Grab the cut end of carpet and pull it from the stairs using gloved hands.
Rip up basement carpet.
Carpet tack strips can usually remain in place but look for rust rot or other damage.
If that works you can reinstall it by taping it back together.
If you are thinking about ripping up your carpets before you get in over your head stop to consider everything it entails.
Of carpet and cut it into easy to handle strips photo 1.
If you are pulling up carpet from stairs.
Then grab the carpet by hand and continue to pull it up along an entire wall.
Lay the carpet back on the floor and fire up the air movers and rental dehumidifier.
Just be aware that new carpet pad is cheap so don t waste a lot of time trying to dry the old stuff.
To detach the carpet from the tack strip that holds the carpet in place along walls start in a corner.
Should i paint the room before i remove the carpet.
Begin at the top of the stairs.
Yes i would paint the room first to reduce the risk of getting paint on the new carpet.
Fold back about 3 ft.
Keep the basement temperature at or below 75 degrees f.
Rip up both carpet and coal at the same time if the foam isn t glued down.
If not cut the carpet near the top of the top stair riser.
Just grab the carpet with pliers and pull.