A carpet runner blends safety with class and finishes off any set of stairs with elegance. It provides a secure walking surface atop your stairs, preventing accidental slips and falls. It can also help to absorb sound from the creaks and groans of an older staircase and prevent scratches from pets and heavy foot traffic.
Shop with Carpet & Tile Mart to ensure that you get the best selection, stellar service and incredible pricing. We offer a giant selection of stair and hallway runners from which to choose. With custom cutting and binding options and installation services we are your one stop shop for all your runner needs. You can also shop for runners online here: /rugs/stair-and-hallway-runners/ and they will be shipped right to your door!
Looking For Carpet Runners
Carpet & Tile Mart offers hallway and stair runners from many major flooring manufacturers, such as Concord Global Trading, Couristan, Dynamic Rugs, Kas Oriental Rugs, Karastan, Nourison, Radici USA, as well as our own exclusively developed and curated brand Nubrisa. We carry Power- woven, printed and hand-crafted runners made in the USA, India, Turkey, Egypt, Europe and China.
Runners protect your hallways and stairs from damage and are the perfect protection for heavy foot traffic areas. They come in various colors, designs, qualities and lengths, and at Carpet & Tile Mart we're confident that we can find a runner to fit the space you want to enhance. Each type of stair runner available for purchase comes with its own features and benefits.
Variety of Runners
Runners are available as pre-made six, eight, ten or twelve feet lengths, as well as continuous roll-runners up to one hundred feet long. We can custom cut roll-runners to fit the exact space you are working on. There are multiple styles of runner to choose from - Solid, Traditional, Oriental, European, Modern. Each style is available in various qualities of weave as well as multiple fiber options. We have runners in many different colors to satisfy any interior design style. You won’t find a bigger and better selection of in stock roll runners anywhere!
Stair Runner
Power-woven roll runners are the most popular choice for homeowners looking for a nice, clean staircase appearance. The stair runner will typically come in one long roll of carpet that spans the center section of the staircase without gaps or separations.
The functionality of a stair runner is to provide a soft feel underfoot, slip and fall protection, and noise absorption. We recommend a professional installation over a felt or rubber pad. With so many colors, patterns, and designs available, adding a runner can provide a beautiful visual to your home's interior. It combines a touch of safety and elegance that can improve any home décor.
Stair Treads
Similar to carpet stair runners, carpet stair treads provide a safety function to prevent slips and falls. Stair treads are made by either cutting a roll-runner or carpet into small uniform sizes and finishing on all four sides. Normally, treads are stapled into the wood on each individual step, sometimes wrapping a stair nose for a clean custom look.
The benefit of stair treads is that risers of your staircase are left exposed to show off more wood while providing the same elegance, comfort and slip protection. If you have floating steps this is also a great option to avoid costly custom work.
Safety Stair Treads
Outside slips and falls can be far more hazardous than those inside the home. Safety treads, or heavy-duty stair treads, are made from different materials and are ideal for outdoor staircases.
Safety stair treads consist primarily of rubber with slip-preventative raised textures to help stop nasty falls from occurring. To match your outdoor décor, these treads sometimes mimic more realistic natural surfaces, such as hardwood or tile.
Runner and Tread Sizes
Pre-made runners typically come in between two and three feet widths and range anywhere from six to fourteen feet in length, depending on the manufacturing technique and collection. Roll-runners are most commonly either 26" or 31" inches wide and available up to 100 feet long. There are other widths in our assortment as well. Custom size runners can also be made from many carpet styles. We can cut these runners to make a perfect fit in your hallway or staircase. Ideally, you'll want to hedge around four to six inches of visible flooring on either side of your runner in a hallway and side of the steps.
The overall width necessary depends on the size of your stairs or hallways. For example, a common three foot wide staircase would look best with a 26"-27" inch wide runner, whereas a four-foot wide staircase may need a 30"-31" inch runner.
The ideal runner will cover a large portion of the stairs while revealing adequate wood visibility on either side. Custom staircases with unique dimensions or irregular angles may require a custom fit.
Stair Runner Colors and Patterns
With so many colors, qualities and patterns to choose from, you can transform your staircase or hallway into something truly exquisite to fit your lifestyle.
Though not necessary, the carpet runner or tread color should coordinate or flow with the other rugs or carpet already laid in the home. Choose smaller pattern repeats for complicated installations or mitres on the landings. Large geometric patterns and designs, such as squares and diamonds, may look distorted and may be challenging during installation. Stairs and hallways are usually the highest traffic areas of the house and it is worth it to invest in higher quality materials. Also keep in mind that complex patterns in multiple colors would hide dirt or stains well.
Determine if your staircase has odd angles or turns or pie steps before selecting a pattern. Remember that large pattern repeats would require a lot more material to match the patterns on the cut or mitred steps or turns. For such a complex installation, it can be a good idea to enlist the help of a professional to install your runners or treads. Carpet & Tile Mart offers professional installation in our local trading area DE, PA and NJ. We suggest that you seek qualified carpet installers' help for any complicated project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where to buy carpet runners?
A: Shop with Carpet & Tile Mart to ensure that you get the best selection, stellar service and incredible pricing. We offer a giant selection of stair and hallway runners from which to choose. With custom cutting and binding options and installation services we are your one stop shop for all your runner needs.
Q: Can you place carpet runners over already laid carpet?
A: Yes, you can place carpet runners over the carpet. However, carpet runners tend to slip or "walk" when placed on already-laid carpet in a hallway. Therefore, we recommend placing either a rug gripper, double-sided carpet tape, or a non-slip rug pad underneath the runner to prevent this from occurring. It is not recommended to install runner over a carpet on the steps. Original carpet or runner needs to be removed first to allow a proper and secure fit over felt or rubber pad.
Q: Can I use any carpet as a carpet runner?
A: There are many great options to choose from when selecting a carpet runner. You always want to have a dense pile made of durable material. Most common would be Wool, Nylon, Polyester and Heat Set Polypropylene. Though usually expensive, wool is the most long-lasting choice. It feels soft underfoot and deals particularly well with the heavy foot traffic that most staircases face. High pile carpet and shag would mat and crush on the steps and are generally not recommended. Other options include natural fibers such as sisal and jute. Both are good options that are durable and easy to maintain. Keep in mind that natural fibers are more difficult to deal with spills and stains.
Q: What tools do I need to install a stair runner myself?
A: We advise you to reach out to professionals if you've never performed a stair runner installation. However, if you still prefer to do it yourself, there are a few tools you'll need to acquire:
- Knee Kicker
- Electric Staple Gun w/Staples
- Carpet Shears
- Hammer Stapler w/Staples
- Tape Measure
- Hammer
- Stair Tool
- Carpet Knife
For small stair runner installation on a budget, you can omit the hammer stapler for the electric staple gun.
Q: Are stair runners a good investment?
A: Stair runners are a valuable investment for many practical reasons. They make wood stairs less noisy and more comfortable for children, seniors, and pets.
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