Key Takeaways
- Townhomes average 1,200–1,800 sq ft of carpet across 2–3 floors
- Stairs are the focal point—plan stair carpet first, then match main floors
- Budget 6–8 hours for a full townhome install (all floors + stairs)
- Coordinate with neighbors if you share walls—installation is loud
- New townhomes often have builder-grade carpet that needs replacement within 5–10 years
- Multi-floor installs cost $4,000–$8,000 depending on carpet grade and stair configuration
Why Townhome Carpet Installation Is More Complex
Townhomes are vertical. Most Ottawa townhomes have three levels: basement, main floor, and second floor. Some have a fourth level (loft or rooftop access). Carpet typically covers the stairs, upper bedrooms, and sometimes the basement.
The stairs dominate the job. A standard townhome has 13–15 risers from basement to main floor and another 13–15 from main to second floor. That’s 26–30 stair treads. Each tread requires precise cutting, stretching, and securing.
Stair carpet costs more per square foot than flat carpet. Materials are similar, but labor is triple. A staircase takes 2–3 hours. A bedroom takes 30–45 minutes.
Townhomes also have tight spaces. Narrow hallways. Small bedrooms. Installers maneuver large carpet rolls through doorways and up stairs. Furniture needs to be moved. Rooms need to be emptied.
If you’re replacing old carpet, removal adds time. Old carpet, underlay, and tack strips come out. The subfloor gets inspected. Repairs happen. Then new installation begins.
For a full townhome carpet installation, plan a full day. Installers arrive at 8 AM. They finish by 4–5 PM. Bigger homes take longer.
Planning Carpet for Stairs First
Stairs are the visual centerpiece. Guests see them immediately. They connect all floors. Start your carpet selection with the stairs.
Stair carpet needs durability. High-traffic. Daily foot traffic from everyone in the house. Choose a tight weave or low-pile carpet. Plush carpet compresses on stairs and looks worn within two years.
Color matters. Light carpet shows dirt. Dark carpet shows lint and pet hair. Medium tones (grays, taupes, beiges) hide both. Patterned carpet hides wear better than solid colors.
Once you’ve selected stair carpet, match the upstairs bedrooms and hallway to it. The transition from stairs to hallway should be seamless. Use the same carpet or a complementary shade.
Basement carpet can be different. It’s separated by a full floor. Guests rarely see it. Many homeowners choose budget carpet for the basement and upgrade the main and upper floors.
For stair carpet in Ottawa townhomes, expect to pay $60–$100 per tread installed, depending on carpet quality and stair width. A standard 13-tread staircase costs $800–$1,300 just for the stairs.
Multi-Floor Coordination and Carpet Transitions
Townhomes have multiple floor levels. Carpet on one floor may transition to tile, hardwood, or vinyl on another. Each transition needs a transition strip.
Transition strips are metal or wood pieces that bridge the gap between flooring types. They prevent carpet edges from fraying and create a clean visual line.
Common transitions in townhomes:
- Stairs to main floor: Carpet stairs transition to hardwood or tile at the landing. Use a reducer strip.
- Hallway to bedroom: Carpet continues, but the seam between rooms needs a threshold or bar strip.
- Basement stairs to basement floor: Carpet stairs may transition to vinyl or tile. Use a T-molding or reducer.
Plan transitions before installation. Measure the height difference between flooring types. Buy the correct transition strip. The installer will cut and fit it during the job.
Avoid mismatched transitions. If you have three stair landings with three different transition strip styles, it looks amateur. Use the same finish (brushed nickel, bronze, wood grain) throughout.
Scheduling and Timing for Townhome Installs
A full townhome carpet install (basement, stairs, upper floor) takes 6–8 hours. Small homes (1,000 sq ft of carpet) take less. Large homes (2,000+ sq ft) take more.
Installers work during business hours. Expect them to arrive between 8–9 AM. They’ll finish by 4–5 PM. If the job runs long, they may return the next day to complete it.
You don’t need to be home the entire time, but someone should be present at the start and end. The installer will have questions. You’ll need to inspect the work before they leave.
Plan for disruption. You can’t use the stairs while they’re being carpeted. Furniture in bedrooms needs to be moved. The house will be dusty and loud.
If you have young children, arrange for them to be elsewhere during installation. Tack strips are sharp. Tools are heavy. Installers need space to work.
If you share walls with neighbors (most townhomes do), warn them in advance. Installation is noisy. Power stretchers thump. Tack strips hammer down. The noise travels through shared walls.
Most Ottawa townhome communities don’t have formal noise restrictions, but courtesy goes a long way. A note on their door the day before is sufficient.
Dealing with Builder-Grade Carpet in New Townhomes
New townhomes in Ottawa—especially those in Barrhaven, Kanata, and Riverside South—come with builder-grade carpet. This carpet is cheap. It’s functional. It lasts 5–7 years with normal use.
