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Carpet Laying And Estimating Website

Begin the installation of the carpet itself by sewing the riser portion to the tread portion from the warp side, using an overcast stitch (Fig. 9.42). Next, invert the cap and iron the seam flat with the hammer (A in Fig. 9.43). Reinforce the seam and the area that is to fit around the newel post with Roberts Rub-er-edge Carpet Cement or equivalent (B in Fig. 9.43). Then relieve surplus carpet to floor line (C).

The next step is to re-mark the diameter center line on the padding. Align the padding diameter line with the carpet diameter line, which gives you your starting point A (Fig. 9.44). Work the carpet half-way around the step return (B), and relieve carpet as indicated; then continue working around step return to wall, hooking carpet on Smoothedge Gripper at C. Working from your starting point, drive the carpet with the stair tool as shown in Fig. 9.45, thereby stretching and hooking the step return cap.

Stretch the riser with awl and hook the carpet by pressing it onto the Smoothedge Gripper with the fingers (A in Fig. 9.46). With the stair tool, drive the carpet into the gully along the first riser, as shown at B.

Next, stretch and hook the tread portion along the wall and complete the Rolled Edge Finish (see Fig. 9.47 and pages 121-122). Complete the riser portion as outlined on page 143 and in Figs. 9.16 and 9.17. Stretch and hook carpet onto Smoothedge Gripper at first crotch (Fig. 9.48), using the "simultaneous stretch and hook" technique (pages 119120) with each kick of the knee kicker.

The final step is shown in Fig. 9.49. Use the stair tool to complete the tightening process at the crotch, then trim off excess carpet at crotch (1 and 2 in Fig. 9.49). Turn the edge into the gully with the awl (3), complete rolled edge finish (4), and trim excess carpet off at floor line (5). Lastly, turn edge into gully with the awl (6).

For installing carpet on the remaining steps (Fig. 9.50), whether a straight or circular staircase, see pages 130-148.