Cut the carpet into workable sections and pull it free or roll it up and have a friend help you carry it out.
What is needed to take out carpeting.
Pull toward you to detach it from the sharp tack strip that holds it to the floor along the wall.
It should be replaced if it is old or stained or has gotten wet.
In most cases the carpet padding will also need to be replaced or removed.
This will prevent any damage to the hardwood.
Keep pulling back the carpet and slicing it into strips.
Then once the carpet is up lift the carpet pad off the floor a cut it with the utility knife.
It doesn t need to look good but make sure the measurements are accurate.
Make sure that all cost estimates include padding installation seaming stairs if applicable thresholds the moving of furniture and the removal of old carpet or other flooring and.
To calculate the square footage of carpet you ll need multiply the length times the width in feet of any space where you ll install flooring.
The work can be dusty so wear a dust mask and safety glasses.
Most retailers now sell by the square foot.
The general guideline is that you will require 4 or the width of the stair x 30 of carpet for every pie stair this allows for some maneuvering of the carpet by the installer to find the best fit.
Check out our handy carpet calculator if you need help measuring.
It also helps to sketch out a diagram of your home s layout.
Sure you start by figuring out the square footage but then you need to consider how many rolls of carpeting it will take to cover that amount of space with the smallest number or least.
Pull it up cut it into smaller strips if necessary for handling and roll it as you did the carpet.
We like this knife by stanley which includes a quick change blade.
Use pliers to tightly grab the carpet.
Carpet padding is usually just stapled down.
If there s no need to save the carpet it is easier to cut the carpet into smaller sections with a utility knife and move the sections out one at a time.
Once the carpet is removed locate the nails which attach the tack strips to the floor.
Put on a pair of sturdy work gloves and start tearing up carpet in a corner of the room.
Pry bar hammer.
Use a sharp new blade in your utility knife and be careful not to slice into baseboard or walls.
Carpet is much easier to cut from the back than from the front.