Herringbone Carpet and Stair Runner Installation in Barnet, London

Project Overview

• Location: Barnet, London
• Customer: Lucy
• Property: Newly created loft room
• Areas: Two loft rooms, landing and staircase
• Carpet: Alternative Flooring Anywhere Herringbone Ice
• Product code: 8045
• Staircase: 7 steps and 6 winders
• Runner finish: 2cm runner tape
• Gripper: Short-pin gripper
• Underlay: Stick-down underlay
• Adhesive: F3 adhesive
• Project duration: 2 days

Alternative Flooring Herringbone Carpet for a Barnet Loft

Lucy had recently created a new loft space and carefully designed the interior before turning her attention to the flooring. She contacted EXEN Flooring for advice on a carpet that would complement the newly designed rooms while also working effectively across the landing and staircase.

After discussing the options, we recommended Alternative Flooring Anywhere Herringbone Ice, product code 8045. The carpet is part of Alternative Flooring's Anywhere Herringbone range and has a flatwoven construction, 100% polypropylene yarn and a total height of 3.4mm.

Lucy wanted the same herringbone carpet throughout the two loft rooms, landing and stair runner. This created a consistent flooring design across the newly created loft, but also meant that the installation needed careful planning because of the strong directional pattern and the six winders on the staircase.

Bespoke Stair Runner Installation with Six Winders

The staircase consisted of 7 steps and 6 winders, making the runner considerably more detailed than a straightforward straight-flight staircase.

Before installation, special templates were produced for the staircase. These allowed the shape of each section to be planned accurately before the Herringbone Ice carpet was cut and prepared for fitting.

Lucy also wanted the stair runner to have a taped edge. However, rather than using a conventional wider runner tape, she specifically requested a 2cm-wide runner tape. The narrow edging required careful preparation to achieve the clean finish she wanted.

Day One: Herringbone Carpet Installation in the Loft Rooms

The first day was dedicated to installing the carpet in the loft rooms.

Because the Herringbone Ice carpet has a relatively low total height of 3.4mm, short-pin gripper was selected for the installation. This was particularly important for this project because longer gripper pins could potentially protrude too far through a thin carpet, creating an avoidable risk for people or pets walking on the finished floor.

Once the short-pin gripper had been installed, stick-down underlay was fitted. The underlay was secured to prevent movement before the carpet was installed.

The Herringbone Ice carpet was then opened out and carefully positioned in the loft rooms.

Precise Herringbone Carpet Alignment

Pattern alignment was one of the most important parts of the loft room installation.

Because the carpet has a pronounced herringbone pattern, the lines needed to run correctly in relation to the walls and door thresholds. The carpet was therefore carefully positioned so that the pattern ran straight and parallel with the room's architectural lines.

The necessary adjustments were made before the carpet was permanently secured. This allowed the herringbone pattern to be established correctly rather than trying to correct its direction after the adhesive had been applied.

Once the positioning had been checked, F3 adhesive was applied beneath the carpet and the installation was completed.

Day Two: Herringbone Stair Runner Installation in Barnet

The second day was dedicated to the staircase.

The same Alternative Flooring Anywhere Herringbone Ice carpet was prepared for the runner, maintaining the flooring design between the loft rooms, landing and stairs.

Short-pin gripper was used for the runner installation, and the carpet was carefully fitted across the seven steps and six winders. The bespoke templates prepared beforehand helped ensure that each section of the runner fitted the shape of the staircase accurately.

Particular attention was given to the herringbone lines. Maintaining a consistent appearance through the staircase was important because the pattern becomes especially noticeable when it changes direction around winder steps.

2cm Taped Herringbone Stair Runner

The narrow taped edge was a key feature of Lucy's chosen staircase design.

Instead of a standard wider taped runner, the edges were finished with 2cm runner tape as requested. The narrower border provided the defined edge Lucy wanted while keeping the focus on the herringbone pattern itself.

The combination of the narrow tape, the low-profile carpet and the six winders meant that accurate cutting, templating and fitting were essential throughout the staircase installation.

Completing the Barnet Loft Carpet and Runner Installation

Once the loft rooms and staircase had been completed, the installation areas were cleaned and the property was left ready for the customer.

The same Herringbone Ice carpet was successfully carried through the two loft rooms, landing and stair runner, creating a coordinated flooring scheme across the newly designed loft.

The project was completed over two days, with the first day focused on the loft rooms and the second day dedicated to the bespoke stair runner.

Herringbone Carpet Installation in Barnet, London

This project demonstrates why patterned carpet installation requires careful planning before the carpet is permanently secured.

In the loft rooms, the Herringbone Ice pattern needed to align correctly with the walls and door thresholds. On the staircase, the six winders required bespoke templates and careful fitting to maintain the appearance of the herringbone design.

The low-profile construction of the carpet also influenced the installation method, with short-pin gripper selected for both the loft rooms and stair runner.

For homeowners considering herringbone carpet installation in Barnet, London, the carpet's construction, room layout, staircase configuration and desired runner finish are all important considerations when planning the installation.

EXEN Flooring carries out carpet and bespoke stair runner installations across Barnet and London, including patterned carpets and more complex staircases with winder steps.

Alternative Flooring Herringbone Ice Carpet in Barnet

Alternative Flooring lists Anywhere Herringbone Ice (8045) as part of its Anywhere Herringbone range. The manufacturer specifies a 100% polypropylene yarn, gel backing, flatwoven construction and 3.4mm total height. The product is also listed as suitable for stairs, hallways, bedrooms, lounges and home offices.

For this Barnet loft, the Herringbone Ice design was used across both rooms and the staircase, allowing the same patterned carpet to create continuity between the different areas of the loft.

You can view the Alternative Flooring Anywhere Herringbone Ice product page for the manufacturer's product information.

Frequently Asked Questions About Herringbone Carpet and Stair Runners

What carpet was used for this Barnet loft project?

The project used Alternative Flooring Anywhere Herringbone Ice, product code 8045.

What are the specifications of Alternative Flooring Herringbone Ice?

The manufacturer lists Herringbone Ice as a 100% polypropylene, flatwoven carpet with gel backing and a total height of 3.4mm.

How many stairs were included in the runner installation?

The staircase consisted of 7 steps and 6 winders.

What size runner tape was used?

Lucy requested a narrow 2cm runner tape, rather than a conventional wider taped runner finish.

Why was short-pin gripper used?

The carpet has a low total height of 3.4mm, so short-pin gripper was selected for the installation.

Was the same carpet used for the loft rooms and staircase?

Yes. The same Herringbone Ice carpet was used throughout the two loft rooms, landing and stair runner.

Why is alignment important when installing herringbone carpet?

Herringbone carpet has strong directional lines. If the carpet is not positioned correctly, the pattern can appear out of alignment with walls, door thresholds or other architectural features.

Why were bespoke templates needed for the staircase?

The staircase included six winders, which created several changes in direction. Bespoke templates allowed the runner sections to be accurately planned and cut for the individual staircase.

What underlay was used?

A stick-down underlay was installed in the loft rooms before the carpet was fitted.

What adhesive was used?

F3 adhesive was applied beneath the carpet as part of the installation.

How long did the Barnet loft carpet installation take?

The complete project took two days.

Can Alternative Flooring Herringbone Ice be used on stairs?

Alternative Flooring lists the Herringbone Ice product as suitable for stairs as well as several residential areas including bedrooms, lounges, hallways and home offices.

Does EXEN Flooring install herringbone carpet in Barnet?

Yes. EXEN Flooring provides carpet and stair runner installation in Barnet and works with manufacturers including Alternative Flooring.