Content

• Steps
• Warnings
• What do you need

Removing old carpet is the first step towards getting something other than the old, stained carpet on your floor. Even if you hire someone to install the new floor, you can remove the old carpet yourself. You can even save a little money and be sure that the floor will be prepared (or saved) to suit your needs.

Steps

1. 1 Making the final decision on reconstruction.
   • Do you want to preserve what's under the carpet? Some old houses have ancient ugly carpets right on top of wooden floors. If you haven't already, then lift the corner of the rug and see what's underneath it.
   • Will you lay the new carpet yourself, or will you hire someone to do it? If so, you can leave the retaining strips in place if they are in good condition. Ask the installers you will hire for how they feel comfortable.
   • Will you be installing tiles, vinyl, wood, or some other hard floor?
2. 2 Before removing the old carpet, find out how you will manage it in the future. Getting rid of the carpet can cost you money, so check the prices around.
   • If you would like installers to take out your old carpet, make sure they are aware of it ahead of time and find out how much it will cost. Also, make sure they don't charge you for the time it rips it off and moves the furniture.
   • Call the landfill where you usually give or send your garbage and find out what they charge for disposal.
   • Make sure you have the ability to take out the carpet you want to throw away. Moving services are often available, as is the rental of trucks. Check your phone book and see what you can find.
3. 3 Move the furniture where you want to remove the carpet. You will need access to the entire floor. Remember that you need to put all that furniture somewhere, so think about where it would be better to do it.You can place it in adjacent rooms where you are not going to change the carpet; put on the street (if possible, covering it from moisture); or temporarily rent a storage space.
4. 4 Vacuum the old carpet. This step is optional, but it will help you avoid dust when removing the carpet.
5. 5 Wear a respirator if your carpet is very old or damp. Wear thick work gloves as you will be working with staples, nails, and rough carpet edges. Also, wear sturdy shoes with thick soles and closed toes to protect your feet if you step on the bar or brace.
6. 6 Raise the edge of the rug near one of the walls. If necessary, use pliers to grab onto the fiber.
7. 7 Use a knife or carpet knife to cut the carpet into more pliable strips and roll them into a roll as you go.
   • If you want to preserve what's under the carpet, make sure not to scratch the floor with your knife. One way to avoid this is to lift the carpet off the floor while cutting. Another way is to remove the carpet in a large piece and cut it somewhere else.
   • Know what is meant by a yielding strip. The resulting roll must be such that you can pick it up and carry it, and it must fit into any vehicle that will be used to remove the old carpet.
8. 8 Remove carpet backing. In most cases, the carpet backing will also need to be replaced or removed. The backing needs to be replaced if it is old, stained or damp. Usually the backing is simply sewn to the bottom of the carpet. Pull it off, cut into small strips if needed for convenience, and roll it up as you did with carpet.
9. 9 Remove the rolls of carpet from the room you are working in.
10. 10 If necessary, remove the retaining strips. Pry a crowbar under the bottom of the fixing bar (strip pierced with nails). Make sure you have gloves and eye protection as it can pop out and puncture your skin.
11. 11 Pull out the staples from the backing. Pliers and a flat screwdriver will help pry them off.
12. 12 Clean the floor. Sweep or vacuum as needed to remove debris from carpet.
13. 13 Preparation for new carpet. This is a great opportunity to repair damage and remove squeaks.
    • Use long wood screws to screw the flooring to the floor joists where the floor squeaks.
    • Apply an anti-stain primer to prevent old stains from penetrating through the new carpet.
    • Flatten the flooring and replace any water-damaged wood.
    • Paint the skirting boards and the bottom of the door frame. Make sure to give the paint enough time to dry before installing new flooring.

Warnings

• The fixing bars are very sharp and can puncture your skin. Be careful!
• Removing carpet is hard, messy work.
• Box knives, carpet knives, and linoleum knives are very sharp.

What do you need

• Gloves
• Box knife
• Eye protection
• Respirator
• Work gloves
• Thick outsole
• Flat screwdriver, crowbar, or 7-in-one tool