Remove the Old Carpet

• 1). Pull the carpet away from the riser on the top step, using a screwdriver to get it started. Wear gloves, a long-sleeve top, knee pads and safety goggles. Pull the carpet up, starting at the top and moving down the staircase. If the carpet was installed by the cap and band method, it will already be cut into pieces, one for each riser and tread combination. If it was installed by the waterfall method, it will be one long piece. Use a carpet knife to cut the carpet into manageable sections. Cut from the back of the carpet, and keep your utility knife blade sharp.
  
  
• 2). Pull up the old carpet padding the same way.
  
  
• 3). Remove the tack strips that held the old carpet in place, using a prybar to lift them up. You may need to use a screwdriver or claw hammer to get some of the more stubborn nails out. Remove any remaining nails and staples from the staircase. The tack strips are difficult to handle. Have a large trash container nearby to dispose of them.
  
  

Install Tack Strips and New Padding

• 1). Measure the width of the new carpet strip. Cut the tack strips to size, using sheet metal snips. They should be 2 inches narrower than the width of the carpet. Center one tack strip at the bottom of the riser and a second at the back of the tread. Make a spacing template so you can easily place the tack strips 1 inch from the bottom of the tread on the riser and 1 inch in front of the riser on the back of the tread.
  
  
• 2). Hammer down the nails in the tack strip to keep it in place. Install the tack strips for all the stairs.
  
  
• 3). Measure from the front edge of the tack strip on the tread to about 2 inches below the nose (front edge) of the tread, keeping in mind that the carpet pad must go around the nose. Cut your carpet pad into pieces that are 2 inches narrower than your carpet in width and as long as the measurement you just made. You will need one piece of carpet pad for each stair.
  
  
• 4). Position the carpet pad at the front edge of the tack strip on the tread and staple it in place with a staple gun. Bring the pad down around the nose of the tread and staple it to the top of the riser below. Install the carpet pad on all the stairs
  
  

Installing New Carpet

• 1). Check the carpet to make sure the bottom end is square, using a carpenter's square. Put the bottom end of the carpet in place at the bottom of the first riser. Staple the bottom of the carpet to the riser every 3 inches along the bottom of the riser.
  
  
• 2). Bring the carpet up over the bottom tread and push it hard against the tack strip. Place the front edge of the knee kicker at the center of the tread about 2 inches in front of the riser. Hold the knee kicker down with one hand. With the other hand, keep the shaft of the knee kicker level. Bang the knee kicker with your knee. Do this again every 3 inches on either side to join the carpet to the tack strip.
  
  
• 3). Pack the runner tightly into the intersection of the rise using the carpet tool (which is the same shape as a putty knife, but much sturdier) and a mallet. Staple the edges of the runner 2 inches above the bottom of the riser.
  
  
• 4). Continue carpeting the stairs in this manner. At the top riser, cut the carpet to fit just below the nose of the floor. Staple the carpet in place.