Does your old home carpet get you down just to look at it? Are you itching to replace an old, worn carpet with a brand new installation? You’re not the only one. Many homeowners find themselves in a similar position when it comes to buying carpet without wanting to get rid of your old rug. A home carpet can have a million different uses after its replacement. Maybe it still has some sentimental value that makes you want to keep it around. Perhaps you want to hang it as a wall installation, or maybe you just want to move it to another room. First, of course, you have to find a way of prying it off the floor without damaging it. If you’ve invested in enough maintenance and care through the years, including regular carpet cleaning Brisbane brentwood tn appointments, there’s no reason to get rid of a perfectly good rug. If you want to switch up your living room or simply move your rug to a different location, here’s a way to preserve your rug while pulling it up.
Remove Your Door
Before you take on this project, you’ll want to make sure nothing is in your way. If you’re pulling up a large area rug or a floor-to-ceiling rug, it’s going to be a task simply getting it through the door. Even if your rug somewhat fits, you don’t want to run the risk of snagging it by getting the fibers caught on the door hinge. Before you begin, make sure your entryway is clear by removing your door altogether, creating a clear pathway for your rug to slide through. Even if your rug is a short fiber or berber style carpet, you’ll want to make sure you have a totally uncluttered entryway prepared.
Clear Everything
The door isn’t the only thing that needs to go. You’ll need to empty out your entire room, including lamps, movable lighting fixtures, and anything hanging on the walls. Remember, your rug is far heavier than it looks. Moving it without clearing the walls and any dangling objects on the ceiling won’t just subject you to possible rug damage. It could end up being downright unsafe. Make your job easier by clearing everything out that doesn’t absolutely need to be there. That way, you won’t be taking any chances moving your unwieldy rug from one place to another.
Get Help
If you think you can do this task alone, think again. While with smaller rugs, it’s easier to do this as a one-person job, you’ll almost certainly need a helper of some kind to pry up your rug and move in from place to place, especially if your move involves transporting your rug up the stairs. While it’s possible to push a giant rug from place to place if it’s tightly rolled, doing so could end up damaging or snaring the bottom of the rug or creating a tear in the case of a more delicate tapestry. For best results, get your friend to help you during the move. It will take up way less time, and it will be easier on your back in the long run.
Detach Tack Strips
Now that you have your way clear and your help standing by, you’re ready to actually pull up your rug. On each corner, you’ll find tack strips and staples from installation. Using a very gentle hand, use a staple remover to take up rug staples and use your hands to pry off the tacking strips, being very careful not damage your rug. After all the tack strips and staples are removed, move your rug into the center of the room and start rolling it tightly. If your rug is an irregular shape, this might be more difficult. However, even if you’re dealing with an oddly-shaped wall-to-wall carpet, you can roll it tight by starting with the longer ends and folding the shorter ends up afterward.
Roll Into Place
Rolling your rug might take a few tries. Remember, you want it to be as tight as possible to ensure a simpler, less awkward transition, especially if you’re moving your rug into the attic or the basement. You’ll also want to keep your rug tight so that it doesn’t take up too much space wherever you decide to store it. When it’s been rolled up, secure it with strong tape or yarn, making sure not to tie your yarn too tight so as not to leave an indentation. After that, you’re ready to transport your carpet.