Measure and mark your carpet gripper so it is approximately 2cm shorter than the width of your stair runner. This helps to prevent the gripper from being visible once the runner is installed, creating a cleaner and more professional finish.

Carefully cut the gripper along your marked lines. Then, use the first piece as a template to mark and cut the other gripper sticks.

Keeping both grippers identical in length is important for achieving an even and consistent fit on your stairs.

Place the gripper onto the stair tread with the spikes facing towards the riser (the vertical part of the step). Position the gripper approximately a finger’s width away from the riser to create the correct gap for fitting your runner.

Take care when handling the gripper, as the spikes can be sharp and can cause injury.

Once positioned correctly, secure the gripper into place using a hammer and nails. Fix the gripper at both ends and in the centre to ensure it is firmly attached and does not move during installation.

Repeat this process on each tread.

(Grippers in our Runrug Underlay & Gripper Pack come with nails included)

Next, position the second gripper onto the riser (the vertical part of the stair). Ensure that the gripper spikes are facing downwards towards the stair tread and the other gripper stick.

Leave approximately a finger’s width gap between the gripper and the tread below to allow enough space for the runner to tuck neatly between the grippers when installed.

Once you are happy with the positioning, secure the gripper in place the same as before.

Repeat this process on each riser.

Mark the width of your underlay pad so it matches the width of your gripper. Then, measure and mark the length of the underlay pad to fit the depth of the stair tread.

Once your measurements have been marked, carefully cut the underlay pad to size to ensure a neat and accurate fit.

Top tip: Use your first underlay pad as a template to cut down the rest

Place the underlay pad onto the stair tread, ensuring it sits flush against the gripper for a neat and secure fit.

Once positioned correctly, staple the underlay into place to prevent any movement during installation. Repeat this process on each stair tread until all underlay pads have been fitted.

If you're not the reading type or prefer a visual understanding before you dive in... our video tutorial is the one for you!

This tutorial will show you the process in an easy-to-understand, step-by-step visual perspective.