Remove Carpet and Pad

What happens in this clip

Before beginning, ensure you are wearing appropriate safety gear including a dust mask, safety glasses, and work gloves. Start by locating a seam or an edge of the carpet, preferably in a corner, to get a good grip. Using a utility knife, carefully cut the carpet into manageable strips or sections, especially in large rooms, to make rolling and carrying easier. Once cut, begin to pull up the carpet from the subfloor, rolling it tightly as you go. Repeat this process for the carpet pad underneath, detaching it from the subfloor and rolling it up. Dispose of the rolled-up carpet and pad properly.

Goal: Detach and roll up old carpet and pad

What's used

Tools

• Dust Mask
• Safety Glasses
• Utility Knife
• Heavy-duty scissors
• Work Gloves
• Heavy-duty utility gloves

Materials

• Old Carpet Pad
• Old Carpet

About the full video

This project provides a detailed guide on how to effectively remove old carpet and its underlying pad, scrape off stubborn adhesive and backing residue from the subfloor, safely remove tack strips, and thoroughly clean the area, preparing it for new flooring installation.

Step 3 of 6: Remove Carpet and Padding

Starting at one edge, grip the carpet with pliers or a carpet knife and pull it upwards and away from the subfloor. Work in sections, peeling back the carpet. Once the carpet is removed, remove the padding beneath it in the same manner. Roll up the carpet and padding as you go to make disposal easier.

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
   • 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 (this video)
   • 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