Removing the old carpet from a floor which will then be covered by a new carpet or other type of flooring is only part of the process of preparing the base floor for the new floor covering. There are other things that need to be done before the actual removal of the old carpet, as well as afterward. The steps required depend on many things, such as how the carpet was originally installed and the type of floor surface or floor covering is desired in its place, as well as what floor or wall fixtures will affect the removal of the carpet.

Before the Removal of the Carpet

The old carpet must be removed or the base floor otherwise prepared before new carpet or other flooring can be installed. The first thing to do is to clean the old carpet with a vacuum cleaner or steam cleaner. This will make removal of the carpet less messy than if the carpet was full of dirt and debris. The dust from the carpet can be overwhelming, so using a dust mask is advised. Cleaning the carpet first will also take off any unnecessary weight to the already heavy old carpet when you are removing it. Next, any fixtures in or along the edge of the carpet needs to be removed. This includes baseboards, thresholds, registers, and transitions with floorings in adjacent rooms. These will be set aside in another room so that they can be put back into place after the desired flooring is installed. Doors will have to be removed to make it easier to get the heavy rolls of carpeting out of the room. If the carpet is being replaced, the doors may have to be trimmed at the bottom before they are re-hung after the new carpet is installed.

Removing the Carpet

The carpet to be removed should be cut into two or three foot wide strips the length of the room. Each of these wide strips can be pried from the old tackless strips at the junctioins with the walls. They can then be rolled up one by one and removed from the room to be discarded. The padding can be removed in the same manner, cutting wide strips and rolling them up. Then the tackless strips can be removed. Be careful when removing the tackless strips as the angled nails that gripped the edges of the old carpet can still be sharp and dangerous. The tackless strips, and maybe even the padding and the carpeting, will be fastened to the floor with nails, staples or adhesives, so appropriate tools should be used to remove them. This will involve prying them loose or using strong solvents, and appropriate tools and safety precautions should be used.

After the Carpet is Removed

After the carpet and the padding under it have been removed, the floor may need to be completely cleaned of any adhesive residue and any other debris. The next steps depend on what kind of floor was under the carpet. If the base floor is wood, it might have to be sanded. If the floor is painted concrete, it may have to be stripped. Then, depending on what kind of flooring is desired, the bare floor may have to be resurfaced to prepare for it. Done correctly, the new floor will be clean and smooth and ready for the new flooring.