!>I would think you are correct and understand why you might not like the look, afterall it is just NOT DONE any more, and it is typical that if something is different from what we are used to we don't like it or think it odd looking.Exactly. Silly, I know! *g*>You also said that at one time the rods were functional. If so, why would it not be possible to install runners today in that fashion and not use carpet tacks?I think that houses that only used the stair rods also had maids to straighten the runners daily. *g* That's why I thought of using the non-slip pads for area rugs under the runner if you wanted to try tis--it would keep the runner from slipping, and together with the stair rods, it might be plenty to keep it in place.
> I think you have to decide if you want a runner or not. If you do, forget about "damage to the stairs", it goes with the choice. If you are in to pure unblemished wood, why are you covering it with a runner? It is one or the other.for me, it's because hardwood stars are slippery...so, is there a way to increase the traction without damaging the hardwood?thanks,
bertif it's worth doing at all, then it's worth doing well.
There's the special sand you can sprinkle into the top coat of polyurethane...
> There's the special sand you can sprinkle into the top coat of polyurethane...i assume this is different from the sand for (faux) texturing. do you have any recommendations for what brand and which grit? have you used this technique before?many thanks for your help!
bert
if it's worth doing at all, then it's worth doing well.
Oh, hey, sorry--I missed this!No, I'm afraid not--never used it!
Here's a link of how it looks:
http://www.stair-rods-online.com/home/stair_carpet_runners_shopping.php
That's an excellent site for us online marketers to study.SamT
So much of the success of a company is not determined by degrees but temperature. gb93433 83537.46
They had some butt-ugly carpet runners there.
Here's a quote from their rod section:
manufactured using special solid brass alloys. The tubes are full hard cartridge brass wich is far superior to solid rod
Why would tubes be superior to solid rods?
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Because they make more money selling the tubes
Duh!
<grin>
http://jhausch.blogspot.comAdventures in Home BuildingAn online journal covering the preparation and construction of our new home.
I figured it was marketing hype.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
I figured it was marketing hype.
Marketing hype is also a fit subject for any marketers to study.SamT
Guys that don't do things correctly the first time.....then argue that they did nothing wrong.....if made to agree to fix the problem, rarely put the time and effort into truely doing it properly. they'll just look for the quickest fix to appease you and get their money. JDRHI <!----><!----> 84310.51
the stair rods are just pretty do not hold carpet get a small staphle gun tack at bottom of riser and at top of riser under the tread
I've actually had two jobs (both for the same customer - different years) that used the stair rods as functional pieces
On one the runner was a "Persian" weaved rug that was professional laid in place after I installed the rod brakets. The top rod (at the heal of the top step) was padded on the back side to pinch the runner down to the tread.
As it was laid down the steps a thin rubbery pad was placed under the rug - this pad did more to hold the rug than anything else. The rods still performed a function, but it was almost like a back up system in that the pad held it in place almost like it was glued on (it wasn't).
It did waterfall over the nosings, but with the patterns in the runner it was a great look.
Biggest drawback - the rugs were pricey. As I recall the runner and two area rugs cost more that the 600 sq ft of quarter sawn white oak flooring that I installed, sanded, stained and finished that went under it.
One of the first times I worked with a person that had a deep enough pocket to buy exactly what he wants.
Terry
Terry----- i would essentially agree with you.
i just bought a "persian" rug for a living room----and I am in the process of saving up for at least 4 more of various sizes( to be acquired year by year).
at some point I will be installing a runner on the stairs.-----It's STILL done--and a good supplier of authentic rugs can show the O.P. of many suitable installations.
In fact---a high quality" machine made "runner--is not terribly expensive------and that's probably what I will use in that application myself.
actually-I would say--this particular detail is still frequently done in "period homes"( LOL)--when the homeowner has some scratch. I have actually been pleasantly suprised how often in the last couple years I have encountered these in customers homes.
Stephen