How to Pull Up Old Carpet Pads

Unlike cushion-backed carpeting, which features foam attached to the underside of the carpet, standard carpet requires a separate layer of padding. The padding provides a softer feel, provides insulation and can prolong the integrity of the carpeting. Padding is essentially a large sponge. As such, it tends to hold moisture even after carpet dries. In extreme cases, the moisture can cause mold to develop and otherwise damage the underlying floor. Removing old carpet padding is a fairly straightforward task, but if the padding is stapled to the floor, it can be a time-consuming process.

Small pry bar
Thick cloth
Pliers
Needle-nose pliers
Putty knife or floor scraper
Dust mask

Instructions

- 1
  Pry the baseboards away from the walls with a small pry bar. Position a thick cloth between the wall and the back of the pry bar to avoid damaging the wall. Pry just above the baseboards nails to prevent cracking the baseboards, particularly if they will be used again.
- 2
  Remove the carpet by pulling it from the floor with pliers to expose the padding. Strips of wood that feature several small tacks hold the carpet in place. The strips are located underneath the carpet, where the walls meet the floor.
- 3
  Remove any padding staples with needle-nose pliers. Padding is sometimes stapled into the floor. Pull each staple out of the padding with the pliers. If the padding is not stapled to the floor, it is most likely attached to the floor with double-sided masking tape.
- 4
  Remove the bulk of the padding by pulling it off of the floor. Begin with one corner of the padding. Pull the corner off of the floor with the pliers if necessary.
- 5
  Remove any padding residue from the floor by scraping it away with a putty knife or a floor scraper, depending on the size of the room, while wearing a dust mask.

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