Taking Carpet Off Stairs

Start at the top of the stairs and remove the carpet with the vise grips and utility knife.

Taking carpet off stairs.

I had no idea what i would find under the carpet. 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. Removing carpet from stairs and replacing it with wood stair treads is a totally doable diy.

All this is done inside your house so just imagine where all the dust is going to go. But one thing i ve learned in the diy world is this fact. Replacing stair treads starts with tearing out carpet then staples and then cutting the old bullnoses. Heck you will be finding it everywhere for the weeks to come.

Every 3 stairs i used a box cutter to cut the carpet from side to side. In fact it just got worse as i went down the stairs ripping that carpet and padding off. Use the vise grips to pull the carpet free from the riser. But i had pulled a little bit back on the top step and saw that there was at least an overhang on the treads.

Grip the carpet with both hands for easier removal and to maintain balance and safety. Cut the carpet with a utility knife under the nose of the landing. This was a simple system that worked great and will also be how i handle it when dealing with the basement stairs too. I started at the bottom corner of the stairs by using a crowbar to pry the carpet away from the tack strip.

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. After i removed the padding i used a crowbar hammer and a flat edged screwdriver to remove the tack strip and staples. Not perfect wood but okay to paint.

I know it s really bad. That carpet is coming off those stairs. Find a good place to start removing carpet from stairs. Like this gaping hole.

So bad that i started to question my sanity. Without damaging the wood you must reach under the carpet and pry it free. This staircase makeover was accomplished in a weekend and looks like a professional proof that a staircase remodel can be a diy job. Work from side to side.

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. I have pinned so many pages on pinterest with what i wanted to do.