Builder-grade carpet is usually polyester or low-end nylon. It’s thin. It compresses quickly in high-traffic areas (stairs, hallways). It stains easily. The color fades.
Homeowners replace it within the first decade. Some replace it immediately after moving in. Others wait until it looks worn.
Replacing builder-grade carpet is straightforward. The old carpet pulls up. The underlay usually comes out too—it’s thin and compressed. New underlay and carpet go down.
If the builder-grade carpet is still in acceptable condition, you can keep it in low-traffic areas (spare bedrooms) and replace only the stairs and main hallway. This saves money.
For carpet replacement in Ottawa townhomes, expect to pay $3,000–$6,000 for a full multi-floor replacement, depending on carpet quality.
Soundproofing Considerations for Shared Walls
Townhomes share walls. Sound travels. Footsteps on the floor above you are footsteps in your neighbor’s ceiling.
If your townhome is part of a condo corporation (common in Ottawa), you may have IIC (Impact Insulation Class) requirements for underlay. Check your condo bylaws. Most require IIC 65 or higher.
Even if your townhome is freehold (not a condo), soundproofing underlay is a courtesy to neighbors. It also reduces noise within your own home—kids running upstairs won’t shake the main floor ceiling.
Acoustical underlay costs $1.50–$3.00 per square foot. It’s denser and heavier than standard underlay. It absorbs impact sound.
For townhomes with young children or multiple occupants, soundproofing underlay is worth the cost. It reduces complaints from neighbors and makes your home quieter.
Staircase Configurations and Installation Challenges
Ottawa townhomes have different stair configurations:
- Straight stairs: Single run of treads from one floor to the next. Easiest to carpet.
- L-shaped stairs: 90-degree turn with a landing. Common in townhomes. Requires precise cutting at the landing.
- U-shaped stairs: Two runs of stairs with a 180-degree turn. More complex. Takes longer to install.
- Winder stairs: Pie-shaped treads at the turn instead of a landing. Difficult to carpet. Requires custom cutting.
Winder stairs cost more to carpet. Each pie-shaped tread is a unique size. The carpet needs to be cut and fit individually. Budget an extra $200–$400 for winder stairs.
If your townhome has open-riser stairs (treads with no backs), carpeting them is difficult. Some installers refuse the job. The carpet needs to be tucked and secured without a riser to anchor it. Expect to pay a premium or consider a stair runner instead of full coverage.
For complex stair configurations, hire an experienced installer. Stair carpet installation on winder or open-riser stairs is specialist work.
FAQ
How long does it take to carpet a townhome? 6–8 hours for a full multi-floor install (basement, stairs, upper bedrooms). Smaller homes take less. Larger homes or complex stair configurations take longer.
Do I need to move furniture before the installer arrives? Yes. Empty bedrooms and hallways completely. Move furniture out of carpeted areas. Some installers offer furniture moving for an additional fee ($100–$300).
Can I carpet just the stairs and leave the rest? Yes. Stairs can be carpeted independently. Match the stair carpet to existing upstairs carpet, or choose a complementary color. This is common when updating builder-grade townhomes.
What’s the best carpet for townhome stairs? Low-pile nylon or tight-weave polyester. Avoid plush or high-pile carpet—it compresses quickly on stairs. Choose medium tones (gray, taupe, beige) to hide dirt and wear.
Do townhomes require soundproofing underlay? It depends. Condo townhomes may have IIC requirements in the bylaws. Freehold townhomes do not, but soundproofing underlay reduces noise transmission to neighbors and within your home.
How much does it cost to carpet a townhome in Ottawa? $4,000–$8,000 for a full install (all floors, stairs, underlay). Cost depends on carpet grade, home size, and stair configuration. Budget carpet brings costs down to $3,000. Premium carpet pushes it to $10,000+.
Can I install carpet in a townhome basement? Yes. Test for moisture first if the basement is below grade. Use a vapor barrier and moisture-resistant underlay. Basement carpet in townhomes is common in finished rec rooms and bedrooms.
What if my townhome has hardwood on the main floor? Most townhomes have hardwood on the main floor and carpet upstairs. Carpet the stairs from the second floor up, then transition to hardwood at the main floor landing. Use a reducer strip for the transition.
How do I coordinate carpet installation with neighbors in a townhome row? Warn them 24–48 hours in advance. Installation is loud. Shared walls transmit noise. Most installations finish in one day, so disruption is temporary.
Should I replace all floors at once or do it in stages? Doing it all at once is cheaper—the installer is already on-site. Staging saves upfront cost but increases total cost due to multiple service calls. If budget is tight, prioritize stairs and high-traffic areas first. For a quote, visit our contact page.