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- 1 Make Stair Treads From Carpet Remnants
- 2 Keep Rug Stair Treads From Moving Around
- 3 Adding Traction to Stairs
- 4 Will Carpeted Stairs Make Your Home Safer & Quieter?
Most carpets on stairs are installed with some sort of hardware such as staples, nails or strips of sharp tacks called tackless strips. These methods, however, can damage the attractive wood of the stairs with unsightly marks and holes should you or a future owner wish to remove the carpet. Other types of stairs, such as concrete form stairs, do not readily accept staples for carpeting.
About Staples
Most carpet installers secure carpet to stairs with staples. Staples pass through the carpet and grasp the solid wood of the stairs, giving the carpet a tight, secure and safe fit. Carpeting with staples rarely tears from the steps. Staples, however, damage the underlying wood and may rust or wear away the carpeting where they go through. Staples cannot be applied to concrete stairs.
Tackless Strips
Tackless strips are narrow, thin strips of wood dotted with sharp metal tacks. Installers nail these strips to the back of each stair step and the bottom of each stair riser. When the carpet is laid across the tackless strips, the tacks grasp the carpet and hold it in place. Most tackless strips are used in combination with staples or double-sided tape for a secure fit. Like staples, tackless strips pierce the wood of the steps and are not suitable for concrete steps.
Double-Sided Carpet Tape
Used primarily for connecting carpet seams and holding the border edges of carpets, double-sided carpet tape is a heavy duty tape specially designed for carpet installation. The tape has two adhesive sides: one to adhere to the floor and the other to secure the underside of the carpet. For stairs, double-sided tape is inappropriate as the only means for securing carpet. Over time, the tape loses its adhesive properties and the carpet section may slide, possibly causing an accident. Avoid using only double-sided tape for the carpet installation.
Installing Concrete Steps Video
Carpet Adhesive Epoxy
For concrete steps and installation without staples, carpet installers use an industrial carpet adhesive called carpet seam epoxy. This adhesive contains synthetic latex resins that serve as an extremely sticky and durable tackless strip replacement. Epoxy is suited for securing carpet to both wood and concrete surfaces and also serves as a carpet seam adhesive to prevent fraying fiber edges. This material usually sets within 15 minutes and cures completely in 12 to 24 hours.
Installing Carpet On Concrete
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About the Author
Rebecca Mecomber, a former radio broadcaster, has been a professional blogger and writer since 2006. Her articles and interviews have appeared in 'The Wall Street Journal,' Salon.com and several other publications, covering topics such as Federal Trade Commission policy and media regulations, blogging, home improvement and New York travel.
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