Alternative Flooring Stair Runner Installation in Chelsea, London

EXEN Flooring recently completed a large luxury stair runner installation in Chelsea, London, as part of a high-end renovation of a five-storey property measuring approximately 500m². The project was being managed by a major London construction and design team, with the staircase forming an important part of the overall interior design.

The newly constructed staircase had been finished with a high-quality timber surface, but the design team wanted to add a premium carpet runner while retaining the appearance of the timber around it. After discussing the project requirements, an Alternative Flooring carpet was selected for the stair runner. The project involved one of the more detailed staircase installations we undertake, with 26 winder steps and 36 straight steps requiring individual measurements and templates.

The designer also requested a concealed taped edge finish for the runner. Rather than using a standard visible edging, the runner edges were to be hand-finished, making the preparation more time-consuming and requiring careful coordination between the staircase templating, carpet cutting and edge finishing.

Project Overview

• Location: Chelsea, London

• Property: Approximately 500m², five-storey renovation

• Flooring: Alternative Flooring carpet stair runner

• Staircase: 26 winder steps and 36 straight steps

• Runner preparation: Individual paper templates

• Edge finish: Hand-finished concealed taping

• Installation: Grippers and underlay

• Project duration: 3 days

Planning a Large Stair Runner Project in Chelsea

Before the runner could be manufactured and installed, the staircase had to be surveyed in detail. The number and variety of steps meant that accurate measurements were essential, particularly because the staircase included both standard straight steps and multiple winders.

Our team worked with the design team to confirm the required finish and the selected carpet before the materials were ordered. The installation was then planned around the staircase dimensions, including the areas where the shape of the steps changed.

This type of preparation is particularly important for a large stair runner project because the carpet needs to correspond accurately with the individual sections of the staircase. A standard length of carpet cannot simply be laid across a complex staircase without taking account of the different tread and riser dimensions.

Templating 26 Winder Steps and 36 Straight Steps

The first day was dedicated to creating detailed paper templates for the staircase. In total, the staircase consisted of 26 winder steps and 36 standard straight steps, so each section had to be measured carefully before the carpet could be cut.

The final three steps at entrance level were particularly unusual. Unlike the standard sections of the staircase, these steps had an oval, curved configuration and therefore required additional attention. The riser and step-in dimensions were measured separately, with the measurements calculated carefully before the corresponding templates were produced.

Once the complete set of templates had been created, the carpet was cut to follow the individual shapes of the staircase.

Hand-Finished Concealed Taping for the Stair Runner

The designer specified a concealed finish around the edges of the runner. This required the carpet edges to be prepared with hand-finished taping, rather than relying on a machine-finished edge.

Because the taping was carried out by hand, this stage required additional time and precision. The runner sections were prepared according to the staircase templates before being sent for the required whipping and concealed edge finishing.

The combination of detailed templating and hand-finished edging was an important part of achieving the specified appearance for this Chelsea renovation project.

For more information about the type of stair runners available from the manufacturer, see the Alternative Flooring Stair Runner Collection.

Preparing the Timber Staircase for Runner Installation

On the second day, the prepared runner sections were ready and our team returned to the property to begin the installation.

The staircase was carefully prepared with the required grippers and underlay before the runner was fitted. Particular care was needed throughout this stage because the timber staircase had been newly constructed and finished. The installation team had to work carefully around the finished timber surfaces to avoid scratching or damaging them while preparing and fitting the runner.

Once the underlying preparation was complete, the runner could be positioned across the staircase in accordance with the templates produced during the first stage.

Installing the Stair Runner Across the Full Staircase

The final stage involved installing the prepared runner across the staircase, covering the 26 winder steps and 36 straight steps.

The individual sections had already been cut according to the paper templates, including the more complex curved sections at the entrance level. This allowed the runner to follow the changing shape of the staircase while maintaining the intended design.

After the runner had been installed, the staircase and surrounding areas were thoroughly cleaned. The completed installation was then checked to ensure that the runner sections were properly positioned and that the finished staircase matched the requirements agreed with the design team.

Three-Day Luxury Stair Runner Project in Chelsea

The complete project took three days, from the initial staircase templating through to the preparation and installation of the finished runner.

With 26 winder steps, 36 straight steps, curved entrance-level steps and a hand-finished concealed edge, this was a detailed stair runner installation requiring careful measurement and preparation at every stage.

The finished runner provided the carpeted element requested by the design team while allowing the newly finished timber staircase to remain visible around the runner.

Stair Runner Installation in Chelsea and London

This project is an example of the detailed stair runner work carried out by EXEN Flooring across Chelsea and London. Complex staircases require more than simply measuring the overall staircase length: winders, changing step dimensions and curved sections can all affect how the carpet needs to be templated and cut.

For this project, the combination of individual paper templates, carefully prepared Alternative Flooring carpet, hand-finished concealed taping, grippers, underlay and detailed installation allowed the runner to be fitted across the complete five-storey staircase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does EXEN Flooring install stair runners in Chelsea?

Yes. EXEN Flooring provides stair runner installation services in Chelsea and across London, including projects involving straight stairs, winder steps and more complex staircase layouts.

Can EXEN Flooring install a runner on winder stairs?

Yes. Winder stairs can be fitted with a carpet runner, but they require accurate individual measurements and careful templating because the shape of each step changes. This Chelsea project included 26 winder steps.

How many steps were covered by the runner in this Chelsea project?

The staircase included 26 winder steps and 36 straight steps, all of which were included in the stair runner installation.

Why are stair runner templates important?

Templates allow individual sections of a complex staircase to be measured and reproduced accurately when the carpet is cut. They are particularly useful for winder stairs, curved sections and staircases where individual steps have different dimensions.

Can stair runner edges have a concealed finish?

Yes. The designer for this project requested concealed taping around the runner edges. The edging was hand-finished as part of the preparation process.

How long did this stair runner installation take?

The complete project took three days, including staircase templating, carpet preparation, edge finishing, gripper and underlay preparation, runner installation and final cleaning.

What carpet was used for the stair runner?

An Alternative Flooring carpet was selected by the design team for the runner. The exact collection and colour were chosen as part of the project's design process.