How to Remove Old Carpet

If you are planning on putting down new carpet and need to take up the old here are a few hints on what you need to know

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hammer, pry Bar, Pliers

1. So you have decided to remove that old stained carpet, good for you. before you begin there are some things you will need to do. By following these easy steps you will get the job done quicker, and save yourself a lot of unnecessary labor.
   
   I'm going to assume that you have removed all the furniture from the room, if I am wrong do so now. Anything left in the room will have to be moved each time it gets in the way. I Have seen people who think a big item like a hutch or heavy couch was thought to be too much trouble to take out only to find it was harder with it in the room. I have a wall schrunk from Germany that I have to take apart to remove, it comes apart in 45 pieces. Maybe that's why I don't change the carpet that often.

2. The next thing you should do is remove the floor molding that the carpet is tucked into. You will have to be careful that you don't crack it if you plan to reuse it. It will usually require a hammer and a lever to pry it loose.
   
   Place the lever above the molding and tap it till a gap appears. Then pry it gentle way from the wall. Try to locate where it has been nailed and place the lever above the nail. This will help prevent breaking the molding.
   
   It is not necessary that you remove the molding. You can remove the old carpet by just tearing it loose from the molding and then scraping the remnants from under the molding before you install the new carpet.

3. Okay now that you have everything out of the room and the molding removed(if desired), it is time to start.
   
   Depending on the type carpet that has been placed on the floor will determine how we proceed. There are two types of carpet; glued down and attached with rug strips. each has it's own difficulties. To determine which you have simply pull up a corner to see if there is a wood strip with barbs on it at the corner. if not it is probably glued down. If it is by carpets strips there will most likely be a padding as well.
   
   If the carpet is not that old you may find you can use the padding again, but if the rug has been soiled by pets then you will want to discard it as well and use new padding. To begin the removal start at one wall (choose the wall with the longest width). pull the carpet loose from the carpet strip and begin to roll the carpet up. It should come free of the strips as you roll. If not have someone go around and pull it loose from the strip along each wall.
   
   Try to keep the carpet as tightly rolled as you can. If you allow it to roll free it will become bulky and difficult to handle. The tight roll is easier to maneuver through the doorways.

4. If there is a padding and you don't intend to reuse it roll it up in a similar fashion, starting at the longest wall. You may encounter some difficulty if there has been moisture in the carpet as the padding will stick to the floor. If you intend to leave the floor uncovered be careful when scrapping the padding off as you could mar the surface of the wood

5. Once the carpet and the padding have been removed it is time to take up the carpet strip. if you are trying to save money by reusing the old strip, don't. The old strip will have had the hooks pounded down and render it useless. The cost of new ones is minor so please take up the old and if you are going to put new carpet down use new strips.
   
   Remove the strips by prying them loose from the floor at the spot they are nailed down. use you hammer and lever to pry up the strip. Again be careful not to mar the floor If you have hardwood floors under the carpet. Once the strips have been removed, check to see if there are any nails remaining in the floor. Remove all the padding that did not come up with the large piece by scrapping with a putty knife or an old kitchen knife.
   
   Before you put new carpet down be sure to sweep and mop up all the old dirt. Once the floor is clean you are ready to install your new carpet or begin restoring the hardwood.

6. Now if you have a glued down carpet you may encounter more difficulties. The old carpet will have to be pulled up from the floor. If it is an old carpet it will probably tear as you try to pull it up. Begin at a corner and try to get enough of the carpet up to make a work area.
   
   This will be a strenuous job with a lot of bending and pulling. if you do not have the stamina for bending and pulling it is better to get either professional help or someone with the strength to do the job.
   
   Once you have pulled up what you can of the carpet itself you will have to go back and scrape off the remaining pieces where the glue did not come up.A good putty knife and some solvent to loosen the glue works good for this. Besure the solvent can be used on wood without damaging it.
   
   When you have all the pieces up sweep and mop and you will be ready to continue with the new installation. Good luck and if you have a question about a problem you encounter give the guys at the carpet store a ring they usually will be willing to answer your questions.

[dmacman]

on 8/11/2009 That will work , but when prying up the tack strip be careful not to mar the nolding. when you lay the new tack strip leave room to tuck the carpet under the molding.

[wisroom2005]

on 8/11/2009 I tried to take the base mouldings off first, but the carpet is too thick and I'm afraid I'll break them. I'm going to try to pull the carpet out from under them, take out the tac strips and then the mouldings? Do you agree?