The carpet on the stairs is coming loose at the edges — poor install?

Loose carpet edges on stairs are typically caused by inadequate stretching during installation or using the wrong installation method. Professional stair carpet installation requires power stretching and proper tackless strip placement to handle the high-traffic stress that stairs endure.

Poor installation techniques are the most common culprit. Many installers use knee-kickers instead of power stretchers on stairs, or they don't properly secure the carpet at critical stress points like the nose of each step. Stairs experience constant pulling forces from foot traffic, so the carpet must be stretched extremely tight during installation. If the installer didn't use enough tension or failed to properly hook the carpet onto the tackless strips, edges will start lifting within months.

Improper tackless strip placement can also cause this issue. The strips need to be positioned at very specific distances from the riser and tread edges - typically 1/4 to 3/8 inch depending on carpet thickness. If strips are too far from edges or angled incorrectly, the carpet won't grip properly. Additionally, using standard tackless strips instead of stair-specific angled strips often leads to poor adhesion.

In Ottawa's climate, humidity changes can exacerbate installation problems. Carpet naturally expands and contracts with moisture levels, so if it wasn't stretched tight enough initially, seasonal movement will cause edges to pull away from tackless strips. Quality installations account for this movement.

Your best option is having the stairs re-stretched by a professional carpet installer who uses proper power stretching equipment. This typically costs $150-300 for a standard staircase in Ottawa and should come with a workmanship warranty. For a permanent solution and free estimate on professional carpet installation, send the details through Ottawa Floor Install - and ask whichever contractor quotes it to power-stretch the stairs, which is what makes the result last.