Walls, Floors + Ceilings
Natural Carpeting as a Stair Runner
Natural floorcoverings are hard-wearing and make great stair-runners, but care must be taken in laying them. Donna Hardie explains why and offers up some installation options...
Dear Donna,
I have laminate flooring throughout my house and have varnished my stairs to blend with the flooring. I did not want to leave the stairs bare wood and so have bought two rubber-backed jute runners but am unsure how to lay them. I like the idea of stair-rods in a wood finish to complete the look, but I have been told that these are only decorative and that I need to lay the runner as you would a carpet. I don't know where to start. Please help!
Thank you,
Rhona Kerr.
Our Homes And Property Expert replies:
Dear Rhona,
You're right, you can't simply fix a runner to stairs using stair rods, you have to lay it first.
Plant fibre floorcoverings such as sisal, paper, jute, seagrass and coir, are wholly natural products which respond directly to the environment they are sited in. For example, they will expand and contract when the moisture in the air increases or decreases. To make sure that plant fibre floorcoverings perform really well, they should be installed using one of the two methods described below. This will ensure that there is no buckling or wrinkling of the flooring when it expands, nor shrinkage when it contracts, and maintains a dimensional stability, prolonging the life and good looks of your floorcovering.
Firstly, plant fibre floorcovering should be laid out or loosely rolled in the area it will be laid for a minimum of 48 hours to allow the floorcovering to settle dimensionally before fitting. Then either use the direct stick system where the floorcovering is stuck directly to the sub-floor, or the double stick system where a special underlay is lightly adhered to the sub-floor and the natural floorcovering is stuck directly to the underlay. Using an underlay provides both softness underfoot, sound insulation and greater dimensional stability for the natural floorcovering, prolonging its life and good looks. Expect to pay more for double-stick installation than for conventional installation.
It is recommended that you always get an estimate as prices will vary depending on the complexity of the fitting. For further information on the floorcovering shown contact Crucial Trading on (01675) 433 033.
Happy decorating!
Donna.
I have laminate flooring throughout my house and have varnished my stairs to blend with the flooring. I did not want to leave the stairs bare wood and so have bought two rubber-backed jute runners but am unsure how to lay them. I like the idea of stair-rods in a wood finish to complete the look, but I have been told that these are only decorative and that I need to lay the runner as you would a carpet. I don't know where to start. Please help!
Thank you,
Rhona Kerr.
Our Homes And Property Expert replies:
Dear Rhona,
You're right, you can't simply fix a runner to stairs using stair rods, you have to lay it first.
Plant fibre floorcoverings such as sisal, paper, jute, seagrass and coir, are wholly natural products which respond directly to the environment they are sited in. For example, they will expand and contract when the moisture in the air increases or decreases. To make sure that plant fibre floorcoverings perform really well, they should be installed using one of the two methods described below. This will ensure that there is no buckling or wrinkling of the flooring when it expands, nor shrinkage when it contracts, and maintains a dimensional stability, prolonging the life and good looks of your floorcovering.
Firstly, plant fibre floorcovering should be laid out or loosely rolled in the area it will be laid for a minimum of 48 hours to allow the floorcovering to settle dimensionally before fitting. Then either use the direct stick system where the floorcovering is stuck directly to the sub-floor, or the double stick system where a special underlay is lightly adhered to the sub-floor and the natural floorcovering is stuck directly to the underlay. Using an underlay provides both softness underfoot, sound insulation and greater dimensional stability for the natural floorcovering, prolonging its life and good looks. Expect to pay more for double-stick installation than for conventional installation.
It is recommended that you always get an estimate as prices will vary depending on the complexity of the fitting. For further information on the floorcovering shown contact Crucial Trading on (01675) 433 033.
Happy decorating!
Donna.
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