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Post by grungygeorgie on Mar 30, 2012 16:05:42 GMT -5
Long story short.My 85 year old mother has carpet that is heavily
soiled from years of "little dog's " using it as their potty. The dogs
are now gone and I need to pull up the carpet. I am to ashamed
to hire anyone to pull it up.I will have to do it on my own & hire
a dumpster. Has anyone ever done this sort of job before?How do
I do it? Do I need any special tool or cutter? On a HOARDERS epi-
sode I think I recall them cutting it from the middle and just
zipping upwards.Any advice would greatly appreciated!!
On a happier note I did manage to pack 20 boxes of books (mainly
cookbooks) for our local library sale.I am sore from schlepping
but happy that I accomplished this huge task.The books were
piled on the stairs leading to the upstairs of her home and the
stairwell was nearly completely blocked just a narrow little goat trail
that was very dangerous for a elderly person w/ a can to try and
navigate.
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Post by dayeanu on Mar 30, 2012 16:41:01 GMT -5
Hi, I pulled up a house-full of carpet once. Just get a box cutter and cut it into manageable size sections. It's really pretty easy. Bu buy extra blades, because they will break. And you can get a carpet knife. This is an inexpensive tool (probably less than $10) that has a curved hook blade on it, sort of like a tiny sickle. Just place it point down, sort of angle it (as I recall - this was years ago) and cut by catching the carpet in the hook part, then draw it toward you. You might need work gloves. Carpet is heavy.
Do you know what kind of flooring is under it? Are you going to re-install more carpet?
If not, you will need a claw hammer and a small pry bar to pry up the tack strips around the edge of the room. Assuming the carpet isn't glued down.
If it's glued down, I'm not sure what you do.
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Post by babz25 on Mar 30, 2012 17:10:22 GMT -5
Ive seen my hubby pull up carpet once or twice its not particularly difficult but it is extremely labor intensive. Day had good advice, cut it into manageable squares and just rip it up....if it is that old and full of urine it should come up pretty easily but it is heavy!!
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Post by ramatama on Mar 30, 2012 17:50:25 GMT -5
Oh, and : use a mask so that you don't breathe in the tiny particles of whatever....
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Post by Chris on Mar 30, 2012 17:59:22 GMT -5
 I just want to say good luck to you in this task! You're really brave and kind to help your mom like this! 
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Post by Ally on Mar 30, 2012 18:05:34 GMT -5
Oh, and : use a mask so that you don't breathe in the tiny particles of whatever.... I second this... as a respiratory therapist, it is IMPERATIVE that you wear a good quality well fitting dust mask! You could be sorry if you don't! |
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Post by dayeanu on Mar 30, 2012 19:00:22 GMT -5
Oh, and : use a mask so that you don't breathe in the tiny particles of whatever.... I second this... as a respiratory therapist, it is IMPERATIVE that you wear a good quality well fitting dust mask! You could be sorry if you don't! Good quality well-fitting dust mask! Yes! As someone who wore a cheap, poorly fitted paper dust mask while desqualoring, and has been sick with respiratory problems since late February, I also strongly encourage you. |
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Post by hangers on Mar 30, 2012 19:14:24 GMT -5
Yes, the dust will be terrible. Hope you can open some windows while working too. I've found a large serrated knife works good on carpet too if you don't have the real thing. Once you get it started just keep pulling toward you and sawing.
Good luck to you. I've done many jobs that would be easier with some help, but too embarrassed to ask for help. Keep thinking of all the bazillions of bacteria you are getting out of the house with each armload. It helps.
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Post by grungygeorgie on Mar 30, 2012 21:39:10 GMT -5
OMG!!Thank you all so much who responded!!You have saved my
lungs!I don't know why,DUH, but I would never of thought to
wear a mask. I already have a pre-asthmatic condition, no mask
would of really worsened my breathing.I have wondered why
my breathing has been so wheezy & poppy lately.Great advice
all around folks!Sounds like a lot of hard work,but can be done.
I think we are just going to just put lino down, i can only imagine what
the padding and plywood look like underneath.Wish me luck!Onward.
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Post by dayeanu on Mar 30, 2012 21:44:29 GMT -5
Good luck!
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Post by messymommy on Mar 30, 2012 21:54:01 GMT -5
Yep. Use a mask and open windows, if you can. I've done this several times and it goes pretty quickly. It's much easier if you have someone else to help you haul out the carpet, but if not, you can cut it into manageable pieces. Pulling out the tack strips will take a little time. I have found those small pry bars very, very helpful in this task.
Have a vacuum cleaner handy because you will find sooooo much dust and dirt under the carpet and pad. It's almost scary. In fact, the first time I ever pulled up carpet, I was so horrified that I have never had carpet in a home again - only rugs which can be rolled up and swept under.
I've laid sheet vinyl (lino), vinyl tiles, ceramic tile and recently laminate flooring. I'm REALLY impressed with how easy and quick it is to install laminate. If the plywood underneath isn't in great shape, you might consider laminate. Since it "floats" and most of it has padding already attached to the back of each plank, it works great over sub floors that aren't fabulous.
Good luck! Let us know how it goes.
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Post by dayeanu on Mar 30, 2012 21:59:25 GMT -5
Yep. Use a mask and open windows, if you can. I've done this several times and it goes pretty quickly. It's much easier if you have someone else to help you haul out the carpet, but if not, you can cut it into manageable pieces. Pulling out the tack strips will take a little time. I have found those small pry bars very, very helpful in this task. Have a vacuum cleaner handy because you will find sooooo much dust and dirt under the carpet and pad. It's almost scary. In fact, the first time I ever pulled up carpet, I was so horrified that I have never had carpet in a home again - only rugs which can be rolled up and swept under. I've laid sheet vinyl (lino), vinyl tiles, ceramic tile and recently laminate flooring. I'm REALLY impressed with how easy and quick it is to install laminate. If the plywood underneath isn't in great shape, you might consider laminate. Since it "floats" and most of it has padding already attached to the back of each plank, it works great over sub floors that aren't fabulous. Good luck! Let us know how it goes. When DD and I took carpet out of a rent house --- it was AWFUL! NASTY! Like you, Messymommy, I never wanted carpet again! Good to know about the laminate. At some point, I want to remove the carpet in my current house and put down something moppable. |
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Post by messymommy on Mar 30, 2012 22:54:53 GMT -5
I was really surprised that the laminate was so fast to install, dayeanu. Especially if you have a relatively square or rectangular room. And if you check Craig's List, you can usually find enough to do a room for really cheap. All you really need is a saw and a rubber mallet for knocking the planks in place.
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Post by lizzie on Mar 31, 2012 2:29:43 GMT -5
do wear some gloves, old carpet can really rip your hands up and make them very sore!
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Post by angelpuss on Mar 31, 2012 4:58:59 GMT -5
Once the carpet has been removed, it would be a good idea to seal the boards as odours will have gotten into the wood. A coat of varnish or even enamel paint will stop bad smells in the future. You are doing an amazing job!!!  |
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