Staircase Remodeling in Riverdale, GA

Not everyone wants bare wood stairs. Carpet is quieter, softer underfoot and kinder to kids and pets, and plenty of homeowners plan staircase remodeling with the intention of keeping it. The difference between a tired carpeted stair and a good one is mostly in what happens before the carpet goes down and in how it is wrapped over each step.

Here is what we look at when a Riverdale homeowner wants a carpeted stair done properly this time.

Fixing the stair before the carpet goes back

Once the old carpet and pad are pulled, the treads and risers underneath are exposed, and this is the only practical chance to fix them for years. Squeaks are usually treads rubbing on stringers or nails that have loosened; they can be secured with screws or adhesive. Treads that flex, cracked nosings and stringers with splits are repaired now, because new carpet will not hide a stair that moves.

We also check the nosings themselves. Carpet wraps tightly over the front edge, so a nosing that is chipped or uneven shows through as a lump.

Waterfall or upholstered installation

A waterfall installation runs the carpet over the nosing and straight down to the next tread, leaving a small air gap in front of the riser. It is quicker to install and works with most carpets.

An upholstered installation, sometimes called cap and band, tucks the carpet tightly under the nosing and down the face of the riser, so it follows the shape of each step. It takes more time and suits thinner, flexible carpets, but it gives a tailored look and wears more evenly at the nosing.

Padding, direction and seams

Stair pad is usually denser and thinner than room pad, because thick, soft pad lets the carpet shift and wear quickly at the nosing. The carpet pile should run down the stair, with the grain facing the bottom step, so it wears and looks uniform. Seams belong at the back of a tread or under a nosing, never across the walking path, and landings are planned so any seam falls where traffic is lightest.

Our carpet installation in Riverdale handles the stair together with halls and bedrooms when the whole floor is being replaced, so the carpet lot and direction stay consistent.

Where carpet meets wood at the top and bottom

Many carpeted stairs end at a hardwood or tile floor. At the bottom, the last riser and the floor should meet without a gap or a raised strip. At the top, a wood stair nosing set flush with the hallway floor gives the carpet a clean edge to finish against. Landing details depend on whether the landing is carpeted too; a carpeted landing is installed as one piece where possible, and its edges are tucked against walls and newels.

Railing, balusters and skirt boards on a carpeted stair

Balusters on a carpeted stair usually stand on the treads, and the carpet is cut neatly around them, or they stand on a wood strip along the open side so the carpet runs between strip and wall. If the railing is being replaced, it is installed before the carpet, so new balusters are not set into finished carpet. Skirt boards and risers that will show above the carpet edge should be painted before installation, since paint on a finished carpet stair is hard to do cleanly.

Riverdale permits for trade and structural work

Riverdale is in Clayton County. If the stair project grows beyond carpet and carpentry to include new wiring or lighting, keep in mind that the city’s Building and Permitting Division requires permits for electrical, plumbing and mechanical work. Those applications go in online, along with a current survey of the property, a site plan, the contractor’s credentials and an affidavit from the owner. If the project changes the stair’s structure, ask the division whether a permit is needed before work begins.

Questions about carpeted stairs

What is the difference between a waterfall and an upholstered carpet stair?

On a waterfall stair, the carpet goes over the nosing and drops straight down to the next tread, leaving a small gap at the riser. On an upholstered stair, the carpet is pulled tight under the nosing and down the riser, following each step’s shape. Waterfall is faster to install; upholstered looks more tailored and suits thinner carpets.

Should squeaky stairs be fixed before new carpet is installed?

Yes. With the carpet and pad off, the treads and stringers are easy to reach, and squeaks can be stopped with screws, adhesive or shims where the treads meet the stringers. Once new carpet is down, fixing a squeak means pulling it back up. It is also the right time to repair any cracked nosings or loose treads.

How does carpet on the stairs meet a hardwood floor at the top?

The usual detail is a wood stair nosing installed flush with the hallway floor. The carpet on the top riser and tread is finished tightly against or beneath that nosing, so the edge is clean and nothing lifts. Measuring the floor height before ordering makes sure the nosing matches the hardwood thickness.

Plan your carpeted stair with us

Reach us at 404-409-4448 to describe your stair and the carpet you have in mind. We can visit, look at what is underneath, recommend repairs and an installation style, and give you a written estimate that lists each part of the job.