Taking Carpet Off Stairs

Grip the carpet with both hands for easier removal and to maintain balance and safety.

Taking carpet off stairs.

Replacing stair treads starts with tearing out carpet then staples and then cutting the old bullnoses. But i had pulled a little bit back on the top step and saw that there was at least an overhang on the treads. That carpet is coming off those stairs. Find a good place to start removing carpet from stairs.

Like this gaping hole. Without damaging the wood you must reach under the carpet and pry it free. Work from side to side. All this is done inside your house so just imagine where all the dust is going to go.

Heck you will be finding it everywhere for the weeks to come. Each piece of carpet was also wrapped around the edges of the stairs and around the balusters so i had to remove the staples holding it in place from underneath green arrow below. If both the treads and the risers are carpeted you may be able to slide the blade of a utility knife along an edge without scratching the wood. Removing carpet from stairs and replacing it with wood stair treads is a totally doable diy.

In fact it just got worse as i went down the stairs ripping that carpet and padding off. Cut the carpet with a utility knife under the nose of the landing. So bad that i started to question my sanity. This was a simple system that worked great and will also be how i handle it when dealing with the basement stairs too.

I had no idea what i would find under the carpet. Not perfect wood but okay to paint. I started at the bottom corner of the stairs by using a crowbar to pry the carpet away from the tack strip. The hardest part about removing carpet from stairs is starting.

Use the vise grips to pull the carpet free from the riser. Removing carpet from stairs and replacing it with wood stair treads is a totally doable diy. I have pinned so many pages on pinterest with what i wanted to do. This staircase makeover was accomplished in a weekend and looks like a professional proof that a staircase remodel can be a diy job.

Ripping off the carpet and painting the stairs was the best decision i made. Paint the treads black and the risers white. With gloved hands and using a screwdriver 5 in 1 tool or similar implement pry up a corner until you can gain a grip. Start at the top of the stairs and remove the carpet with the vise grips and utility knife.

On your picture frames across the floor. The carpet will be stapled extensively and old staples seem designed to poke fingers or palms so proceed carefully during this step and throughout the removal process. But one thing i ve learned in the diy world is this fact.