How to Carpet Split-Level Stairs

Measure the length of the step from the bottom of the step’s riser to the back edge of its tread. The riser is the vertical section in front of the step, and the tread is the flat section on top of the step. Measure across one step in the stairway to obtain the width.

Multiply the length of the step by the number of first-level steps. This is the amount of carpeting necessary for this section of the stairway. Cut a piece of carpeting to the width and length of this section. Repeat this process for the second level of the stairs.

Measure the width and length of the landing. Cut carpeting to these dimensions.

Cut a tackless strip for each step. Each strip should be 1 inch smaller than the width of the step. Also, cut pieces of carpet padding as wide as the tackless strips. Make each piece of padding long enough to extend from the back edge of a step to the area under the nosing. The nosing is the front edge of the step or landing.

Place the tackless strips 1 inch away from the back edge of each step’s tread. Nail the strips to the step with a hammer. Use three nails and space them evenly.

Cut one tackless strip for the landing. Make it 1 inch smaller than the width of the wall at the end of the landing. Secure the strip with three nails, 1 inch away from the back edge of the landing.

Place a piece of carpet padding on the step, and align the back edge with the front edge of the tackless strip. Staple this edge to the tread with staple pins spaced about 3 inches apart. Pull the bottom edge of the padding under the nosing of the step and staple it in place. Repeat this process for the remaining steps.

Repeat step 7 for the landing. Staple the lower edge of the carpet pad under the nosing for the landing.

Place the carpet face-up on the first three steps. Align the edge of the carpet with the bottom edge of the riser at the bottom of the stairs. Staple the edge of the carpet to the edge of the riser. Place the staples 1 inch apart.

Pull the carpet up to the top of the step. Place the knee kicker on the carpet, and strike the tool with your knee. Repeat on different sections of the carpet until the carpet is taut. Push the carpet onto the tackless strip. Push the carpet into the corner between the tread and the riser, using a carpet tool.

Smooth the carpet up along the next riser. Staple it to the riser 1 inch above the tackless strip.

Repeat steps 10 and 11 for the remaining first-level steps of the stairway.

Staple the edge of the carpet to the top of the riser at the head of the first level of steps. Lay the carpeting for the landing.

Staple the edge of the carpeting under the nosing at the top of the first level of stairs. Pull the carpet to the edge of the wall on the landing. Make it taut with the knee kicker and staple the edge of the carpet down behind the tackless strip.

Repeat steps 9 to 11 to install the second piece of carpet on the second level of stairs.