INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE MAKING OF STAIR TEMPLATES
When making handtufted carpet for stairs that are curved or have pie shaped steps it is mandatory that a stair template be made.

1. The template needs to be made of heavy brown Kraft paper or some other type of material that will not easily rip or tear. The material must be dimensionally stable. It should not stretch or pull.
2. Install the material on the step to the exact dimensions of the stair runner. You can use blue tape to secure the paper to the wood or to the marble. Blue tape will not pull the finish off the floor. You should use nylon type tape to secure one part of the step to the other. Do not use scotch tape.
3. Once the paper material is attached to the step then the material can be trimmed to the exact size of the runner. When you are finished you can number each step in sequence. Each step should be made separately. The step and the riser should be made together. However if some of the stairs are straight with no curve or pie shapes then that portion of the template can be made in a continuous piece (they can also be made individually). Pie steps need to be manufactured separately and cannot be made connected to the next step. Mark each step with a sequential number and make a match mark where it will meet the next step.
4. We will use this template to make the stair carpet. The carpet will be made to the exact size of the template. DO NOT PUT NOTES ON THE TEMPLATE THAT SAY (FOR EXAMPLE): ADD 2 INCHES or MAKE CURVE EVEN ETC. THE TEMPLATE NEEDS TO BE EXACTLY WHAT THE MILL WILL MAKE. Any flaws in the template will be duplicated in the carpet.
5.  IMPORTANT: MARK THE RUNNER WITH “THIS SIDE UP” This eliminates the possibility of the carpet being made upside down. MARK THE TEMPLATE WITH THE “TOP” AND “BOTTOM” for the first and last stairs and put the customer name and side mark on the template.
6. Submit a stair drawing and a photograph of the stair along with the template.
7.  For capped or box steps. Follow the same instruction as above. If the riser is round or curved the carpet will have to be adjusted and cut on the job to remove the buckling.