Stair Tread Carpet

Many people install carpet and rug on stairs for several reasons, including because it looks good, for safety, and to protect stairs from wear

One often not mentioned benefit is that carpet will mute the sounds of people going up and down the stairs, especially little children running up and down while adults are trying to sleep!

Sometimes the terms "stair tread rugs," "stair tread carpet," and "stair runner" are used synonymously or at least very confusingly.

We'll attempt to use the term consistently as follows. We use the term rug to mean individual rugs, one placed on each stair. There are lots of options available, including braided stair rugs. You can see a large variety or stair tread rugs here. Stair carpet we use to mean a piece of carpet designed to cover multiple stairs, usually the entire staircase. Stair runner is used synonymously, except that a runner rarely covers the entire width of the stairs.

In cheaper and commercial construction, the carpet often covers the entire width and length of the staircase. This allows the use of construction grade materials for the staircase which are less expensive but not attractive. For example, both a rental two family house I once owned and the office building in which I rent my office take this approach. This was also once very common in private homes.

In private homes what is now more common is an attractive staircase, perhaps made of construction grade materials and covered/finished by hardwood stair treads, with a carpet from top to bottom that leaves a few inches of the beautiful wood exposed on each side. That's how my master staircase is finished. Click Here to see a large selection.

Remember that stairs are high traffic areas and carpets will wear. One use of a stair carpet or runner is to cover worn carpet. My grandmother had a grand old house with beautiful hardwood stairs that were entirely covered by carpet, as was the style those days. With 6 grandchildren as well as other general wear, the carpet looked pretty worn, Rather than replacing it, she simply covered the middle two thirds, which was the worn part, with a stair runner that complemented her decor.

Stair tread carpet adds a lot of options. Both options in building, such as using cheaper yet entirely appropriate construction grade materials and covering them with carpet, as well as multiple decor options that  can work in any environment. Any reputable carpet store will have plenty of options, advice, and usually installations services. And of course many people choose the do it yourself option as well.