- 1). Place a tackless strip across the back of each stair tread, and out 1 inch from the riser for thin rugs and 2 inches for thick rugs. Hammer the strip to the tread with the tack hammer and carpet tacks. Hammer a tack in about every 4 inches across the strip and at each corner. Continue this process for all the stair treads.
- 2). Cut a piece of carpet pad for each tread with a utility knife. The dimensions should be the same width as the tackless strip, and as deep as needed to butt up against the tackless strip at the back of the tread. Wrap the front edge of the pad over the front (the nose) of the stair tread, and down to the tackless strip on the riser below.
- 3). Staple the carpet pads to each tread with the staple gun and staples. Insert a staple at the back corners and every 6 inches along the tackless strip. Stretch the pad around the nose of the tread and staple the corners every 6 inches to the riser.
- 4). Install the carpet runner starting at the top of the stairs by centering the rug at the top of the first riser, overtop of the carpet pad. Fasten it by hammering with the tack hammer and carpet tacks every 4 inches across the riser and at each corner.
- 5). Smooth the carpet with your hand so it flows smoothly to the bottom of the riser and aligns straight. Use a level at the edge of the carpet to ensure it lies straight across the tread.
- 6). Push the runner into the corner between the riser and stair tread with the blunt chisel. The runner should sit tightly in the corner, with the tacks securing it across its full width.
- 7). Continue this process down the stairway. Secure the end of the runner with carpet tacks as you did the top of the stairs.
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