Carpet removal: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What carpet removal is

Carpet removal pulls up old carpet and padding, removes the tack strips and staples, disposes of the waste and prepares the floor for the next covering or a clean subfloor. People need it when the carpet is worn, damaged or allergenic, or when a hard floor is going in next.

Signs you need it

  • The carpet has flood damage, mold or a persistent odor that is coming up through the padding
  • The room is being changed to a hard floor, and the carpet has to come out before the new floor goes down
  • The padding is crumbling, and the carpet tears when you try to pull a corner back
  • The tack strips are rusted or broken, and the staples are sticking out of the subfloor
  • You want to see the condition of the subfloor before deciding what to install in the room

What the pro does

  • Check the carpet for tack strip positions, staples and any tape, and note any areas with mold or water staining
  • Cut the carpet into manageable strips and pull it from the tack strips, rolling it up for removal
  • Remove the padding and pull the staples from the subfloor with a stapler puller or pliers
  • Pry up the tack strips from the perimeter with a pry bar and a protective block, and bag the nails
  • Sweep the subfloor, vacuum the dust and check the subfloor for damage, nails and high spots
  • Haul the carpet, the padding and the tack strips to disposal, leaving the room clean for the next floor

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Room square footage and the number of rooms, plus stairs and closets
  • The number of layers of old flooring, and whether a hard floor was installed under the carpet
  • Tack strip and staple removal, including how many are rusted or hard to pull
  • Any mold, odor or water staining that calls for extra cleanup or treatment
  • Disposal method and the distance to the disposal site
  • Access, such as a second story room, a stair or tight furniture that must be moved

What a written quote should spell out

  • Square footage by room, the stairs included and the layers listed
  • Removal steps named, including the tack strip and staple removal
  • Disposal of the carpet, padding and tack strips, with the method stated
  • Subfloor cleanup and vacuum, with any repair noted as a separate item
  • Mold or water staining treatment, if present, listed as its own line

Questions to ask before you hire

  • What do you find under the carpet, and what happens if you find mold or water staining?
  • How do you remove the tack strips without damaging the subfloor?
  • What do you do with the padding and the carpet, and is disposal included?
  • Will you leave the subfloor ready for the next floor, and what cleanup is included?
  • How do you protect the walls and the doorways while the carpet comes out?
  • Can you show me a carpet removal you did in a home with a similar subfloor?

Red flags

  • The pro says the carpet can come up with no check of the subfloor underneath
  • The pro leaves nails, staples and tack strips on the subfloor for the next installer to find
  • The pro does not mention mold or water staining, and the room shows signs of both
  • The pro quotes removal with no disposal line, and the disposal is later added as an extra

What you can do yourself

Pulling carpet, padding and staples out of a dry room is a reasonable homeowner project with gloves, a pry bar and a stapler puller. Removing carpet from a room with mold, water damage or asbestos-suspect flooring should be checked first, and the work done by a professional who can contain the dust and dispose of the materials properly.

Licenses and permits

Carpet removal commonly does not need a license, and disposal rules are set by the local waste authority. Check with your state or local licensing agency and your local building department if the removal reveals structural damage or mold.

Carpet removal questions

Can I leave old carpet pad under the new floor?

Usually not. Old padding can hold moisture and crumble under a new floor, and it can make a hard floor feel soft. Ask the pro to remove all the padding unless the new floor is designed to go over it.

What if the old floor under the carpet is damaged?

Carpet removal often reveals subfloor damage. Ask the pro to show the damage and to quote the repair separately before the next floor goes in.

Should I test old flooring before I remove it?

Yes, if the home is older. Some old flooring and its adhesive contain materials that need testing before disturbance. Ask the pro to test the materials first and tell you the result.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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