Ripping Up Carpet and Refinishing Hardwood

Carpet Removal

• 1

  Remove the shoe molding and other trim from the base of the walls so you are able to pull up the carpet. Use a utility knife to cut along the top edge of the trim to cut through the paint so the paint doesn't peel off when you remove the boards. Use a pry bar to gently pull the trim away from the wall.

• 2

  Pull up carpet with tackless strips in one corner. Cut the carpet into strips so it is easier to pull up. Roll the carpet as you pull it up and tie it into a roll at the end of each strip to keep it contained.

• 3

  Remove carpet held down with tacks by using a pry bar to pull up the tacks as you pull back the carpet.

• 4

  Tear up any padding left on the floor that was underneath the carpet. Use a putty knife or similar tool to gently scrape off any adhesive on the floor. Use a chemical adhesive remover if necessary to get rid of any remaining adhesive stuck to the floor.

• 5

  Walk around the perimeter of the room to ensure that all tacks and other materials used to hold down the carpet have been removed. Fill in any holes left behind with wood filler putty.

Refinishing Hardwood

• 6

  Cover outlets, light switches, light fixtures, duct vents and other openings with plastic and tape to keep the dust out. Block the dust from filtering into the rest of the house by hanging a sheet of plastic over the doorways.

• 7

  Open a window if possible to provide ventilation. Wear safety goggles and a face mask to protect yourself from the dust generated by sanding.

• 8

  Sand the floor with the grain using a drum sander, which is available for rental from most home improvement stores. Start with a 20- to 60-grit sandpaper to help remove the old finish. Tip the sander back to keep the drum off the floor when you turn it on to prevent a gouge in the floor. Start the machine and lower it slowly so the drum comes into contact with the floor.

• 9

  Keep the drum sander moving at all times while it is running or it will gouge the hardwood, making dips in your floor. Walk slowly but steadily with the sander for even sanding.

• 10

  Sand the edges of the room that the drum sander didn't reach with hand sanders. Follow the grain of the wood just like you did with the drum sander.

• 11

  Vacuum the floor to remove all of the leftover dust. Sand the floor again with a finer grain sandpaper, using both the drum and hand sanders. Repeat the sanding as necessary to remove all of the previous finish, with your last pass being with a 120-grit sandpaper. Do one final vacuum and wipe the floor with a tack cloth to remove any remaining dust.

• 12

  Apply water- or oil-based stain if desired. This step is optional if you want the wood floors to look darker or a different wood color. Apply the stain with the grain, following the specific directions on the can for the best results.

• 13

  Apply polyurethane over the freshly sanded floor or over the dry stained floor if you chose to stain the wood. Brush the polyurethane onto the floor with the grain of the wood, allowing the sealer to flow along the floor as you brush. Apply several thin layers of the sealer for the best results.

• 14

  Sand lightly between layers of polyurethane if the directions indicate to do so. This step helps the next layer of polyurethane to stick better.