Having new carpet is an excellent way to refresh your home and update its style. However, you need to think of how you are going to get rid of your old carpet and that isn’t always an easy job. Once the carpet is removed, it can be quite large and isn’t something you can merely put in the dustbin and forget about. But if you’re hiring a carpet fitter, you may have wondered do carpet fitters take away old carpet?
Carpet fitters usually offer a removal service for your old carpet but this isn’t typically included in the cost of fitting. You will incur an additional fee for this service which could range between 50 pence to £1 for every square metre. Although this will vary between companies.
Before agreeing to having professional carpet removal, it is worth weighing up the price to see whether it would be more cost effective to do it yourself. Also keep in mind that if you plan to take your carpet to the local tip, you will need appropriate transport for this.
In this guide, we will be looking at this subject in a little more detail and helping you to decide whether to go pro or do it yourself.
How Much Does It Cost To Remove Carpet
When you fire a professional carpet fitting service, there are usually different aspects of this service. Of course, the main thing you’ll pay for is the installation of your new carpet but other costs need to be factored in including moving furniture, delivery charges and of course, the removal of old flooring.
Most carpet fitters will offer a removal and disposal service but what you pay will vary from company to company. Generally speaking, you can expect to pay between 50 pence and £1 for every square metre your fitter removes. It’s also worth keeping in mind that there is usually a minimum charge for removal and for most companies, this sits somewhere between £25 and £50.
In addition to this, your carpet fitter may also charge an extra fee for disposal of the old carpet. Again, this will vary between companies but as a rule of thumb, you can expect to pay around £80 per tonne of carpet and that doesn’t include VAT.
If you do not have the means to remove or dispose of the carpet yourself then this is a valuable service. However, what a lot of people do not realise is that a carpet fitter must have the relevant licences to be able to dispose of carpet. This is something you should check before committing to using the service. What you are looking for is whether they have a waste carrier’s licence. More information on this can be found on the gov.uk website.
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Is It Cheaper To Remove Carpet Yourself?
It can be tempting to pull the carpet up yourself but there are a few factors to keep in mind. Primarily, you will need to weigh up whether it is going to cost you more to have your professional carpet fitter remove and dispose of the carpet or not.
One of the best ways to save money is if you already have a large enough means of transport to take your old carpet to the tip. In this case, the only cost you’ll need to factor in is that of the fuel you’ll spend getting it to its final destination.
However, if you do not have a large vehicle then you will need to hire one and this is where things can get a little more expensive. Typically, you can hire a small van in the UK for around £25 per day. If you need something bigger then it is also possible to hire a medium or large van for the day. This will cost, on average, £30 or £40 respectively.
If your carpet fitter charges a minimum fee for removal as well as a disposal fee then it is evident that hiring a van and doing it yourself is going to be the more affordable option.
A Note On Removing Carpets Yourself
While it may be cheaper to make a DIY project of removing your old carpet, you have to keep in mind that this job isn’t as easy as it looks. It might not seem like it, but carpet is a very heavy and bulky item. Once you start ripping it up, you need to be confident that you have the strength and stamina to get the whole job done.
What’s more, keep in mind that there will be a lot of potentially dangerous items involved such as sharp nails and carpet rods. So there is a chance of injury. And prying the carpet away from the tacks is surprisingly hard work. If you have any physical issues such as a bad back, you may find it difficult.
Just be certain that you will be able to complete the entire job and safely remove and dispose of the carpet before you start anything.
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Conclusion
If you are having a new carpet fitted, this is an exciting time. You’re probably keen to get rid of that mucky old carpet and you’ll certainly be glad to see the back of it. The person fitting your new carpet will likely offer a service to remove and dispose of your old one. Although this will come with an additional fee.
Typically speaking, you will pay up to £1 per square metre for removal and around £80, on average, for disposal. This will vary between companies. While it is possible, and potentially cheaper, to do it yourself, it’s important to remember that this involves a lot of hard work.