A stair tread is one of the most important parts of your stairs—this is the horizontal section of each step, in which users step to ascend or descend the staircase. There are many different kinds of stairs in each and every home, and for some residences, a common sight would be a set of carpeted stairs. While carpets offer a plusher, softer surface to walk on, they can be quite hard to maintain for high-traffic areas such as stairs.
If you'd like to prevent wear and tear to your carpeted stairs, you can put stair treads for added protection. This prevents the carpet from wearing down from the traffic of people going up and down, and it also keeps away excessive dirt. It gives your carpeted stairs a better grip, making them safer for the users.
Installing stair treads on carpeted staircases is pretty easy and straightforward. However, there are also other options you can explore if you wish to add protection and grip to your staircase. Keep reading to see how you can put stair treads on your carpet.
Pros and Cons of Stair Treads on Carpet
Stair treads are great ways to protect your carpeted stairways because this is one of the most easily worn-out places at home. With the number of people going up and down the staircase, the carpet tends to wear easily on the stairs. Because of this, there are a number of products like stair tread carpet protectors to help with this issue.
One example of this protective item is this carpet stair tread protector. They come in sets, and they can be installed easily on your carpeted staircase.
These particular stair treads have teeth that grip on the carpet's fibers, making it easy for the treads to stick and remain in place. They work well with high piles or thick carpets, as well as low-pile carpets. These stair treads are slip-resistant and protect your staircase without sacrificing its design.
Get this clear stair tread protector on Amazon.
Stair Tread Pros
There are pros to installing stair treads on your carpeted stairs. For one, they protect your carpet from excess wear and tear, as well as dirt from setting in the carpet piles.
They also offer added traction for users, and they keep bumps from forming in the carpet, which can be dangerous if it is not fixed immediately. Adding these stair treads can make your carpeted staircases last longer and look cleaner for an extended period of time.
Stair Tread Cons
However, there are also downsides to installing stair treads to your carpeted staircase. Most products offered on the market are built to be installed on wood or tiled stairs. This leaves many homeowners with fewer options to choose from for carpeted stairs.
Depending on the stair treads you will find, you may also find yourself bothered with teeth or tack marks on your carpet after removal, and this can be an issue for homes that are rented or leased.
How to Install Stair Treads
Installing these stair treads is pretty easy, and even beginner DIYers can do these on their own. There are a few items that you only need for installing them.
- Stair Treads
- Carpet Tacks
- Hammer
Instructions on stair tread installation on the carpet:
- Prepare each stair tread by separating one protector for each step.
- Carefully place the stair tread protector on the stair's carpet starting from the nosing before smoothing it out towards the width of the stair treads.
- Ensure that the placement is correct and secure. Press down heavily to ensure that the teeth are securely gripped on the carpet's pile.
- Place three tacks on the center of each stair and one for each corner. Secure this by hammering the carpet tacks onto your carpet.
How to Protect Carpeted Stairs
Aside from adding these stair treads to your carpeted staircase, there are other options for homeowners to protect them. This is because there are very few options for stair treads to be installed on carpeted ones, and the best way would be to simply take care of these high-traffic areas.
1. Clean your carpet regularly
Staircases are often prone to dirt, dust, and spillage. Accidents are always bound to happen in these areas as people tend to carry items to different parts of the house.
One thing homeowners have to remember about carpeted areas is that they tend to absorb liquids quicker, and it is important to clean them as soon as possible. Clean all spills immediately to avoid the liquid seeping into the carpet and staining it even further.
Remember to use specific products for cleaning the carpet, and for big spills, a stair cleaning machine or carpet steamer can make the job a whole lot easier.
Aside from liquid spillage, carpeted staircases are also prone to excess dirt and dust sinking in the carpet piles. Leaving them on the carpet will cause discoloration and deterioration.
They can also cause health problems like asthma and allergies if left for too long. Fortunately, carpeted stairs are easy to clean with the use of a strong vacuum cleaner and a whole lot of elbow grease. This will maintain your carpet's quality and cleanliness.
2. Cover your windows with curtains or shade
Bright and open windows are great, but if left for too long and your windows are very close to your carpeted stairs, too much sunlight can cause premature fading. Putting some curtains or a shade on your windows can prevent this problem from manifesting, and it also makes your home look better with added privacy and design.
3. Use vinyl stair runners
Plastic vinyl stair runners are great to put on carpeted areas with very high traffic. These carpet runners are easy to use and clean, as well as affordable -especially for homeowners who are only seeking a quick solution to add to their carpeted stairs. They are easy to install, and they can be cut to size depending on your needs.
However, one of the downsides of stair runners is their tendency to slip or fall which can be dangerous, especially when used on stairs.
In order to prevent this, make sure to pick vinyl stair runners that have long grippers on the bottom and that the underside has teeth that can grip on the carpet. Also, make sure to tack them tightly on your carpet to prevent it from moving around too much.
Check out this vinyl stair runner on Amazon.
4. Add carpet and floor protectors
Just like the vinyl stair runners, a carpet and floor protector can help you maintain your carpeted stairs in their best quality. They are easy to install and remove, and they provide a more seamless look than their plastic counterparts. These carpet protectors are more affordable and can easily be replaced once they start wearing thin.
Get this carpet protector on Amazon.
Wood Stairs or Carpeted Stairs?
There have been a number of questions regarding whether wood stairs or carpeted stairs work best for homes. Of course, the answer to this would sorely lie in the homeowner's decisions and needs. Here, we'll show you the pros and cons of each type of staircase.
Wood Stairs
Pros:
- Wood staircases look great in any home and provide a sleek, clean design to your interiors.
- Low-maintenance and easy to clean.
- Ideally, the hardwood material helps it last longer and is sturdier from excessive wear and tear.
Cons:
- Hardwood staircases can be slippery. Make sure to install grip and traction to the stair treads to prevent accidents.
- It doesn't provide sound absorption, and it can be noisy when someone goes up and down the stairs.
- Hardwood staircases can cost twice as much as a carpet installation.
Carpeted Stairs
Pros:
- Carpet provides immediate traction on your stair treads. It offers a softer landing surface in the case of falls.
- The material provides great sound insulation and is perfect for homes that need sound absorption.
- Installation of carpeted stairs is relatively cheaper than its counterpart.
Cons:
- Carpet can be hard to clean and maintain. It can also collect dust and allergens, and it will require more cleaning.
- It is highly susceptible to wear and tear.
- Carpeted staircases may need to be replaced every few years.
To Summarize
Carpeted stairs are great for homes, and some homeowners are looking for ways to preserve and maintain the quality of their staircases. With this in mind, stair treads can be installed on carpeted stairs in homes to protect the carpet from excessive wear and tear.
While this is a great idea, also keep in mind that there are very few options for stair treads on carpets, so homeowners may need to find other options to protect their floors.
If you are looking for more information about stairs, do check out our other articles below,