How do I remove old carpet and underlay?

Removing carpet is straightforward but generates far more bulk and dust than people expect. Most of the technique is about making the material manageable before it becomes a problem.

Safety

Step by step

1. Clear and vacuum the room first.Vacuum the carpet thoroughly before lifting. It sounds pointless and it substantially reduces the dust cloud when it comes up.
2. Lift one corner to see what you have.Pull a corner up with pliers to release it from the gripper rod. Look underneath: separate underlay, foam backing bonded to the carpet, or a glued-down carpet each need a different approach.
3. Cut the carpet into strips before lifting it.Strips about a metre wide, cut from the back where possible with a sharp utility knife and a fresh blade. A whole room's carpet in one piece is too heavy to move and will not go through a door.
4. Roll each strip tightly and tie it.Roll as you cut and tie with string or tape. Tied rolls stack, carry and go into a van or skip; loose folded carpet does none of those things.
5. Pull the underlay next.It usually comes away in sheets and often disintegrates. Old rubber underlay can bond to floorboards and leaves a crumbly residue that needs scraping.
6. Remove every staple and tack.Underlay is stapled down, sometimes hundreds of them. Pincers or a tack lifter and patience. Any left behind will telegraph through a new floor covering or catch a foot.
7. Decide about the gripper rods.If new carpet is going down and the rods are sound, leave them — replacing them is work for nothing. If you are laying wood, vinyl or leaving boards bare, prise them up with a bolster and hammer.
8. Lift gripper rods carefully.Work a bolster under one end and lever gradually along its length. They are nailed into the floor and snap into sharp pieces if you rush. Bag them immediately rather than leaving them loose.
9. Check the floor underneath before doing anything else.Loose or squeaking boards, damp patches, gaps and old nail heads are far easier to deal with now than after a new covering is down.
10. Arrange disposal before you start.Carpet is bulky and most councils will not take it in general waste. Check the local recycling centre's rules, or arrange collection. Underestimating the volume is the classic mistake.

Tips

• Change utility knife blades constantly. A blunt blade needs force, and force with a knife on a floor is how people get hurt.
• A pair of pliers grips carpet backing far better than fingers when releasing it from gripper rods.
• If the room smells once the carpet is out, treat the floor before covering it — the smell will come straight back through anything you lay.

Questions people ask