Carpet fitting query - narrow stair

[OhBuggerandArse]

Can anyone advise me on this? Carpet fitter has just put new carpet on our stairs, and it isn't pinned in under the tread overhang. I don't think it looks right, and because the stair is narrow it makes the space for your foot feel even more cramped. Can anyone tell me whether I should have asked for something specifically to avoid this, or what I should say to the carpet guys now?

You shouldn’t have to ask for it specifically to be done ime, but I’ve never had stairs that narrow. What was the previous carpet there fitted like?
Who measured for the carpet? I’m wondering if there wasn’t enough carpet to do it. You will just have to say you aren’t happy with the fitting and don’t feel it’s right, see what he says.

That's crap. They haven't done the bull nosing properly. I would ask them to come back and refit.

Is it American style when they staple it in a horizontal line of staples invisibly under the stair so it is tucked right in? I prefer that look too.

That looks really odd and potentially very slippery.

Looks like a bodge job.
definitely tell them you aren’t happy with the installation and for them to come and do it properly at their cost.

You’re never going to unsee that now. I’d ask them to fit a gripper under the tread overhang. Or pin in the carpet to tighten it in. I just looked at ours and it isn’t pinned tight.

It's the 'modern' way of doing it, or American way? They'll probably say you should have asked and you'll say I didn't know to ask. Is the carpet cut or is it one run, if one run you might be able to redo it and add a bit more.

Thanks, all - he is coming to look at it on Monday, but I will need to find a way to negotiate!

That is actually the correct way to do it. If it covered the rounded bit at the end then it would have a raw edge and fray. It is considered inferior in the carpet fitting world to stick the carpet to the down tread, as it is stuck with glue rather than pinned in. The pin is at the bottom of the tread to hold it in place with another gripper at the back of the top tread, creating a gap of about 0.7cm which the carpet is bolstered into.

I don't know about that - how can it be correct if it makes it impossible to walk up the stairs safely or comfortably? It never used to be like that.

The waterfall way provides better traction and doesn't use any more of the tread than capping and banding. Both methods use the double thickness of the carpet, so I'm not sure why you think this is worse. Waterfall is how professionals do it. I used to own a carpet fitting business. I promise you, this is the correct way to do it.

Last sentence says it all. "The Hollywood style stair runner ensures that the carpet contours the stairs from top to bottom.
The carpet runner gets stapled under the nose of the stair. The Hollywood style installation method results in a tailored look which matches well with modern home décor. If your staircase is a focal point in the room, choose this elegant installation style to make a design statement. The upholstered style looks best with solid color rugs and small scale patterns. Compared to the Waterfall style, this method tends to be pricier as it requires more carpet and takes longer to install.

That sounds like corporate gaslighting. Are you saying the OP is lying or mistaken when she says that there’s less space for her foot?!? And anyway it looks shit like that and will gather dust that will be impossible to clean. Carpets have for years and years been fitted flush to the back and carpets haven’t just been failing apart all over the place so I don’t buy that excuse.

Corporate gaslighting!! 🤣, I've no skin in this game anymore, but whatever.

Carpets haven’t been “fitted flush to the back for years” that’s not true.

I knew nothing about carpets until three weeks ago when I got one laid. The fitter noticed I had my stairs done with the American/hollywood method. He was surprised as in the uk he explained that they don’t usually fit like that.

I didn’t know any of this as I made my ex fit my carpet a few years ago (hes not a carpet fitter) and I told him to staple underneath each stair as I liked it that way. So he did. It looks good. Hes a handy guy.

Aftet that I looked at all my friends and family’s carpets and they are waterfall. All fitted by professionals.

Perhaps it’s because none of us have corner stairs like the OPs that ours look different? My friends and family all have straight staircases.

I’d prefer that carpet to be stapled in under the tread if it were mine but youd presumably have to ask for that at the buying/arranging fitting stage as it’s apparently not standard practice in the uk.

So if you want it now id suggest youll need potentially another bit of caroet fur the affected stairs and more labour. Unless he can glue it in onto the back of the stair a bit. But even that will need more carpet presumably….

I’d prefer that carpet to be stapled in under the tread if it were mine but youd presumably have to ask for that at the buying/arranging fitting stage as it’s apparently not standard practice in the uk.

I, nor any family members, have ever had to ask for this, it is standard, we do not all live in the same areas either. We are spread over the North West, Oxfordshire, Wales. I’m in my 6th house that I’ve had carpets fitted in. DM is in her 10th house, siblings 3 & 4th. None of my friends have stairs fitted like op either.