Tips and Tricks for Carpeting Stage and Riser

Your theatre looks pretty sharp.

I just finished my HT a little while ago and the nicest thing I did for myself was to hire the carpeting out. Carpeting looks like it should be easy---just looks like it.


My website:www.gobigstayhome.com

The labor for carpet install is practically nothing. The tools will cost you more than labor. Just hire it out.

There is a big sign out in front of my Home Depot.

WHOLE HOUSE CARPET INSTALL $39 (or was it $29?)

I am 100% with you. I've learned a lot about home diy projects over the years. From grunt work like digging post holes, to design work like the deck, to basic carpentry, to finish carpentry, and this summer, even masonry. I get a lot of satisfaction out of being able to say "I did that, all by myself" even if it does have a little, uh, "character."

Having said that ... the theater has taught me I will NEVER mud/tape/sand drywall ever again. I will hang it. Maybe patch a few pieces here and there. Maybe do a small closet. But when it comes to whole rooms (or, as will be the case, my basement) I am going to hire someone to deal with it for me.

I have not laid the carpet in my room, but I am 99% sure I am going to have that done, too. From what I hear about the process, and how cheap it is to have it done, I am pretty sure it is going to get hired out, too.

Well, I did end up doing my room including the curve stage and my riser by myself (help from wife and father-in-law). The room was already carpeted, but I had to take it up, build the stage and riser and re-lay the carpet. Since the carpet would be shorter now, I used it on the stage and riser vertical and used a remnant of new carpet on the riser top.

Used some pneumatic staples. Bought a knee kicker for $35 (craigslist), some carpet glue (ebay), one of those seaming rollers with the teeth (ebay), a carpet knife (lowes), no-heat carpet seam tape (lowes) and a regular shears/scissors that comes in those kitchen knives wood block.

I used one of those new carpet pads, not the rebound which was already there. Some pics are in my sig - My Riser.

I didn't get any photos of my installer doing the actual work, but if I remember correctly when doing a corner or angle he would do the long side first. Then he would cut the carpet at 45 degree angle at the corner and do the other side. When he got back to the corner he would tuck the short side 1st and then the long side, and lots of staples.

I have no pics of my carpet install either. But, here is one related tip. When the installers came out to measure, they were very clear that the stage and riser steps needed at least 1.5" of overhang to properly attach the carpet.

With the stage curves and angles and the riser steps, it took the installer considerably longer to finish than just installing carpet on a flat floor - basically the entire day. For $39 bucks, it would be hard to pass up hiring it out - even for a small job. If you want to learn the skills involved and how its done, just watch the HD guy when he comes to do yours. Oh, whether you hire it out or DIY, take lots of pics so there will be at least one thread out there with carpet install pics.

I was sure the Lowe's here had a "Whole House Install for $139" sign. But, maybe it was $39, but either way doesn't seem unreasonable.

Good luck.

Doesn't that lowes price included the carpet for the whole house purchased from them? At least that is what I thought talking with them. I agree, $39 or even $139 is a no brainer.

I've got an install picture on my build thread. 6th from the bottom. See signature for link. Don't know if it will help you though.

Might have a few more. I'll check.

I just paid 139 for a carpet install. They were in and out in 5-6 hours...tackless, seams, riser, stairs, etc. It's one job that I didn't even consider DIY and just left it to the pros.

If you check my signature I just had mine carpeted on Monday. The install was included in the carpet price, but they sure earned their money. It was definitely not a DIY type job. I had only a one inch lip and that was fine, really should not need to go to 2. The more important measure was having enough height to get the stapler underneath the lip so they could fasten it. They had to be creative because I didnt leave much room.

I had not realized you were not attaching the stage or riser to the floor. You are going to get some interesting sound effects from that setup. Without being filled with sand or insulation they will act like two big drums. It will make it easier to carpet though.

Looks great....I choose to do my stage and riser differently. I didn't put any of the tackless strips on up-right or the lip as you did, but I bought a $70 compressor set with a pneumatic stapler included and just set the setting to high and staple directly the carpet to the vertical and lips (no padding there either). Then I used the teeth carpet roller to cover any evidence of staples. Came out just as I expected. I debated a lot if to go the route you did, but I guess the end results is what matters. For a room that is mostly dark I was will to take that direction.