Measuring for a runner, particularly for a staircase, is a straightforward process designed to ensure you get the correct length for your needs. The easiest way to measure the length you need for a runner, especially on stairs, involves using a long, flexible tape measure to follow the path the runner will take.
Determining Stair Runner Length
According to common practice and the provided reference, the simplest method for calculating the necessary length for a stair runner is to simulate its installation path using a long measuring tape.
- Step 1: Gather Your Tools
- You will need a long, flexible tape measure, ideally 50' or 100' in length, as recommended for ease of use on stairs.
- Step 2: Start at the Top
- Tape the very end of the tape measure at the point on the top step where you want the runner to begin. This is typically just below the nosing of the top step, allowing for a small return or tuck.
- Step 3: Follow the Path
- Carefully unroll the tape measure, allowing it to flow down the stairs. Ensure the tape follows the contours exactly where the runner will lay. This includes going over the tread (the horizontal part), down the riser (the vertical part), and wrapping around the nosing (the edge of the tread).
- Step 4: Continue to the Bottom
- Keep the tape measure simulating the runner's path until you reach the bottom step or the desired stopping point for the runner.
- Step 5: Note the Measurement
- The figure on the tape measure at your end point is the total length you will need for your stair runner.
By using a flexible tape measure in this manner, you account for the rise and run of each step and the thickness of the nosing, providing an accurate measurement for the entire staircase length.
This method is specifically for measuring the length required for a runner, typically for a staircase. Measuring the width of a runner or measuring for runners in other areas like hallways would involve different considerations. However, for determining stair runner length, the described technique using a long, flexible tape measure is highly effective.
