What is the name for the rails that go on each step on stairs which pretends to hold down the carpet?

Question

Also, is the carpet that is put down the middle normal carpet or a special carpet which has had the edges sealed?

Answer 1

Stair rods.

Answer 2

Carpet Stair Rods

Answer 3

Stair rods

Answer 4

Stair rods go completely across the stair and does actually hold the carpet in, stair clips are fixed at the edge of the carpet and are hinged so can be flat to hold the carpet in position or upright to allow the carpet to be moved. The carpet for this is called a runner and is basically a long narrow rug. The runner was traditionally only held in place by stair rods or clips as every now and then the runner would be lifted and beaten with a carpet beater. It would be put back slightly further up or down so to prevent carpet wear on the edge of the tread.(this means that when it was first fitted extra length would be folded behind the first or last stair.)

Nowadays you can recreate the look by  using standard carpet either folding in the edges up to the underlay or by getting the carpet bound (this is like a blanket stitch at the edge)

Answer 5

Or "Tack Strips"  also called "Tackless Strips"  if its is the type that holds from below.