A “how to install carpet stairs?” question usually occurs regarding two almost separate fronts:  installing real carpeting and installing “carpet runners” or long rugs made especially for the purpose.  Whereas actual carpeting requires some touch and premeasuring and cutting skills, runners are often designed with premeasured allowances and allow the wood or cement of whatever stairing to show on the edges.  Needless to say, installing the runners is easiest of the tow, although both items need many of the same tools and principles for the installation.
Perhaps the most important aspect of installing either item is the need to physically “stretch” the fabric taut enough so that it will not bunch up or create any sort of dangerous or anomaly in the surface.  This is hard to stress enough.  Maintaining them rigidly in place is a close second to safety concerns because almost any slippage can result in some unfortunate events.
So one needs what is referred to as a “knee-kicker”, a tool that grabs the carpeting and allows a knee to forcefully kick the tool and thus stretch the fabric to a tight degree.  This is easily enough done but cannot be stressed enough as to its importance.  Mere hand tightening might look sufficient but it is plainly not.
The other aspect involves the correct measurement needed for the fit.  Once the measurements are reasonably accurate, we can begin.  Lying the carpeting down, one necessarily works uphill. Thankfully, one great benefit of this is that you will be working on a gentler surface for your knees. By stretching the fabric taut, we then use staples or floor tacks to secure the carpeting in place at the crotch, or the original perpendicular point at the front of the riser.  Typically, the next batch of carpet nails go just under the lip of the stair, thus leading to the next level to be stretched and then secured. Stretch again, once on the next surface and fasten.  From this point on, it is all in the details.  Repeat as often as is necessary.
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