How To Rip Up Carpet Hardwood Floors

Stripping hardwood flooring the wrong way can cost you hours of backbreaking work leave you with an enormous mess and even cause permanent damage to your subflooring.

How to rip up carpet hardwood floors.

Use a utility knife or carpet knife to slice the carpet into manageable strips and roll the strips up as you go. Roll or fold the strip secure with duct tape and remove it from the room. Move all the furniture and personal items out of the room you will be renovating. Keep both hands on the knife to avoid cutting a free hand.

If you are trying to salvage the floor underneath make sure you do not cut grooves in the floor with the knife. Remove the carpet tacking strips which may be nailed or stapled to the hardwood floor. When you add coconut oil to wood it brings the wood back to life by rehydrating and shining it. With a pair of pliers grab the nap of your carpet nearest the corner and pull straight up.

If your cleaning efforts resulted in a dull looking hardwood floor try applying coconut oil to brighten it up. Use your standard screwdriver to pry them from the floor. Go to a hallway or other less than visible area of your home. Pull up a few feet of carpet and fold it over.

The carpet should come up revealing carpet strips and padding. Remove any carpet transition strips which are the metal strips nailed or screwed down in a doorway. Use a utility knife with a sharp new blade to cut through the carpet backing. Hardwood flooring makes a welcome addition to any home but it can be daunting to deal with once it s time to remove or replace it.

Continue pulling up carpet a few feet at a time and cutting it into easy to handle strips. Gently pull up the padding and see what s underneath. Dispose of tacking strips and any staples or nails that held the strips in place. Pick up a utility knife needle nose pliers hammer and a pry bar start in the corner of the room and pull the carpet loose from the tacks with the pliers work your way along the walls and continue to loosen the carpet cut the carpeting into sections and roll them up for easy disposal.