The Things We Do for Our Dogs!
Sometimes the best home improvements aren't for the house at all, they're for the family members who need them most.
It's time to face facts - time marches on, and oh so much faster for our four-legged friends. Such is the case here at 173. Linus has begun to grow old (some would just say he is old), he can't hear anymore, he's lost teeth, and (much like me) his joints have gotten a little stiff.
When Linus Started Slowing Down
Sometime over the summer Linus was going down the stairs and I heard him fall and slide all the way to the bottom. I jumped up and ran to him and he seemed unhurt, and to be more clear, he was indeed unhurt. However, when I wanted him to go back up the stairs, it took some coaxing with a treat (Beagles will sit on a ledge in the 7th ring of hell for even a morsel of a treat), but he did go back up. Since then, he's been very, very careful going down the steps.
I also noticed since maybe early in the spring Linus has been a little stiff-legged in on the kitchen floor, to the point that I could notice his feet slipping laterally as he walked. Linus had his physical a few weeks back, and besides the Vet complimenting him on how laid back he is, Linus was declared to be in good shape - for a senior dog. I hate that clause - for a senior dog. Good grief it makes me think of the day some doctor, unaware of what's about to happen to him or her, will gleefully announce I'm in good shape - for my age. I fear he or she will be of a sudden disabused of the notion to utter that clause in the future. Here's Linus - a senior Beagle (harrumph)...
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∙ Callaway by Milliken - Covington in Grasscloth
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∙ A history of carpeting
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You might also like the Kitchen Floor Install
Choosing the Right Carpet
So, while not a fan of a lot of carpeting (rugs seem to be better for 173), a rug on the stairs made so much sense. It had been under consideration for quite some time, the risk of Linus falling again helped the decision to be made. One flooring store, one hour, lotsa samples and a phone call later, a decision was made! And here it is, center of the bottom row:
The problem is, the color has been almost impossible to capture, but it's a medium green and gray called "Grasscloth." it's relatively neutral and understated, while at the same time eye catching. But we'll get to that.
The Product
First, a bit of housekeeping to catalog for 173's record, here's the specs:
Besides the color, look and design, I think the real attractive part of this carpet is that it's on the high end of the durability spectrum!
As corny as this may sound, the green carpet is the natural compliment to the walls, which are painted Sherwin Williams' Lily! See what I did there? Green (leaves), yellow (Lily). Yup - I'm that guy who tells a joke then explains it.
Leaving It to the Professionals
After ordering the carpet, it took a couple weeks until a guy from the carpet place came to measure for installation. I've said many times over the years that some things are best just leaving to the professionals. Carpeting stairs is one such time. It's not just that the carpet pad and the carpet itself needs to be taut, or that the carpet needs to be properly measured and aligned. No, it's all these things and more, not the least of which is properly measuring and aligning the pie-shaped steps (yep, that's what they called them) with the width of the rest of the stairs. Oh, it just looked so complicated!
A couple weeks after ordering the carpet, the store sent an installer to measure each step, figure out the angles of the pie-shaped steps, and figure out the alignment and width of the steps and the bottom landing. I'm sure I noticed this before, but if I did it was a long time ago - the last few steps at the top of the stairs after coming around the corner are a few inches narrower than the main portion of the stairs. Doesn't mean much except I'm glad I didn't have to figure all that aligning!
If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur. Red Adair
Installation Day
After the carpet store got the carpet in, the measurements done, and the edges banded - it was finally time for installation. It seemed like it was a long time from ordering to this day, but in reality it was a matter of maybe 6 weeks. And quite frankly, it didn't matter anyway because I had the advantage of working from home because of the pandemic, so arranging an appointment was no problem at all! I tried to stay out of the installers way, but I did get a couple pictures. After all - there's a blog to consider! Here he is getting started at the bottom landing...
