In the last column we left off with nail pulling and patching the holes in the walls.

We are at a crucial decision point. We must decide if the carpet can be saved by cleaning or if it must be pitched. Here are some factors. Does the carpet have odor or evidence of pet urine? Sometimes the many stains and sticky spots will make this an easy decision; sometimes it's not so simple. If the carpet has pet urine and dander cleaning it is an exercise in frustration. I hate to spend the money but it will smell again the day after it's been cleaned. If the pet urine smell is bad you may have to discard both carpet and pad. We frequently have to paint the sub floor with Kilz primer to get the odor out. In an average 1300 Sq. Ft house, carpet and pad installed should be around 1600 - 2000 dollars. It will take about 100 Sq. Yards or 75 linear feet of 12 foot wide carpet. I am assuming that you buy a short nap inexpensive carpet from Lowe's or the Home Depot. We have used a lot of a Lowe's variety called Windfall Tree Trunk. This carpet is a short nap plush that sells for $6.30 a yard. Keep in mind that we are not going to live here and in no case should you ever spend $20/yard for carpet. Buy inexpensive carpet and change it every seven years or so. Do not let Lowe's install the carpet for you. You must find a carpet installer that will work for you at the going rate. In our area the cost for installation is $3.50 per yard. Lowe's will charge you double this amount as they are guaranteeing the layers work and trying to profit from his labor. To pull up the carpet find a corner of the room and take a small pry bar to get underneath it. Carpets are generally pressed down on a tack strip that is anchored to the sub floor. When you are able to get under the corner continue to pull up along the sides of the room. The carpet should come right up. In some installations you may have to remove the baseboards around the room first.

If you are going to remove the carpet I would paint the walls with it down and use the old carpet as a drop cloth. Be careful that the carpet is not infested with fleas. If it is it must be removed first. Numerous flea bites are annoying and can make you sick. Many times carpets that are badly stained with pet odors also are infested with the pet's fleas.

On to painting. You will want to work out of a five gallon bucket with a screen, a roller and pad and a long handle for the roller. You can roll all the walls and even the ceilings in one day of diligent work. It is very satisfying to have the carpets out and the walls all painted or primed at the end of the days work. Please don't misunderstand. You will have to come back and do all the cut in work around corners, ceiling and baseboards. If you use the pro painters method of working with a roller from a five gallon bucket and you paint from baseboard to ceiling in a stroke you can roll the walls of a room in 30 minutes.

I know that you are saving the tedious detail work for another day but the psychological satisfaction of having all the walls painted is immense and will keep you motivated.