Left Turn Landing: One Piece, No Miter, No Fraying

Alright, here’s the one everyone asks about: The Landing.

I’m Key with Direct Carpet, and I’m going to show you how to install a left-turn landing so it looks like one continuous piece of carpet.

Most guys will try to miter these corners. Don’t do it. A mitered seam on a landing is just an invitation for the carpet to start fraying and looking like a fuzzy mess in six months.

We do our landings in one solid L-shape piece. No seam, no miter, no problems.

1. Set the Stage (Underpad & Centering)

Before you even touch the carpet, your underpad needs to be dialed in.

• The Rule: Center it to the upper stairs and the lower stairs.
• The Gap: Cut it an inch shorter all the way around—including the front of the stairs.
• Some people use tack strips, but with this Tartan Eclipse, we’re stapling today. That’s the method that works.

2. The "Long Side" Measurement

Take your tape measure and wrap it tight around the nose, all the way to the bottom.

• Measure both sides. If one side is 43 ¾" and the other is 44", go with the long one.
• Add an inch (or an inch and a quarter if it’s your first time). I’m cutting mine at 45 inches long. I’ve done this a million times, but you still double-check and triple-check that cut. You do NOT want to be short.

3. Cutting the "L" Without the Tear

Flip the landing upside down. Mark your 45" with a pencil on the back. Use a straight edge and a sharp blade.

• The Secret: Use your knife for the backing, but switch to scissors for the binding. A knife can tear the binding, and you need that edge to be clean, clean.
• We’ve cut the L-shape out of one piece so there’s no miter. This is what keeps it from fraying.

4. Wiggle, Wiggle, Wiggle

Now, let’s see how she fits. Use your spacer and fit the carpet into that 45-degree angle. You want it to look like it’s growing out of the floor.

• Grab the electric staple gun.
• The Move: Wiggle the gun's nose into the pile so the staples disappear.
• Double-tap to lock it in.
• Fill in the blanks every three inches. Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle. Wipe the pile over the staples, and they're gone.

5. Pre-form the Nose

Pull the carpet back and pre-form it over the stair nose.

• Go under at a 45-degree angle.
• Push hard and double-tap. Move every two to three inches. Once you’re at the end, double-tap it again.
• Feel underneath: Make sure you don't feel any staples sticking out. Don’t cut your hands—if you’re worried, wear gloves.

6. Left or Right? (The Easy Way)

People always ask: "Key, how do I know if I need a left or right turn?"

• Simple: Stand at the bottom of the stairs and look up. If the landing goes left, it’s a left turn. If it goes right, it’s a right turn. Don’t overthink it.

7. Kick, Staple, Repeat

Now we get the kicker. We aren't really "kicking" it hard; we’re just tapping it to tighten the slack.

• Lock down that top corner first.
• Kick, staple, kick, staple. Keep an eye on your line—you want to stay straight all the way across.
• Staple every one to two inches along that seam. You don't want it opening up.

8. The Final Crease

Take your carpet tucker and score the carpet until you have a great crease.

• Use a sharp knife and cut almost flat above the staples.
• If you did it right, you won't hit a single staple.
• Blow out all the fluff. Get those loose fibers out of there so the seam is tight.

That’s it. Your left-turn landing is locked in and ready for the next flight.

Need the gear? I’ve got the Tartan Eclipse and all the pro tools I used in this video linked below.

Got a question? Hit me up in chat on the website. Directcarpet.com

Part One: The Lazy Installers trick for a Perfectly Straight Stair Runner

Part Two: How to Install a Stair Runner: Steering the Pattern

See This Stair Runner Here:

• If you’re looking at doing this yourself, we have the Tartan Eclipse Landing right here on the site. We’ve already cut the L-shape for you, so you don't have to sweat the miter.
• To finish the rest of the flight, you’re going to want the matching Tartan Eclipse Stair Runner. It’s the same high-quality stuff I’m using in the video.