Who replaces a stair carpet in Cirencester? And what should it cost?

Every year or two, someone calls me to ask if I can do a stair carpet. I can't, not properly. It's a specialist job. But the question behind the question is usually "who do I call, and is it going to cost me a fortune?" Which I can help with.

Not a handyman job, strictly speaking

Fitting carpet on stairs is one of the fiddliest bits of a carpet fitter's trade. You're cutting to the millimetre. You're stretching onto gripper rods along each riser and tread. You're using a knee-kicker in an awkward space. Done badly, carpet lifts, bubbles, or, worse, pulls away at the top step where you trip on it. Done well, it looks like it's always been there.

For a modern house with straight stairs, a competent fitter does it in half a day. For a period property in Cirencester with winders, awkward angles, and a curved handrail newel post, budget a whole day, sometimes more.

What you need to decide before you ring anyone

1. Do you need new carpet or just a new fit?

If your existing carpet is less than a few years old, in good nick, and just come loose, a fitter can often lift and refit for £150 to £250 depending on the staircase. Don't throw away good carpet.

2. Measure the stairs properly

Count the risers (the upright bits) and treads (the flat bits). A standard UK staircase has about 13 to 14 steps. Measure the width of the treads at the widest point. Measure the landing if the carpet is continuous. Write it all down before you ring anywhere. Most estimators will come out for free but you'll save them a trip if you can describe the job properly over the phone.

3. Carpet weight and fibre

Stairs get more wear than anywhere else in the house. You want a minimum 80/20 wool blend, or a solution-dyed polypropylene if you've got pets. The thin, cheap stuff you can get away with in a bedroom will look knackered on a staircase in 18 months.

A 50oz (weight) wool-blend stair carpet is what I recommend when people ask. You can go heavier, to 60oz or 70oz, but you're paying more for a benefit you won't see for 20 years. 50oz is the sweet spot.

Rough costs in the Cirencester area (2026)

Prices change, but for a standard 13-step stair plus a small landing, you're looking at roughly:

• Cheap end, synthetic carpet: £350 to £500 all in, including fitting and underlay. Will look fine for 3 to 5 years.
• Mid-range, 80/20 wool blend: £600 to £850 all in. 10 to 15 years of proper wear.
• Upper mid, 50oz pure wool or heavy wool blend: £900 to £1,200. Will outlast most things in the house.
• Natural stair runner on stained treads: £700 to £1,400 depending on the runner and the prep needed on the treads.

Underlay is usually £50 to £100 extra if they haven't included it. Don't skip it. Underlay does most of the cushioning.

Who to ring locally

Two types to choose from:

High street carpet shops. Cirencester has a few, and shops in Swindon and Cheltenham service the area. You get to see and feel the carpet. Fitter comes out for a free measure-up. Takes 2 to 3 weeks from visit to fitted.

Independent fitters. There are several very good independents in and around Cirencester who'll supply and fit, or fit your own carpet. Usually cheaper than a high-street shop. Word of mouth in the village is how most people find them. Ask at the community centre or a gentle post in the Cirencester Community Facebook group tends to produce three or four names.

The stair-prep bit nobody mentions

Before a fitter arrives, you want the stairs in good condition underneath. Loose treads should be screwed down and glued. Squeaks should be sorted. Old gripper rod that's rusting should be lifted and replaced. If you haven't had the carpet off in 15 years, the wood under there has probably had a quiet life and needs a bit of attention.

That's the bit I can do. Usually in an hour, once the old carpet's up. Then your fitter arrives to a clean, solid, squeak-free staircase and fits new carpet onto a surface that's worth fitting it to. Two trades working in proper order. Job looks better. Carpet lasts longer. Nobody feels rushed.