How To Install Carpet On Stairs Without Tack Strips (Do This!)

If you’ve ever seen a home that was built since the 1980s, then you probably have seen stairs that had a carpet on top of them. Carpeted stairs are nice, snuggly, and also help cushion falls that you might have. Traditionally, you would need to install carpeting on stairs using tack strips. However, that’s not always the case anymore. There are alternatives you can choose from.

To install carpet on stairs without tack strips you can use carpet adhesive, magnetic flooring, or staples; adhesive is the most common method. Apply a 12-inch strip of adhesive to the step and lay the carpet over the step, smoothing it out by hand. Tamp it down to hold in place, or as an alternative secure it with staples.

Tack strips are so 1997, right? Well, they still work, but not all of us enjoy using them in installation jobs. If you’re looking to avoid the price fo tack strips, then you’re in luck. This article is made for you.

Whether or not you use tack strips to install carpet on your stairs is entirely up to you. However, some professionals are against it because it’s hard to get the carpet to stay in place. If the carpet slides, this can post a safety issue.

Regardless of the consequences, people still prefer not to use the tack strip so that they can remove the carpet easier if they want to participate in seasonal remodeling. Tack strips also leave unsightly holes in wood, which can be an issue when it comes to selling the property.

Also known as tackless strips, these are skinny strips of wood lined with sharp metal tacks angled toward the wall. Pelletier Rugs refer to tackless carpet installation as a means of securing the carpet with these strips, which are either nailed or glued to the floor around a room’s edges.

Are you worried about lacking the skill and equipment necessary to do a stair installation? You’re not alone, but don’t worry. Installing carpeting on stairs is actually one of the easiest home improvement projects you can do with a carpet. Even if you’re a newbie to the DIY world, it’s a doable project if you want it to be.

There’s no need to worry about expensive equipment requirements, either. You don’t need any real major tools to make this happen. As long as you have a sharp knife, glue, a hammer, and nails, you probably will be able to do a tackless installation.

Carpet tiles are another fantastic product to use instead of tack strips. If you haven’t bought your carpet yet, you can get carpet squares instead for easier installation. They’re the easiest product to work with regarding carpeted stairs.

Instead of stretching the carpet or using staples or nails, you can simply spray some adhesive and stick. That way, if any portion of the carpet is damaged, you can simply remove that single piece and lay a new square without having to tear up the entire thing.

If your stairs are made of concrete or a cold hard surface, then underlay might be a great idea to use instead of tack strips. This is because it helps insulate the surface while keeping the carpet from sliding around on the stairs under your feet.

Not to mention, moisture and condensation make the perfect environment for mold, bacteria, and mildew to grow. By setting underlayment on your stairs under your carpet, this will prevent the unwanted spores from growing.

However, make sure you find an underlayment that is high quality and synthetic so that it will add some cushion. Also, this will help the inexpensive carpet to last longer.

You’ll also want to use double-sided tape to ensure that the carpet seams and border edges are linked in place. Choose a heavy-duty double-sided tape that is designed for installing carpets.

With the double-sided type, one side of the tape is for securing the bottom part of the carpet to the floor, while the other side connects the floor to the carpet. The dual action provides the best result and has a better chance of keeping the carpet from sliding.

With tape, you can expect the adhesive properties to deteriorate as time goes on. Because of this deterioration, the carpet may slide, and that could result in an accident. However, to avoid this, you can combine tape with a reinforcement method such as carpet adhesives or staples.

Staples are an age-old method that’s proven to keep the carpet in its place, keeping it from sliding out from under your feet. They are safe and easy to use, and they help keep the carpets tightly fitted against the surface.

However, the downside is that staples do deface the wood that is underneath the carpet. Also, they can get rusty as time goes on, which can cause your carpet to age quicker. This means you would need to replace your carpet a lot sooner than you intended. However, you can always spray it with an anti-rust solution to keep this from happening.

Related Questions

What kind of carpet should I use for my stairs?

We suggest not using a carpet with padding installed underneath it unless you’re working with concrete. The best carpet for stairs will be made with high traffic in mind, and will have a short length. Longer carpeting can be difficult to clean and more prone to traffick-related damage.

How long does it take to install carpet on stairs?

Tackless or otherwise, a typical carpet installation gig isn’t going to be a 30-minute affair. Most casual DIYers will find that a typical staircase will take around three to five hours to complete.

Can you lay carpet over existing carpet?

While doing this can be risky for mold and other things, the truth is that you don’t have to remove your current carpet if you want to add new carpet to your home. If installed properly, you can potentially lay a new carpet over existing carpet without any issues to speak of.

How can I tell if I need to replace my carpet?

Usually, you can tell if a carpet needs replacement by just looking at it. Most carpets can recover from heavy traffic as long as they have a little tender love and care. When they no longer are salvageable, that’s when you should worry. Ergo, if your carpet looks threadbare, is unraveling at the seams, has water damage, or is too dirty to clean, you need to replace it. There’s nothing you can do to save it.