Proper Removal of Old Carpet from Hardwood Floors: Auckland Carpet Repair Tips

When removing carpet from hardwood floors, it is first important to find out how it was originally attached. It may be attached by adhesive or it may be attached by nails and/or tack strips. Though a lot of people prefer to hire professional help, you can save a lot of money by just doing the job yourself.

When carpet is attached to hardwood floors by adhesive, you must first find out the type of adhesive that was used. If it is a dark brown or a tan adhesive, then it is probably tar based and mineral spirits can be used. If it is a yellow-looking substance, then it is likely a general carpet adhesive. This can be lightly scraped and gently chipped off. After which, an all-purpose adhesive remover may be used. In any case, professional refinishing may be required.

Removing Tacks or Nails from Carpets

If your carpeting is attached using tacks or nails, there are a few simple tools you will need for the job. First off, a good set of knee pads and work gloves will be well worth the money. The hand tools you will need are, utility knife, needle nose pliers or end cutting pliers, hammer, pry bar, and safety glasses.

Starting in a corner of the room, pull the carpet loose from the tack strip with a pair of pliers. Continue pulling the carpet loose all along the walls. When the carpet is free from the tack strip use the utility knife to begin cutting it into sections that can be easily handled. While doing this, hold the carpet slightly away from the padding to prevent from cutting into and damaging the hardwood below.

After the carpet has been removed it's time to work on the padding. It is usually held down by staples along all the seams. You can start at any seam and pull the pad loose from the floor.

Some of the staples will come out with the pad but most will remain in the floor with a small piece of the pad still attached. Again, cut the padding into sections that can easily be handled, taking care to hold it away from the floor below so as not to cut into it.

With the large sections of pad removed, you can begin removing the remaining staples. If you are going to have the floors sanded and finished, you can use your pry bar and gently scrape the chunks of pad and staples from the floor. If not, use your pliers to remove the pad and staples by grabbing and gently prying them loose.

If you are going to install new carpet, you are finished!

Removing the Tack Strip

If you are planning on refinishing your hardwood floors, you will need to remove the tack strip. This can be somewhat of a difficult job, but by using your pry bar, hammer, and pliers it can be accomplished.

Pick a starting point and slide the pry bar under the end of the tack strip. You may need to use your hammer to gently tap it. Once you have a good "bite" gently pry it away from the floor. There will be multiple nails in each piece of tack strip, so work your way down the strip and repeat the process at each nail.

The tack strip will probably break into smaller pieces and some of the nails may remain in the floor. If this happens, just use your pliers to carefully remove the nails.

Once you are done with removing the tack strip, and are planning to use the floor as it is, you may want to find a colored wood putty to fill in any nail or staple holes.

If you are going to have the hardwood floors professionally refinished, you will not need to fill any holes as this should be done during the refinishing process.