How to Remove Carpet

Are you replacing your worn-out carpeting? Removing carpet is an easy do-it-yourself project. If you are having new carpet or hardwood installed, you can save a lot of money by removing the old carpet yourself. Follow these easy steps and you will have your old carpeting removed in no time.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Utility knife
• Utility knife blades
• Masking tape
• Pry bar
• Hammer

1. Grab the carpeting in the corner of the room and pull it from the tack strip.

2. Cut a strip of carpet about 3 feet in from the corner with a utility knife. Cut the strip wall to wall, or whatever is manageable for you.

3. Roll the cut strip of carpet, pulling it from the tack strip when necessary.

4. Secure the carpet roll with masking tape.

5. Continue cutting and rolling 3-foot strips of carpet until all carpeting is removed.

6. Cut and roll strips of the carpet padding as you did with the carpet until all carpet padding is removed.

7. Use the pry bar and hammer to remove the tack strip, if necessary. Insert the pry bar under the tack strip near a nail, use the hammer to hit the pry bar in place, and then lift the nail out of the floor with the pry bar.

Tips & Warnings

• You will find that your utility knife blade will become dull quickly when cutting carpet. Replace the blade when cutting becomes difficult.
• You can purchase special carpet-cutting utility knives at your home improvement store. They are designed to cut carpet and might make your job easier.
• If you are replacing your carpeting with hard flooring, you need to remove the tack strip. If you are replacing your carpeting with new carpet, you do not need to remove the old tack strip.
• Be careful when working around the tack strip. It is very sharp.
• If you want to preserve hardwood flooring under your carpet, be careful that you do not cut the subfloor when cutting the carpet and pad.
• Carpet is sometimes glued to the subfloor. If this is the case, you will need to soften the adhesive with a product such as mineral spirits.