What sort of carpet is best for stairs?

[BinaryFinary]

Ours was cream. It's now totally minging. So light colours are out I think. Not sure stripes will work as the stairs are very twisty.

I like that sort of waffle effect, is it sisal? Seagrass? Something like that, but is it slippy? Or easy to spot clean when it gets inevitable spills / marks?

I've never bought a new carpet and literally have no idea. I walked around the carpet shop and just felt bewildered

If you're happy with your stair carpet could you tell me what it is please?

Oh and rough idea of cost, I've no idea if we're talking £200 or £2000.
There are two flights with a landing of about 3m in between. And pretty narrow

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

I've had berber/waffle types in the past and they've shed and worn really badly. We currently have a standard 80% wool cut loop carpet in a minky/beigey colour with teeny wee flecks in it. 3 years in and looks good as new. Fitters cut some extra stair width bits with the left overs and rolled and re-bagged them in the loft just in case any sections need re-done which was an excellent idea. Carpet has an expected lifespan of 20 years. We are a family of 4 so there is a lot of use of the stairs!

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

cost wise we were about £2k but that was for the stairs and landing, 4 bedrooms (one with walk in wardrobe), downstairs play room and study. Including underlay, grip and fitting. 4 bed new build. think that also including fitting the lino in the bathrooms but not supplying it. 3 years ago, independent fitter.

[BinaryFinary]

That's really helpful thank you. And I'm relieved to hear the cost - this might be doable after all

[Sophie38]

It depends how much the carpet is. We got our stairs done recently with a polypropylene carpet that was £17 a metre. Two and a half flights, a square landing and two very long landings cost us £1000.

Unfortunately it frayed and we have to have it redone so are getting a wool mix this time from a different company.

I wouldn't go with sisal, it gets very dusty. You could have a nice plain runner if you have good condition stairs? Ours are a bit shot so we had to have proper carpet.

[Sophie38]

btw don't get a loop pile - get a twist, there will be a lot of cut edges so it needs not to fray. Short, dense pile is best I think. You can bleach polypropylene, but not wool.

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

twist is what I meant by cut loop :)

Go for a wool mix, softer and springier but still hardwearing.

This is similar to what we have:

www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-timeless-40oz-heather-twisted-pile-carpet/p2261763?colour=Oatmeal

[Lasize]

We have just had a wool 80/20 mix twist fitted. Think carpet was £26 a square metre. Cost was £650 for a runner on stairs and a medium sized landing.

[Lasize]

We were warned off the loopy/ berber carpets as they end up looking tatty.

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

they do indeed lasize previous occupants of our house got those out into our house from new - we moved in when it was less than 2 years old and they were already scraggy and horrid and moulty.

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

put not out..

[VulcanWoman]

I'm in the Midland and mine cost £280, one flight of stairs and a landing. Was advised to avoid loop types.

[randomsabreuse]

We got ours (pale ish grey) from the Kidderminster Carpet Factory Shop. Hsd it measured by them as well. About £ 20 /metre for wool mix so couple of hundred plus about 80 for fitting. They have roll ends and also some discount rolls.

[JT05]

20 years ago we had 80/20 wool mix twist pile fitted on stairs and landing. It's still there today after family life, with no worn areas.

Buy the best you can afford. Try and avoid man made fibres, a friend fell down stairs and had horrendous friction burns from the man made fibre.