Cut Carpet into Strips

What happens in this clip

Using a utility knife, carefully cut the carpet into thin, manageable strips. It's recommended to cut through the carpet backing without deeply scoring or damaging the floor underneath. Making thinner strips will make the carpet easier to handle and roll up.

Goal: Divide the carpet into manageable strips for removal.

What's used

Tools

• Utility Knife
• Heavy-duty box cutter
• Work Gloves

About the full video

This project provides step-by-step instructions on how to remove old carpet and its padding. It covers identifying the type of carpet installation (tacks vs. tack strips), removing shoe moldings, cutting and rolling up the carpet, extracting tack strips, and finally, removing the carpet pad, whether it's stapled or glued.

Step 2 of 6: Score the Carpet Edges

Using a utility knife, carefully score the carpet along the base of the walls and where the carpet meets the stair risers. This helps to break the adhesive bond and makes it easier to pull the carpet up in manageable sections.

Open this step in the guide

Every video in How to Remove Carpet from a Stair Landing

1. Step 1: Prepare the Stair Landing Area

   • 0:00–0:58 Assess Existing Carpet and Secure Workspace
   • 0:14–0:23 Initial Cleanup and Debris Removal
   • 0:16–0:24 Clean and Prepare Staircase Substrate

2. Step 2: Score the Carpet Edges

   • 0:33–0:43 Cut Carpet into Strips (this video)
   • 2:37–4:28 Cut and Roll Carpet Strips
   • 0:21–0:50 Remove the Carpet

3. Step 3: Remove Carpet and Padding

   • 0:00–0:09 Remove Carpet and Padding
   • 0:00–0:09 Remove Carpet and Pad
   • 0:01–0:40 Remove Carpet and Padding

4. Step 4: Remove Staples and Tack Strips

   • 0:55–1:00 Remove Tack Strips
   • 1:15–2:15 Remove Staples and Tack Strips
   • 3:04–4:13 Remove Tack Strips and Staples

5. Step 5: Clean the Subfloor

   • 0:12–0:14 Clean the Subfloor
   • 0:13–0:14 Clean the Subfloor
   • 0:18–0:23 Clean the Subfloor

6. Step 6: Dispose of Old Carpet and Padding

   • 0:31–0:38 Remove Carpet Padding
   • 3:40–4:43 Dispose of Old Carpet and Padding
   • 0:54–1:02 Remove Carpet Pad