Carpet Removal: How to Remove Carpet in 6 Easy Steps

You have finally made the decision to replace the worn-out wall-to-wall carpet, but first, you must remove it from the floor and remove it from the house before you can install new flooring or new carpet. Even if a carpet installer can remove it, learning how to do it yourself will save you time and money. The old shag carpet will be gone in no time with the use of a dust mask and some muscle. Continue reading to learn how to remove carpets properly and what supplies and tools you need for carpet removal.

Materials and Tools

• Utility knife

• Crowbar

• Pliers

• Dusk mast

• Shop vacuum

• Heavy work gloves

• Floor scraper

Eliminate barriers

Before beginning to rip up the carpet, ensure all furniture is out of the way. Use a crowbar to remove the shoe molding if your carpet was put underneath it. Remove any doors that swing into the space as well.

Take safety measures

Use a dust mask because old carpet can contain a lot of dust. Protective gloves should be worn when handling tack strips, cutting carpets, and protecting hands from staples.

Take the carpet out

Using pliers, loosen a corner and pull the carpet back. You should cut the carpet into strips that are simpler to transport to make the carpet removal process simpler. Fold the carpet over and cut through the back with your utility knife after you've pulled back roughly two feet of it. From the back, the carpet is simpler to cut and safeguards the floor below. Keep tugging and cutting until all of the carpets have been gone. Take the parts outside the building.

Cut the tack strips off.

The tack strips, which are tiny pieces of wood with nails affixed to them that line the room's perimeter, can be left in place if the new carpet is installed as long as they are not damaged or corroded. Use your crowbar to pry them off the ground so you may remove them. Make careful to put on sturdy gloves.

Remove the carpet pad

Pull back the padding beginning at the corner. As you did with the carpet, fold the pad and cut it into pieces. It's possible that the pad was glued or stapled to the subfloor. Remove staples and stuck-on objects with a floor scraper. Although you can also remove the staples with pliers, using a floor scraper will save you a lot of time.

Clean it up

After everything has been taken out, clean the subfloor with a shop vacuum. Find the sanitation department's carpet disposal guidelines by contacting your neighborhood office. You might be able to place it out on a day for bulk pickup or deliver it to a drop-off location. Also, several cities recycle carpets.

Out With the Old, In With the New (Flooring)

After successfully removing the old carpet, it's time to get ready for the renovation's next stage, which could involve putting in brand-new wood flooring or refinishing the gorgeous hardwood that has been hidden beneath.