How to Install Carpet on Stairs - how hard is it?

So the big question is "how is it holding up?" Especially since I did not use a kicker or stretcher. I will keep you updated but so far it has held up perfect and that is with a ton of daily foot traffic from my 6 young kids and their friends.
The staple gun I used is nothing special and is sold fairly cheaply. It's the Central Pneumatic 18 Gauge 2-in-1 Nailer/Stapler I listed all tools below with the links.

Tools I used:

Start from the bottom and work up. The style of carpeting you see me so is 'bullnose' and it wraps around the lip of the step. Another style is called 'waterfall' and is a simpler way to carpet. It took about 5 hours for me to rip out the old carpet and install it. For me, that is right on the edge of hiring out. But I enjoy the DIY challenge so I don't mind the work. Best of luck on your install! Let me know how it goes.

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How to contact me:
Email and mailing address on the About page:

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Disclaimer:
This video is only for entertainment purposes. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of tools, equipment, or from the information in this video is the sole responsibility of the viewer and is to be used at the discretion of the end-user/viewer and not AdamDIY and or Adam Hill. If you are uncertain about any step of the process or feel unsure about your skill level, seek a more authoritative source.

[tamaranicoleofficial]

I appreciate you for posting this video. I am a single woman home owner and this video is giving me the courage to do this on my own. Thank you 🙏

[andreww.]

While yall are arguing in the comments about how he did it wrong. I'm just over here wondering about why is it 2 am and watching a recommended video on how to install carpet.

[HonestJunkie]

I do not have stairs not even a house & yet here I am 9pm on a Sat night and I watched the entire video, I have truly arrived!!

[digitalis]

After seeing your video, I ripped out and replaced my carpet on my stairs too. It looks fantastic! Thanks for the inspiration!

[careykalupson]

Never fails to amaze me how many folks use striking/power/pneumatic tools without OSHA Z.97 safety glasses. A person can work 20 years without wearing them with no incident, but then BAM!! that stapler misfires or a staple hits an old nail or whatever and ricochets right into an eyeball.

[TheLinkMedic]

1. To remove start from the top and work your way down pulling in a sideways motion to remove the steps, cut as you go if you need to shorten the piece you're pulling to make it easier.
2. Leave the padding as long as its not stained with urine or something, padding on stairs unless mega old is usually okay.
3. Get a drywall square or some sort of long straight edge and pre-cut your stair padding into little rectangles, they don't have to be perfect but should be as uniform as you can get them, leave a 1-1/2inch gap between the padding and the back of the riser if you don't have tack strip on the stairs.
4. Make sure the carpet grain is going down with the flow of the stairs, they'll look better.
5. Get a kicker :) and you can follow pretty much what hes doing but stretching with the kicker as you go.
6. Lift yarns out of the way while you staple to hide them, if you just staple anywhere they could be very visble depending on the type of carpet.
Been doing this 20 years and people are always too scared to try it, its not rocket science just need to know a few things, only difference is i'd have this done in about 20 minutes. You can make things easier by not wrapping the lip but just having it waterfall over, some stairs won't even have the lip. Good idea using the carpet underneath furniture, usually its like brand new so thats a good way to get more mileage out of your carpet. Good work.

[Dominick_Calvitto.]

I Have Done Carpet installations for 20 years 1 Bit of Advice To Do a Rip up of Stairs, Always Start at The Top of The Steps, Ripping up your working against yourself..But Cool Video and good job.,

[TruthBTold]

I'm impressed for someone who has never laid carpet on stairs, good job!!

[nopt]

Thank you so much. You've just proved it's all about confidence to tackle any job so long as you have basic DIY skills. I'll be doing mine all by myself. Top man !

[patrickb]

Not bad. A couple pro tips though, use a rubber mallet with that stair tool so as not to cut the carpet. Also run a few staples at the back edge of the tread where you tap it down with the tool. That way you dont put staples in the stair face, it pins down the fibers and is visible in most cases.

[GhostwingV]

i find it funny how every one is judging this man on how his fit's carpet on the stairs for the 1st time ever who has never done it before i think his done a good enough job to be happy with. his not a carpet fitter and he should be really proud of the way it looks. p.s im a ex fitter myself and i can see everything his doing wrong lol so i don't need the 3rd degree from you all haha have a good day peps :)

[fishingotheradventuresonke]

Hi Adam, I’m just about to pull up my stair carpet for painting and fitting an imbedded glass staircase kit, I’m relaying the same carpet. Your video has given me the confidence to do the job with some great tips, thank you for taking the time to record your efforts. Best wishes from the U.K. 😊👍

[kirkhepburnmiddleagedwhiteguy]

Nice job Adam, for a DIY.
Couple of friendly tips, sir.
Rubber mallet to stair tool is easier on the ears. Definitely use a kicker. Your carpet will loosen before too long.
I always started in the center with the first kick stretch and work toward skirt boards.
The frieze carpet finishes nicely.
Thanks for sharing your experience. BTW - Sunday afternoon 3/15/20. bored

[thanos]

It seems YouTube recommendation has brought us all together again

[TomKatsiroubas]

I'll be hiring for this job. Thought about doing it myself until I saw this video. Thank you for the video, it gave me a good perspective.

[gundersonflooringanddesign]

I love this video. I've been doing carpet 30 years. Sweet compressor staple gun.! Duo-fast makes an electric stapler. Nice to see you started the installation at the bottom stair working your way up. To rip up and install a flight of box, or closed stairs, reasonable to expect $200 labor plus cost of materials. Any job that comes out acceptable is a job well done! If you had fun with that, you should try doing stairs with spindles and going through them!

[karl]

I think its looks pretty good, certainly better than the last stair carpet I laid about 10 years ago, using only tacks, which incidentally no one has ever tripped on and has never come loose.

[showme....]

You did an awesome job on the video and the carpet laying. You have definitely inspired me to do mine. Thanks for the video.

[NMP]

I came here while installing my carpet for some reinforcement. Now I'm drinking coffee enjoying the comments!

[greengekko-pshr]

Hi I layer my first carpet last year in a bedroom enjoyed every minute.doing my hall/stairs and landing next loved your video of doing the stairs so will be doing the same as you great video many thanks for sharing