Iron Bear & Co. is a family-owned junk removal, cleanout, demolition, and dumpster rental company based in Canonsburg. Established 2015 (formerly Richie’s Hauling). Late fall is when a lot of Upper St. Clair homeowners finally replace the worn wall-to-wall carpet in a family room, bedroom, or finished basement, often so new floors are in before holiday guests arrive. The new flooring gets all the planning. The old carpet usually does not, until it is rolled up in the garage and nobody knows how to get rid of it.
Here is what Upper St. Clair homeowners should know about old carpet removal: why it is harder than it looks, what the township’s curbside service will and will not take, and when it makes sense to have a crew pull it out and haul it away.
Why old carpet is harder to get rid of than it looks
- It is heavy and bulky. Carpet and padding from a single room can add up to a surprising amount of weight once it is rolled, and it gets much heavier if it has absorbed any water.
- Tack strip and staples come with it. Under most wall-to-wall carpet are rows of tack strip nailed to the subfloor and padding stapled down. Those sharp edges make the material awkward and unsafe to handle without gloves and care.
- Stairs make everything harder. Carpeted staircases, split-level homes, and finished basements mean carrying rolls up and down steps and around tight landings.
- Dust and debris. Years of dirt live in old carpet and padding. Pulling it up releases dust, so it helps to get it out of the house in one trip instead of leaving it in a hallway or garage.
- Your installer may not take it. Some flooring purchases include removal and some do not. Check before install day so you are not left with a pile you did not plan for.
What Upper St. Clair curbside collection will and won’t take
Upper St. Clair’s trash service is handled through the township’s contract with Waste Management. According to the township’s trash and recycling information, every household has one cart for weekly collection, and trash has to fit inside the cart. Up to two bulk items are collected once a month during the township’s designated bulk week, which is the second full week of each month. Bags and boxes are not counted as bulk items.
A few other points from the township’s rules matter for flooring projects:
- Building and construction materials are not collected curbside. Tile, broken-up subfloor, old hardwood, and similar renovation debris need another way out.
- Larger amounts require a special collection. The township directs residents to call Waste Management to schedule a special pickup for excessive amounts, and fees apply.
- Preparation rules apply. Items that are not prepared the way the hauler requires may be left at the curb. If you plan to put carpet out yourself, check twpusc.org or call the township’s Public Works Department first to confirm how it needs to be cut, rolled, and tied, and how much can go out at once.
For one small room, curbside can work if you have the time and the right week lines up. For a whole floor, a carpeted basement, or a project that also involves old flooring and furniture, waiting on monthly bulk limits can mean weeks of rolls sitting in the garage.
When it makes sense to call a crew
Old carpet removal is a good job to hand off when:
- You are replacing carpet in several rooms or on stairs and want it out before installers arrive
- The carpet or padding got wet from a leak or basement water and you want it gone quickly
- You also have old furniture, area rugs, or boxes to clear from the same rooms
- Nobody in the house should be carrying heavy rolls up and down stairs
- You want the whole thing done in one visit instead of across several bulk weeks
If the carpet is wet, it is also worth having the subfloor and drywall checked for water damage before new flooring goes down.
How Iron Bear handles carpet removal
Iron Bear & Co. offers white-glove junk removal, which means our crew does the heavy lifting and treats your home with care on the way out. For carpet and flooring jobs, we can:
- Haul away carpet and padding that is already pulled up and rolled
- Remove old flooring as part of our demolition and removal service when you want the room taken down to the subfloor
- Take tack strip, staples, and other leftover debris along with the rolls
- Clear furniture and other items from the room in the same trip through our residential junk removal and furniture removal services
- Recycle or donate what we can whenever possible, and sweep up before we leave
Doing a bigger remodel? A roll-off from our dumpster rental service may be the easier choice when carpet is only one part of the debris, and our construction debris removal page covers renovation waste. Our guide to interior demolition before a winter remodel walks through planning a larger tear-out, and Upper St. Clair homeowners clearing space may also find our storage unit cleanout post useful.
We work throughout Upper St. Clair, Bethel Park, Mt. Lebanon, Bridgeville, South Fayette, Peters Township, Canonsburg, and the rest of the South Hills and Washington County.
Tips before carpet removal day
- Confirm what your installer covers. Ask whether removal and haul-away of the old carpet is included in your flooring quote.
- Clear small items first. Take breakables, electronics, and anything personal out of the room.
- Point out what stays. Let the crew know about baseboards, thresholds, or built-ins you want protected.
- Think about the whole room. If an old recliner or bookcase is not going back in after the new floor goes down, it can leave on the same trip.
Old carpet removal FAQ
Will you pull up carpet that is still installed?
Tell us what you need when you call. We can haul away carpet that is already rolled, and we can quote removing installed flooring as a demolition job.
Can you take wet carpet from a flooded basement?
Often, yes. Let us know it is wet so we can plan for the extra weight.
Do I need to be home during the pickup?
Not always. If the carpet is in a garage or another accessible spot, we can usually work out the details ahead of time.
How much does carpet removal cost?
It depends on how much there is, where it is in the house, and whether it is already pulled up. Call or send photos for a no-obligation estimate.
Get the old carpet out before the new floors go in
If you are replacing carpet in Upper St. Clair or anywhere in the South Hills and need the old material gone, call Iron Bear & Co. at (724) 809-3998 or reach us through our contact page. Send a few photos, get a no-obligation estimate, and our crew will take it from there. We won’t leave your doorstep until you’re satisfied.