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Your hardwood stairs look beautiful, but they’re creating real problems. Family members slip in socks. Every footstep echoes through the house. The wood shows scuff marks and wear patterns that diminish your home’s value.
Custom stair carpet runners solve these issues immediately. You’ll have secure footing on every step, dramatically reduced noise levels, and protection for your valuable hardwood investment. The difference is immediate – no more slipping, no more noise complaints, and stairs that feel warm and inviting rather than cold and hazardous.
Your Setauket home deserves flooring solutions that match its quality and character. Professional stair runners using durable materials like wool or synthetic fibers provide the perfect balance of luxury, safety, and longevity.
We’ve been serving Long Island homeowners for years, specializing in high-quality flooring solutions that match the character of local homes. We stand behind every installation with our Beautiful Guarantee® – if you don’t love your floors, we’ll replace them for free.
We carry one of the largest selections on Long Island, featuring carpets from major manufacturers with five different warranty levels to fit any budget. We create custom area rugs and install stair runners that complement your new flooring perfectly.
Local architects and designers consistently choose us for our professionalism, great eye for design, and excellent communication throughout custom orders with long lead times. This isn’t just another flooring company – we’re a team that understands what Setauket homeowners expect from their investments.
DIY stair runner installation often leads to unraveling edges, misaligned patterns, and runners that come loose over time. Professional installation eliminates these problems with proper techniques, specialized tools, and years of experience.
The process starts with precise measurement of your staircase, accounting for curves, landings, and width variations that challenge DIY attempts. Our expert installers measure your space, then fabricate the stair runner to exact width and dimensions – including pie-shaped, curved staircases and landings, with each step cut individually.
Our professional installers arrive on time, protect your furniture and belongings, and complete the job efficiently using dustless equipment when needed, so your home stays clean throughout the process. After installation, we walk through everything to ensure it meets both our standards and yours, addressing any concerns immediately.
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Setauket homeowners particularly appreciate stain-resistant options that handle the reality of Long Island living – beach sand, pet accidents, wine spills, and everything else life throws at your floors. Current trends favor bold geometric designs and vibrant jewel tones like emerald green, sapphire blue, or ruby red, adding opulence and sophistication to staircases.
Wool carpet is an excellent choice for staircases as it’s hardwearing as well as soft and warm. For luxury, choose 100 percent wool carpet, or select a blended version with 80 percent wool and 20 percent artificial fibers for added durability. For high-traffic areas like staircases, durability is key, with materials like wool naturally resistant to wear and tear, while nylon offers easy maintenance and design options.
Long Island’s coastal environment demands flooring that can handle humidity, salt air, and active family lifestyles. Professional-grade stair runners come with warranties up to 10 years for extra heavy domestic use, ensuring your investment performs beautifully for years.
For proper fitting, leave about 3-4 inches of space on each side of the runner for nice visual balance. This creates the classic stair runner look while allowing your beautiful hardwood to show through. The exact width depends on your staircase dimensions and personal preference.
Stair runners characteristically leave an equal margin – typically a few inches – of wood, cement, or whatever material your stairs are made of on either side of the carpeting. Professional measurement ensures perfect proportions that complement your home’s architecture rather than overwhelming it.
Most Setauket homes have staircases between 36-42 inches wide, making 27-30 inch runners ideal. However, curved staircases or those with multiple widths require custom solutions that only professional fabrication can provide properly.
There are two main installation styles: “Waterfall,” where the runner flows over the stairs and is tacked down at the base of each step; and “Hollywood,” where the runner is tacked down around the tread and fits close to the risers.
The waterfall method fastens the carpet to one end of the tread and allows it to drape over the riser, creating an informal appearance that’s popularly employed. This style works well for most home applications and is generally more forgiving during installation.
Hollywood installation creates a more tailored, formal appearance but requires more precision and skill. With this style, the runner is stapled under the nose, so this installation can only be done on stairs with adequate nosing, and the carpet needs to be thick enough so staples don’t show.
Most residential installations take one to two days, depending on the size of your project and any prep work needed. For a typical staircase, expect one full day, while whole-house projects with multiple staircases usually take two days, sometimes three if handling stairs with custom work.
Complex installations with curved staircases require more time, as each step is cut individually and sometimes first dampened and stretched slightly, then left to dry before installing to help create a smooth, perfect fit. This type of installation is usually a two or three-day job.
Our professional installers protect your furniture and belongings throughout the process, so you can stay in your home comfortably. If your home has older subflooring that needs attention, this is identified during measurement and factored into your schedule.
Bare hardwood staircases can be a safety issue, as smooth stairs can be slippery and feel like a ski slope when walking in socks. If you have pets, children, or seniors in your home, a stair runner can be a safer choice, offering traction and cushion in case of slips or falls.
Many families discover the safety issue immediately after moving into homes with bare wood stairs – everyone slips down more than once before realizing protection is needed. Quality stair runners eliminate this hazard while adding comfort.
However, runners must be made of non-slippery materials (avoiding silk or linen) and properly installed with no loose corners to trip over. Professional installation ensures runners provide cushioning and reduce slipping as intended.
The biggest mistake is choosing horizontal stripe patterns, which are nearly impossible to install correctly – it’s impossible to get lines to match up, and the end result is far from perfect. Horizontal patterns work well for area rugs or hallway runners, but not for stairs.
Another common error is not ordering enough material – you need to measure the rise and run of stairs multiplied by the number of stairs, plus any flat landing, and always add 2 feet just in case. Running short means visible gaps or poor coverage.
Avoid bold geometric contrasting patterns that can be dizzying and make stairs hard to navigate – you can’t figure out where your next step is. Pattern matching requirements can also lead to significant waste and increased costs. Professional guidance prevents these expensive mistakes.
Professional thorough cleaning of stair runners once a year removes dirt and allergens deeply embedded within fibers, helping maintain both appearance and hygiene levels for your staircase. Regular vacuuming between professional cleanings prevents dirt buildup.
Stain-resistant treatments are beneficial for preserving carpet appearance over time, especially important for high-traffic stair areas prone to spills and dirt. Consider the ease of cleaning when selecting materials, as stairs are particularly prone to spills and dirt accumulation.
Dark colors help conceal stains better, so you may not notice wear as quickly. Choose carpet that aligns with your lifestyle, overall design scheme, and ensures longevity in high-traffic areas. Professional installation with quality padding also extends runner life significantly.
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