Best carpet type for stairs

crayola

Hi all. We need to replace some carpet in our back staircase. The current carpet is (I think) too vulnerable to stains as it is fairly pale and leads down to the garden, which can get muddy. It's quite dirty already and looks old.

One solution would be simply getting a darker carpet but I don't really like muddy brown. My feeling is that a less porous fabric type would be better, possibly segrass.

However, I have heard that for some reason seagrass and its ilk is not recommended for stairs. I was wondering if maybe instead one of those 'cable' style carpets would be better, perhaps something like this. Would that style work for stairs?

These stairs, I should add, are not very high traffic, but they are likely to get dirty when they are used. We don't want to spend a lot on this project as they are sort of a utility area, but it would be nice not to have it looking filthy as it does now. We also suspect the floorboards are not in great nick.

many thanks all!

muskoka

Is there an area at the bottom of the stairs that you can use floor tiles? Makes for a small area where kids,etc can take muddy shoes off.

Sorry, I gotta say this. I have now purchased for five different houses exactly the same carpet. Many years ago I walked into Carpetright & asked them for something super duper kidproof. They recommended carpet called Major Twist, which I have now purchased 5 times. Boringggggggggg I know BUT its guaranteed stainproof, you can throw bleach on it & it wont mark. Everytime I've sold a house, I've thrown bleach on the carpet just to show the buyers this carpet. Each to their own, but I really like this carpet. I like it in Heather Beige - dosent show the dirt.
http://www.carpetright.co.uk/major-twist-heather-beige-2.html

I have to say though my family does take their shoes off when they come in, so the dirt is kept at a minimum anyway. DONT PAY THIS STUPD PRICE - I always do a deal with my local store & I've currently got it on order for £10.99

netti

I am also about to buy new carpet for the stairs and landing, so thanks for the tip Muskoka. I will be off to carpetright tomorrow to check it out.

How much should I expect to pay for nice underlay - it always seems to be nearly as much as the carpet!

muskoka

Dont buy the underlay from Carpetright. Theres another thread on here (just started today). Looks like a good place to buy the underlay online. Thanks to the OP, thats where I'm going to get my underlay

buggle13

A carpet like the one you linked to wears better in stairs than a 'twist pile'.

I wouldn't buy the carpet from carpet right either.

Shop around and I am certain you will save on the cost of the carpet. Local independent stores usually work out cheaper. Or look on the net I work at a letting agency and we used online carpets recently.