In this picture there's a few things to notice. Here you can see how the stairs turn with the pie-shaped steps. Also, you can see the padding that was installed under the carpet. My whole life I heard that one should never skimp on the padding - so there was no skimping! Finally, in this shot you get the first real peak at the carpet itself. I think this shot is the closest I've been able to get in capturing the color.
It didn't take long for the guy to install the carpet, maybe an hour and a half, something that probably would have taken me a couple weeks!
This shot also shows a couple things. First, it's a good example of how the ambient light and even the camera angle can present the carpet in differing shades of green, from almost hunter green to a kind of silvery green. The other thing in this shot is the matching hallway runner. After the carpet was measured and all, it turns out there were several square feet left over. The guy asked if they should make runners and of course I assented - and the only thing to be paid was for the edge banding!
Here's an angle that shows a closer view of the edge banding. They did a great job matching the green - not that you can really tell in the pictures!
The downstairs runner from the stairs...
And here's look from the living room - again the green shows as a different shade!
Oh - did I mention there was enough leftover to make runners for both down and upstairs? This shot really shows how the camera captures different shades/colors!
As much as I've harped on the color/shading in the pictures, know this - in reality the color is seamless and I am really just lamenting my photography skills!
Worth Every Step
So now, 173 has carpeted stairs for the first time since 1997!
Looking back, it's funny how our priorities change. When we first bought 173, every project seemed to be about fixing something that was broken or making the house look a little nicer. These days, more and more projects seem to be about making the house fit the life we're living now. Sometimes that means building a bench beneath an apple tree. Sometimes it means adding better lighting to the workshop. And sometimes it simply means helping an old beagle make it safely up and down the stairs. Those projects may not be the flashiest, but they just might be the most meaningful.
But you know what? Linus is up and down the stairs with the same agility and confidence as he did not too many years ago!
I don't usually write reviews. Typing is difficult when you don't have thumbs.
But I did want to thank the management here at House 173.
You see, one day the stairs got...different. I don't know if they became steeper or if my legs became older, but I started thinking twice before going down them. I wasn't scared exactly, I was just careful. Very careful.
Then one morning these humans disappeared into a flurry of measuring tapes, carpet samples, and conversations that didn't seem nearly important enough to interrupt my naps. A few weeks later another human arrived carrying mysterious rolls of green stuff. There was hammering, stretching, and enough strange noises to convince me a proper supervisory inspection from a safe distance was necessary.
When everyone finally left, I cautiously put one paw on the first step.
No slipping.
Second step.
Still good.
Before long I was heading downstairs like my younger self again, especially if someone happened to mention the word "treat."
The humans probably think they installed carpet.
I know better.
They installed confidence.
That's a pretty good day's work. - from Linus
Frequently Asked Questions
Why install carpet on hardwood stairs?
While hardwood stairs are beautiful, they can become slippery for children, older adults, and pets. A carpet runner provides significantly more traction while still allowing much of the woodwork to remain visible.
Why hire a professional to install a stair runner?
Straight staircases require careful stretching and fastening, but staircases with pie-shaped or winding steps are considerably more complicated. Proper alignment, consistent width, tight corners, and invisible fasteners all benefit from professional installation.
How do you choose carpet for a stairway?
Look for a carpet designed for high-traffic residential use. Durability, stain resistance, and dense construction are generally more important than softness since stairs receive concentrated wear.
What are pie-shaped stairs?
Pie-shaped (or winder) stairs are triangular steps that allow a staircase to turn a corner without a landing. Because each tread is a different width, installing a carpet runner requires careful measuring and custom fitting.
Can carpet really help older dogs?
Yes. Carpet provides much better traction than hardwood, helping older dogs maintain their footing while climbing or descending stairs. For pets with arthritis or reduced mobility, that extra grip can greatly improve both confidence and safety.
Keywords
stair runner, carpeted stairs, aging dog, senior dog home improvements, House 173, stair carpet installation, home improvement, pet-friendly home, Callaway carpet, DIY home blog