How to Install a Stair Runner

By: Jefferson Kolle, This Old House magazine

Shopping List

Supplies You Will Need

1. STAIR RUNNER

2. TACKLESS STRIPS

3. CARPET PAD

4. LATEX CARPET GLUE

5. 3/4-INCH CARPET TACKS
for temporarily holding runner pieces on winder stairs

6. DECORATIVE STAIR RODS
optional

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Tools List
Tools You Will Need
- Knee kicker,
  rent from carpet store or rental center
- Electric stapler with 9/16-inch narrow-crown staples
- Carpet knife
- Carpet tool
- Rubber mallet
- Sheet-metal snips
- Framing square
- Tape measure
- Tubing cutter or hacksaw,
  for trimming carpet rods
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Product selections for this project
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Rebecca Cinclair Photo:

1. Laying out tackless strips for a stair runner

Subtract the width of the runner from the width of the staircase (between baluster and skirtboard) and divide by two.

Lightly mark that distance out from the skirtboard and from the balusters on every tread where it meets the riser.

For each tread, use sheet-metal snips to cut a tackless strip 2 inches shorter than the width of the runner. Be sure there’s a nail within a couple of inches of each end.

Place a scrap piece of strip flush against the riser. Center the cut strip—pins angled toward riser—between the layout marks. Butt it against the scrap and nail.