On Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:46:47 -0700, sid wrote:

We are in the process of carpeting the steps to the basement, but if the
top step (the one that is level with the first floor) were to be covered
with carpet (just the first 2-3 inches) would create a tripping hazard.
My carpet layer suggested that we just go ahead and tack carpet to the
step with out any padding and it would not stick up that much.

I wouldn't do it. I've almost fallen down our basement stairs enough
times *without* any kind of additional tripping hazard :-)

Maybe paint it with some hard-wearing paint instead, or recess a nice bit
of stained wood into the space if you have the tools and skills to do
that.

Potentially don't carpet the basement stairs at all and do something else
entirely? The stairs to the top floor of our place are painted black (I
was going to mix some anti-slip material into the paint, but we found we
didn't need it) and with a strip of black-painted floor the width of the
stairs and about 4 inches deep at the top.

cheers

Jules