Should I carpet stairs before fitting laminate at the bottom?

If you’re going to be fitting new carpet on your stairs and new laminate flooring at the bottom of your stairs, it can be tricky to know what order to do things in. In fact, you’re probably wondering whether it’s better to fit the carpet or the laminate flooring first.

You should fit the laminate first before laying your stairs on the carpet.

Why? Well, if you fit the laminate first, the carpet will then cover the expansion gap between the laminate and the bottom step when you come to install it. This will create a neat finish.

On the other hand, if you fit the carpet first, you’ll need to find another way to cover the expansion gap once you’ve installed your laminate flooring at the bottom. Usually, this would mean installing wooden edge beading between the two. It’s not a bad solution, but it’s less streamlined as it means adding another layer between the laminate and carpet.

Ultimately, whether you fit the carpet or the laminate flooring first isn’t the end of the world – there are solutions to help you achieve either. However, if you have the choice, fitting the laminate first is the better option.

A flooring professional will be able to help you get the look you’re after when it comes to installing both your carpet and your laminate – as well as advising you on the order that it should all be done.

Check out our guides to the cost of fitting carpet and the cost of laminate flooring installation for ballpark prices.

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