Stapling stair runner

Uk1982

Hi, I am in the process of making my own stair runner ( I know, I'm crazy and I could pay someone to do it for me, but I enjoy a rewarding project ) .
I have prepped the stairs, I already have the carpet, underlay, binding to edge the carpet, and all the tools apart from the staple gun. 
I have a manual staple gun, but in order to get staples in properly under the nose of the stair I think I'll need an electric one. 
I'm not sure what size of staples I'll need. It's a thick carpet and the stairs are typical newbuild stairs (plywood?). 
Any recommendations for staple size? I need it to be long enough to safely hold the carpet in place, but short enough not to risk piercing anything that may be lurking under/behind any stairs!
Any advice appreciated.
Thanks in advance. 

Lorian

why not use gripper rods?

victor2

Lorian said:

why not use gripper rods?

^^This^^

That's how the carpet fitter who installed our new stair carpet did the job.

You could staple the underlay onto each tread using the staple gun you already have.

Uk1982

Thank you both for the answers.  I can't quite visualise how gripper rods would hold the carpet tightly under the nose of each stair. Would I put one at the back of each tread, and then maybe one at the top and bottom of each riser? 

Uk1982

I should have said, there are 3 regular stairs, then 6 winders, then 3 more regular stairs. 

JIL

You are brave, we had our new stairs carpet fitted today and it took three and a half hours.  

Mickey666

Uk1982 said:

Thank you both for the answers.  I can't quite visualise how gripper rods would hold the carpet tightly under the nose of each stair. Would I put one at the back of each tread, and then maybe one at the top and bottom of each riser? 

There is no need to hold the carpet tightly under the nose of each tread.

Uk1982

JIL said:

You are brave, we had our new stairs carpet fitted today and it took three and a half hours.  

Brave or foolish, one of the two! 😃

Uk1982

Mickey666 said:

Uk1982 said:

Thank you both for the answers.  I can't quite visualise how gripper rods would hold the carpet tightly under the nose of each stair. Would I put one at the back of each tread, and then maybe one at the top and bottom of each riser? 

There is no need to hold the carpet tightly under the nose of each tread.

No, I suppose not!  I'm trying to imagine how it would work on the winders, I guess I could use gripper rods and use a few staples on the winders as well to be safe. 

Gastines3

Best bet,pay a carpet fitter to do it! With all those winders ensure you have measured the longest point to ensure you have sufficient length. Don't attempt to turn the run of carpet,pile direction, to save on the wasted angles.Pile should run DOWN the stairs.No need to fix under nosing if fitted tightly. I presume you will cut the winders individually,so easiest and best way to fix with gripper. cut pads slightly shorter than carpet with so they don't show at edge of carpet ,and they drop down to just above gripper on riser.fix with stapler. ensure grippers are fixed with correct gap between tread and riser and push in tight with bolster.Or as I said,employ a tradesman{person] to do it properly. Lost count of the amount of times people would spend hundreds of pounds on a carpet,try and fit it themselves,then phone me to try and put it right. Including one chap who told me he'd fitted all the grippers in an entire house to cut the cost.When I arrived it was all about 2" [50mm] away from the wall with the spikes facing outwards
P.S. I didn't go into the detail of telling you how to include a change of tread on a stair runner , as that is not a job for the amateur on winders.

victor2

Look on YouTube and you'll find some good videos. Not sure how you'll go round the corner, but no doubt someone will have done it and filmed it. You might want to ignore our friends across the pond as they use different terminology!
When our stairs & landing were re-carpeted, we paid the supplier to fit it. Cost £50. Money well spent!