How to take up a wal-to-wall carpet that goes under the baseboard

May 29, 2012, 09:40 AM

This carpet was in the house when my parents bought it in 1975 and who knows how long it was there before that. My mom had up to 11 cats at one time and they weren't always fastidious in their litter box habits and people that come into my house often comment that the cat urine odor is almost overpowering (I guess I am so used to it I don't smell it). One person told me the only way to get rid of the odor was to take up the carpet and treat the flooring underneath. Problem - it looks like the carpet was installed before the baseboards - i.e. the carpet doesn't end at the wall - it looks like it goes under the baseboards. I don't see any tacking, either. It's like the installer used the baseboards to hold down the carpet edges. To remove the baseboards to take up the carpet seems like a overwhelming project for a retired female couch potato - it bad enough that there are a lot of big pieces of furniture also. Is there any easy way to do this without hiring a carpet service (****)?

May 29, 2012, 10:31 AM

Sparky

It is pretty common to install the baseboards about 1/2 to 3/4 off the sub floor to allow the cut edge of the carpet to be under the baseboard. Usually the tackless strip is installed around the room just out from the baseboard.

To remove the carpet go to a corner, using a pair of pliers grab the carpet and pull it out from the corner. Once you get it started you and work off of one wall folding it back. Take a utility knife and cut it into a manageable length and then roll it up. Repeat across the room until you have it all up.

If the floors are stained by cat pee, you'll probably want to seal them to lock in the smell.

General Disclaimer

Any advice given here is general in nature and is not necessarily valid for your given area. If in doubt check with your local codes enforcement department for what is required when doing electrical, plumbing or structural work on your house. Permits may or may not be required in your area and home owners may not be able to DIY some tasks. I have no way of knowing if you have the skills needed to complete the tasks you are asking about, when in doubt seek professional assistance.

My advice may be worth exactly what you pay me for it. :-) For the record I did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.

May 29, 2012, 08:11 PM

sjf

if the carpet is that old, i'd wear a mask and gloves...

what are you planning in putting down? if the cats pee'd, chances are it soaked all the way thru to the sub floor...

Jun 04, 2012, 10:00 AM

carsonish

We had to do this as well due to a sick cat. We were able to take the carpet out without pulling up any of the baseboards. You will need a little muscle though. My husband used the doorway as the place to start peeling it up and was able to pull out the take strips as mentioned before.

I agree - where a GOOD mask and GOOD gloves. The pee is probably also in the mat so you will need to take that out.

From start to finish it took the two of us thirty somethings just a few minutes, but the detail work, like scraping the mat up from the glue was about an hour. We got all the dust up, etc.