Removing the old carpet is the first step to no longer having an old and stained floor. While you can hire someone to lay the new floor, you can remove the old carpet yourself. You can save some money and be sure that the floor below is prepared (or preserved) according to your standards.
Steps
Step 1. Decide the final goal of your restoration
- Do you want to save what's under the carpet? Some old houses have ugly, old carpet right on top of a beautiful hardwood floor. Remove a corner of the carpet and check what's underneath.
- Will you lay another carpet or will you entrust the work to someone else? If so, you may want to leave the fastening strips in place if they are in good condition. Ask the installer what he prefers.
- Will you then want a tiled, vinyl, wood or other type of hard floor?
Step 2. Think about how you want to dispose of the old carpet before removing it
Disposal costs money, so do your research.
- If you want the installer of the new floor to take away the old carpet, get a quote first. Also, make sure they won't charge you for labor hours to remove carpet or move furniture.
- Call the landfill you usually take your waste to and ask how much disposal costs. Some disposal centers charge different costs for carpets and rugs, so be sure to talk about carpet.
- Make sure you have the means to take the carpet to the landfill. A towing service or van rental is often available. Search the phone book to find what you are looking for.
Step 3. Move all furniture out of the work area
You must have access to the entire floor. Remember that you need to put the furniture somewhere, so decide where. You can move them to a room adjacent to the one where you are working; you can put them outdoors (cover them if there is the possibility of rain) or temporarily rent a deposit.
Step 4. Vacuum the old carpet
This step is optional, but will help reduce the dust that will raise when you remove the carpet.
Step 5. Wear a dust mask if the carpet is very old or damp
Wear heavy work gloves as you will be working with staples, fasteners and rough carpet edges. Plus, wear sturdy shoes with thick soles and reinforced toes to protect your feet in case you step on a fastening strip or paper clip.
Step 6. Pull the edge of the carpet, close to all walls
Use pliers to grab it if you need them.
Step 7. Use a carpet cutter to cut the carpet into easier-to-handle strips and roll up the strips as you move across the floor
- If you are trying to save the floor below, be sure not to cut it with the cutter. One way to do this is to lift the carpet as you cut it. Another way is to remove the carpet in large pieces and then cut them in another place.
- Know what a manageable streak is. It has to form a roll that you can lift, move and enter the vehicle that you will use to take it away.
Step 8. Remove the mat underneath the carpet
In many cases it is necessary to replace or remove it. It should be replaced if it is old or damp. The mats are usually nailed. Pull it up, cut it into small strips if necessary, and roll them up like you did with the carpet.
Step 9. Take the rolls of carpet and mat out of the room where you are working
Step 10. Remove the mounting strips if you want
Insert a flat bar (or a crowbar) under the strips (they are strips with nails facing upwards). Be sure to wear sturdy gloves and safety glasses, as they can jump off and injure you.
Step 11. Pull the staples out of the mat
The pliers and the flat screwdriver will help you with this task.
Step 12. Clean the floor
Use a swiffer cloth or vacuum cleaner to remove the debris left by the old carpet.
Step 13. Prepare the foundation for the new flooring
It is a golden opportunity to put an end to the various squeaks and repair any damage.
- Insert long through screws from the floor to the slab below wherever you hear squeaks.
- Apply a surface treatment to prevent old floor stains from transferring to the new carpet.
- Level the slab and replace water damaged wood if necessary.
- Touch up the paint on the baseboards and the underside of the door jambs. Make sure there is some time before installing the new carpet to allow the paint to dry.
Warnings
- The fastening strips are sharp and can injure the skin. Watch out!
- The cutters and knives for carpet and linoleum are sharp.
- Removing carpeting is hard and dirty work.
