Stair renovation-Replace carpet-Remove needle felt carpet

[FiaBiJa]

Hi! I've never ever renovated anything in my entire life and I'm going to tackle a staircase renovation as the first thing I do - Go big or go home right?!

I need all the tips I can get!

After some searching, I've understood that water and caustic soda are supposed to be great... but how much water and how much caustic soda do I need? Should I spray it on with a plant spray?
What tools do I need?
Where do I even start pulling up the carpet?
Do I have to install a specific needle felt carpet?
What type of glue is needed? Is glue alone enough?
What type of paint should I use for the rest of the staircase?
How many meters of carpet should I buy for 13 steps?
If I want carpet over the edge but not between the steps, is glue alone sufficient?

Help a newbie!

 

[ricebridge]

No.
Nono no no.
NOOOOOO.

If you start your renovation with this wretched chore... there is a risk you'll never continue. Because you've been forcibly committed somewhere, alternatively turned to the bottle big time.

Needle-punched carpets glued to stair treads were likely invented during the Cold War by the Soviet military with the intention of destabilizing Sweden, tying up endless resources on endless trivialities, and rendering the population unfit for combat. Even though anyone who has taken on such a staircase soon feels an irresistible urge to commit the most heinous acts of violence.

You will get an infinitely better and easier result if you buy renovation steps, available at well-stocked hardware stores. These you cut and glue directly onto the stairs, over the whole lot. They cost a bit, but this must be weighed against lost earnings when you're sitting in jail after a frenzied rampage in the neighborhood, plus associated compensation claims.

The budget option, which I've used on my staircase (which, however, lacks n-lf-ltsm-tt-), is to cut pieces of laminate flooring and install. You then need to complement with a suitable stair nose; I went with aluminum strips, but you can also use, for example, a regular corner list.

Or you pour gasoline on the stairs and set them on fire, if the insurance covers self-damage in case of vandalism, which it usually doesn't. Or move somewhere else. Or install an elevator. Anything but DO NOT START TRYING TO SAND AWAY THE MATT ENVY. Such projects have broken many a brisk young homeowner and turned them into shattered wrecks of humanity.

 

[useless]

After some searching, I've understood that water and caustic soda are supposed to be great..

What did you plan to use the caustic soda for??

 

[FiaBiJa]

It is apparently supposed to dissolve glue and make the carpet release more easily.

 

[samlarpådetmesta]

No. No no no no. NOOOOOOO.

If you start your renovation with this dreadful task... there's a risk you'll never continue. Because you've been forcibly committed somewhere, or alternatively turned to the bottle big time.

Needle-punch carpets glued on stairs were likely invented during the Cold War by the Soviet military with the intent to destabilize Sweden, tie up endless resources in endless futility, and render the population unfit for combat. Even though those who take on such stairs soon feel an irresistible urge to commit the most heinous acts of violence.

You'll get a much better and easier result if you buy renovation steps, available at well-stocked building supply stores. You cut these to size and glue them directly onto the stairs, covering the whole thing. They cost a bit, but this must be weighed against lost income from sitting in prison after going berserk in the neighborhood in mindless desperation, plus associated claims for damages.

The budget version, which I used on my stairs (which though lack n-lf-ltsm-tt-), is to cut pieces of laminate flooring and install them. You'll then need to complement with a suitable stair nose; I used aluminum strips, but one can also use a regular corner strip.

Or you pour gasoline on the stairs and set them on fire if the insurance covers your own handling in cases of vandalism, which it usually doesn't. Or move somewhere else. Or install an elevator. Anything but DO NOT START TRYING TO SAND AWAY THE CARPET. Such projects have broken many a vigorous young homeowner and turned them into shattered human wrecks.

It can be enough to "just" sand and scrape a pine staircase without carpet to approach madness and have unpleasant thoughts... trust me, I know...

 

[Tomtom79]

Tss, today's fragile nerves...

In the early '80s, my parents renovated the house, including the old pine staircase. After a lot of scraping, sanding, and varnishing, I tested the quality (at my big sister's suggestion) by riding a bread crate down the stairs.

The varnishing was, of course, a failure, and the stairs had to be sanded and varnished again...

