How to Remove Carpets That are Old Stained or Just Ugly

If you plan to remove your carpet yourself, you’re in for a dirty job. You’ll want, at the very least, a dust mask. You may also want to get some heavy boots and you’ll most certainly want heavy work gloves. When you remove your carpets, be aware that you’ll be removing boards full of very sharp nails from your floor. These are the tack strips that hold the carpet in place. All carpets have these underneath at the edges. The nails can leave nasty cuts, and they’re usually filthy and sometimes rusty too. The old carpet pad that’s exposed beneath is usually very dirty, and you’ll want protection from the dust and debris that will be kicked up.

 

You can remove your carpet by first removing any molding or skirting boards that might be holding it down. Take these off the walls first. The next step is where things get dirty. You’ll have to pull up a corner of the carpet. Use a crowbar or pry bar to get the first part of the old carpet lifted up. When it’s up, inspect the underside to make sure nothing sharp is sticking out. If not, go ahead and start tearing the carpet up. It should be easy to remove the carpet once one corner is up. Use a pair of large sharp scissors if carpet does not tear easily. As you remove your carpets, you may want to cut off some of the large sections. This makes them easier to throw away.

 

The last part required to remove carpets is oftentimes the worst: the pad. This is light foam padding, in most cases, that sits between the subfloor and the carpet. It pulls up very easily and, like when you remove carpets themselves, you may want to cut it into sections to make it easier to throw away.

 

Finally, vacuum the floor and remove any broken or rusted carpet tacks, and then you’re ready to install your new carpet.

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