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You are here: Home / Renovations / Staircase 1: Taking Carpet Off Stairs

Staircase 1: Taking Carpet Off Stairs

March 17, 2013 by SmartGirl 5 Comments

On my list of things to do before I can list my home on the MLS (or stay in it and love it that much more) is to re-finish the main staircase.  First step — remove the nasty carpet!

I knew that the bulk of this project had to be done in one day because we have to be able to use the stairs.  So I figured if I started it, hubby would help me finish when he got home.  I had the carpet off the top 3 stairs when he got home from a birthday party with my son.

Here are some before shots.

I started at the top, which was smart, so I always had a clean surface to stand on.  Plus you want to be “under” the area you are working on to make it easier to pull the carpet off.  Here is the carpet coming off the first step.

That white paint on the right side is from where the builder sprayed the stair skirt white and over-spray got on the steps.  I think it will come right off with a little sanding.  I hope to stain the stair treads (the part your foot goes on) and probably paint the risers white.  Of course I’ll probably change my mind a dozen times!

Seriously, how gross is that carpet???!!!  I tried to pull staples as I went, so the kids would be able to walk on the stairs tonight.  I figured I’d come back for the rest tomorrow.
curved stairs

This is what it looked like (above) when my husband got home.  I was glad to see him because my old lady arthritic hands were hurting already. We powered away for the next 2 hours.  Hubby used some muscle…

This kids entertained themselves nearby…

I tore my hands up on all those damn staples.  I call this shot, “Not so SMART GIRL!”  Wear gloves people!!

how not to remove carpet from stairs

We took a break at this point (below) to take a family trip to Lowe’s.  My 11 year old, Zoe, and I walked and hubby drove.  **Side note: I had surgery on my right foot in November and I was told no walking for fitness for at least 12 weeks.  So today was officially my first “walk for fitness.”  Zoe had fun.**

circular stairs

But don’t worry, the rest of that carpet came off as soon as we got home.  Here’s Smart Jr helping to take out staples…

Here are Smart Jr’s pictures of me ripping off the second to last stair.

How to remove carpet from staircase
My method was this:
(1) pry up the right corner
(2) pull carpet over to the left, until reaching the spindles
(3) cut or tear off carpet and put in garbage bag
(4) tear up padding and put in garbage bag
(5) pull up any staples that could be stepped on
(6) then deal with area around spindles by carefully prying and ripping away small pieces of carpet.
This is what we had at the end of one afternoon.  I am excited to keep this project going!!

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P.S. Be sure to check out the other staircase posts:

  • Bizarre Staircase Platform Fix – Part 1
  • Bizarre Staircase Platform Fix – Part 2
  • Filling Holes, Sanding + Stripping

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Filed Under: Renovations, Stairway + Hall Renovation Tagged With: carpet, entryway, smart jr, stairs

Previous Post: « Love It or List It
Next Post: Staircase 2: Bizarre Platform Fix (Part 1) »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. celi says

    April 29, 2014 at 11:33 am

    I’m contemplating this project. I’m scared to see whats under the carpet. The wood underneath yours was ideal compared to other pictures I’ve seen online. I’m thinking I should do this BEFORE getting walls painted as I noticed it got a bit dusty, Kudos to you for taking on this project!

    Reply
    • SmartGirl says

      April 29, 2014 at 9:46 pm

      Try pulling the carpet up in the corner of the top step. I did this long before I ripped it all off, so I could see what I was dealing with. Yeah, if you’re going to paint the walls anyway you might as well wait. My main tip would be not to go crazy filling in the holes. That ended up being a big headache because the stain didn’t take as well. If I were doing it again I’d also paint the riser first. It’s easier to get stain off paint than paint off stain. Good luck!

      Reply
  2. Judy Bennett says

    September 5, 2016 at 8:27 am

    Taking on this projuct this morning. Thank you for the DIY picutres. I am excited to get started. I hope my my wood underneath is as nice as yours was.

    Reply
    • SmartGirl says

      September 8, 2016 at 12:24 pm

      How did it go Judy? Good luck to you!

      Reply
  3. linda h says

    October 8, 2020 at 11:25 am

    OMG I know this is years after your posts but I can finally convinced DH that we need to replace our carpet with hardwood and put B&B in the hallway. I cannot believe that someone else had the same fugly carpet as us. ( I married a man who already had a home with ‘good bones’ but 30 year old blue carpet, black and gold linoleum and pineapple pattern wallpaper in two bathrooms, and NO window coverings ” we live in the country, who is gonna see?”

    Reply

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