But they are still healthy in both body and mind today, and I didn't get hurt during or after the ride

 

[FiaBiJa]

A bit of light at the end of the tunnel after the previous post. But I really need more detailed tips. I need to get started relatively soon, like this weekend.

 

[Satsuki]

No. No no no no. NOOOOO! If you start your renovation with this abominable task... there's a risk that you might never continue. Because you'll have been forcibly admitted somewhere, or alternatively taken to the bottle big time. Needle-punched carpets glued to steps were likely invented during the Cold War by the Soviet military with the intention of destabilizing Sweden, tying up bottomless resources on endless absurdities, and rendering the population unfit for combat. Even though those who tackle such a staircase soon feel an irresistible urge to commit the most dreadful acts of violence. You get an infinitely better and easier result if you buy stair renovation kits, available at well-stocked building suppliers. These you cut and glue directly onto the steps, over the whole shebang. They cost a bit, but it should be weighed against lost income when you're sitting in jail after going on a berserk rampage in the neighborhood out of mindless desperation, plus associated compensation claims. The budget option, which I used on my stairs (which admittedly lack n-lf-ltsm-tt-), is to cut pieces of laminate flooring and install. You then need to complement with a suitable stair nose; I used aluminum strips, but you can also use a standard corner strip. Or you pour gasoline on the stairs and set them on fire, if insurance covers self-inflicted damage which it usually doesn't. Or you move somewhere else. Or install an elevator. Anything but START TRYING TO SAND DOWN THE MAT. Such projects have subdued many a brisk young homeowner and transformed them into broken human wreckage.

Can you install the stair renovation kits on top of needle-punched carpets?

 

[FiaBiJa]

You can probably do that, but after having removed another DISGUSTING and foul-smelling carpet in a room in this house, I would like to remove the stair carpet as well.

 

[Norrlandsbyggary]

I just wet with water and then pulled off the carpet. Most of the glue came off with the carpet.

 

[Luc Reiner]

Tear off the current carpet and use the pieces as templates for the new needlefelt, and allow for a bit extra so the new carpet can be pulled over the stair nose. Under the stair nose, staple the carpet with a staple gun and staple on the other side as well so the carpet is taut while the glue cures.

The old glue may be able to be scraped off.
If you're going to paint the stairs, you should do it before the new needlefelt carpet is installed.

 

[Bödvar McOlsson]

I just wet it with water and then pulled off the carpet. Most of the glue came off with the carpet.

Same here. Regular water in a standard spray bottle. Sprayed it thoroughly, waited a minute, and then lifted a corner with needle-nose pliers. Then it's "just" a matter of pulling.

 

[Bödvar McOlsson]

 

[MariaiÖstergötland]

Can't we get an update?

 

[Emergency bug]

No.
Nononononono.
NOOOOOO.

If you start your renovation with this dreadful task... there's a risk you might never continue. Because you've been forcibly committed somewhere, or turned to the bottle big time.

Needle-punched carpets glued to stair treads were likely invented during the Cold War by the Soviet military with the intention of destabilizing Sweden, tying up bottomless resources on endless futility, and rendering the population non-combat ready. Even though anyone who tackles such a staircase soon feels an irresistible urge to commit the most heinous acts of violence.

You get a far better and easier result if you buy renovation steps, available at well-stocked hardware stores. You saw these to size and glue them directly onto the stair treads, over the whole lot. They cost a bit, but this should be weighed against lost work income when you end up in prison after berserk in the neighborhood in mindless desperation, along with the associated compensation claims.

The cheaper option, which I used on my stairs (which admittedly lack n-lf-ltsm-tt-), is to cut pieces of laminate flooring and install them. You will then need to complement with a suitable stair nose; I used aluminum strips, but you could also use a regular corner list, for example.

Or you pour gasoline on the stairs and set it on fire, if the insurance covers self-inflicted damage, which it usually doesn't. Or move somewhere else. Or install an elevator. Anything but NOT START ATTEMPTING TO SAND AWAY THE CARPET NIGHTMARE. Such projects have subdued many a bold young homeowner and turned them into shattered human wrecks.

Amen ✝️