TIL a weird stair landing in an old house in Tacoma can eat a whole afternoon

Had to install carpet on this angled landing with three different walls meeting at odd corners. Thought it was a two hour cut and tuck job, but getting the pattern to line up across all those weird seams took me almost five hours. Anyone else run into a staircase that just fought them the whole way?

3 comments

3 Comments

joelsanchez2mo agoMost Upvoted

Tell me about the pattern. Was it a simple loop pile or something with a strong geometric design that had to match at every seam? I once had a plaid pattern on a set of winder stairs and lining up those lines across the angled treads was a special kind of torture. The math just goes out the window when the walls aren't square.

the_kelly28d ago

Is it really that bad though, @joelsanchez? I've done my share of stair carpet and honestly, a strong geometric pattern can actually make the job easier if you take your time. The lines give you a clear reference point for each cut, so you're not just guessing where the edge is. I think the real problem is when people rush and don't account for the fact that the walls are never square. On winder stairs, you just have to measure each tread separately and accept that the pattern will shift a little. It's not torture, it's just a slower process that rewards patience.

tarab542mo ago

Oh man, @joelsanchez, you mentioning the math going out the window is so true. It's like the walls are actively fighting you on those angled cuts.