How to Remove Carpet

Whether it's worn, or you're just looking to restore the beauty of a hardwood floor hidden under your carpet, it helps to know what you're dealing with, so you can remove it with the least amount of damage to the floor underneath.

Generally speaking, there are two types of adhesive in use for anchoring carpets. One is painted on, and the other is a carpet tape that sticks the carpet to the flooring. If you lift a corner of the carpet, and find a darkish substance between it and the floor, it's likely one of the adhesives that has a tar base. Try using a mineral spirit to lift and scrape this off the flooring underneath. If the material is a lighter color, like golden, it's more than likely a carpet tape, which needs an adhesive dissolver.

Remember when working with solvents of any kind, that they are harsh chemicals which require good ventilation and care in using. Adhesive dissolver is highly flammable, and if you have just finished removing the carpet, it's a good idea to let the floor dry for a day before using any electrical tools on it that would cause friction and/or sparks. As a safeguard, you might consider mopping the floor after the carpet is up, to help wipe away any leftover remover.

Sometimes carpet is secured with strips that have tacks in them. If you are planning on restoring the floor underneath, you can simply lift these, then use a floor putty to fill in the holes, and a putty stain to match the color of your wood, after it is dry. Even if you are planning to lay more carpet, it's a good idea to at least fill the holes, for that rare occasion when something could be spilled and soak through the underlay, and into the flooring.