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Upgrading tired and worn stairway carpets can give a whole new look to your home’s interior. When those high traffic areas start looking extremely lackluster despite your best cleaning efforts, it’s probably time to invest in fresh new stair runners or fitted stair carpeting.

But finding carpets designed specifically to adorn staircase spaces comes with its own unique considerations compared to regular flooring. Here’s a guide on what to look for when shopping for stylish yet hardwearing stair carpets.

Measure Carefully

When refreshing stairs with plush new carpeting, precision measurements are key for both aesthetic reasons and safety. Loose or ill-fitting carpets on stairs pose an easy tripping hazard.

Before carpet shopping, carefully gauge the exact dimensions of each step’s tread width and depth as well as the height of your full stairway (known as the ‘rise’). Account for any shape irregularities too. Jot down your measurements stair-by-stair making it easy for carpet fitters to customize.

For straight flights, choose continuous fitted stair carpet cut precisely for each step. Factor in enough excess length at the bottom for securing firmly in place.

Consider Stair Carpet Construction

While embracing latest carpet trends can be exciting, be practical when it comes to stairs. Lust-worthy shaggy textures may not wear well. Seek out low-profile loop pile carpets or dense, resilient saxony cut pile specially intended for heavy use areas.

Check the carpet’s durability rating meets a minimum 3 out of 5. Also inspect carpet swatches closely to ensure the backing and fibers feel well-constructed and hard-wearing rather than flimsy.

Grip is Crucial

Since stairs don’t provide a flat surface for securing carpeting firmly in place, maintaining safety requires excellent grip. Carpet backing not only holds pile fabric together, but it also prevents slip hazards.

Quality stair runners feature textured backings made from durable latex or thermoplastic polymers that ‘stick’ firmly to underlying stairs without need for nails or tacks. This prevents movement while walked on.

Also check carpet manufacturer guidelines to see if the chosen carpets are suitable to install directly over hard materials like wood or concrete stairs without an underlay for extra traction.

Accentuate Edges

Frame new stair carpets with decorative matching or color contrasting stair rods, held snugly against each step’s bullnose edge by low profile metal brackets. Brass or chrome finishes lend stairs an elegant hotel feel.

Flat skinny sisal or jute stair treads also work well paired with patterned carpet runners to highlight and secure the edges of center-placed carpets, preventing curly corners or movement. They triple as foot gritters too absorbing rain.

Safety Standards Matter

When browsing carpet collections check labels to verify, they meet important staircase safety standards for UK homes. Quality retailers only sell compliant carpets ideal for stairs.

Key marks to look for include the Nightingale mark which indicates suitability and safety for use on UK stairs when properly fitted to manufacturer guidelines. The R mark also denotes carpets passing fire resistance testing.

Though refreshing old, carpeted stairs does take careful measurements, stair construction consideration, plus allowing for professional fitting costs too, choosing the right style and quality stair runners can make a dramatic uplifting difference to any home. Just ensure grip, safety and durability remain top priorities when making carpet buying decisions for high traffic staircases.

Do you want to buy stair carpets at an affordable price? Then you should take a look at what we offer at Pay As You Go Carpets. We provide pay weekly carpets and pay monthly carpets for anyone in need. Get your carpets with no down payment and at a weekly payment of just £10.