Fitting a stair carpet

Norfolk_Jim

I want to replace my stair carpet as now very stained. I've had a look at the DIY videos on you tube and all of them show the fitter using a special kick tool to tighten the carpet.

Is one of these essential or is there another way to do the same thing?

Also I took the carpet up for a look at what was below and I found that there is no carpet grip strips on most of the stairs and also no underlay of any kind.

Again in the you tube videos all the stairs looked to have grip strips fitted and also quite sumptious amounts of what looked like flock running accross the tread board and over the edge.

Excuse my ignorance but again is this essential / desirable? I've never tried to fit carpet to stairs before and I don't know the basics yet so I'm trying to educate myself on it.

maninthestreet

Fitting is normally included in the price of carpet when you buy it.
What benefit will there be in trying to fit the carpet yourself?

Norfolk_Jim

I'm using actual remnants from end of rolls and because I have very little money but a fair bit of time this summer

robatwork

Maybe just sand down and varnish stairs instead of carpet? (something obviously non slip)

mazza111

You have been blessed with special kick tools, your feet Won't get quite as tight a fit, but advise to wear toe capped boots. Again, grip sticks are better, but you can use carpet tacks just as easy.

I laid my stair carpet about 5 years ago, no underlay, no grip rods and no kick tools. It's still looking pretty good, no *bumfles* Good old word that :rotfl: and no coming up anywhere

dodgydl

By using a knee kicker and carpet gripper you will get a nice tight fit on the carpet.
I recently re-laid the carpet in my sons bedroom as it was laid real badly by the previous owner of the property and had cheap underlay.

Costs were:
new underlay (good quality) - around £30 for whole roll
http://www.wilsons-carpet-underlays.co.uk/store/product.php?id=3

carpet gripper - £4.59 (8 lengths of 1.53cm in pack)
http://www.wickes.co.uk/carpet-gripper-153m-pk8/invt/158066/

knee kicker - £26.18
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Heavy-Duty-Carpet-Knee-Kicker/dp/B000QXYQ1U

So for just over £60 I relaid the underlay and carpet and now it looks and feels so much better. And I have some underlay and gripper left over. And have the knee kicker for when I do the next room!!

Depending on how much money you have you could do it this way or just buy the gripper or underlay etc....
Carpet kicker is not vital. Just stretches the carpet that little bit tighter and makes it look more of a professional finish.