Removing carpet from stairs and replacing it with wood stair treads is a totally doable diy.
Taking carpet off stairs.
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 had no idea what i would find under the carpet.
Heck you will be finding it everywhere for the weeks to come.
Start at the top of the stairs and remove the carpet with the vise grips and utility knife.
Not perfect wood but okay to paint.
Like this gaping hole.
I have pinned so many pages on pinterest with what i wanted to do.
Grip the carpet with both hands for easier removal and to maintain balance and safety.
Ripping off the carpet and painting the stairs was the best decision i made.
That carpet is coming off those stairs.
Find a good place to start removing carpet from stairs.
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.
This was a simple system that worked great and will also be how i handle it when dealing with the basement stairs too.
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.
But one thing i ve learned in the diy world is this fact.
All this is done inside your house so just imagine where all the dust is going to go.
So bad that i started to question my sanity.
Without damaging the wood you must reach under the carpet and pry it free.
In fact it just got worse as i went down the stairs ripping that carpet and padding off.
I know it s really bad.
With gloved hands and using a screwdriver 5 in 1 tool or similar implement pry up a corner until you can gain a grip.
Use the vise grips to pull the carpet free from the riser.
I started at the bottom corner of the stairs by using a crowbar to pry the carpet away from the tack strip.
But i had pulled a little bit back on the top step and saw that there was at least an overhang on the treads.
Replacing stair treads starts with tearing out carpet then staples and then cutting the old bullnoses.
Every 3 stairs i used a box cutter to cut the carpet from side to side.
Paint the treads black and the risers white.
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.
Cut the carpet with a utility knife under the nose of the landing.
