Easiest way to remove carpet tack strips

[kbkids]

I'm pulling out the carpet today to prepare to install laminate flooring in our rental property. The carpet tack strips are - well, let's just say, they certainly didn't intend for them to ever come up. What's the easiest way to get them off?

 

[Tinijocaro]

Pry up with a screwdriver, just be careful if there's hardwood under that you want to preserve, you can scratch it. DH just removed three rooms full of wall-to-wall carpet from our house to reveal beautiful hardwood underneath.

 

[monkeyboy]

Easiest way to remove tax

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Use a strong putty knife or what is called a "cat claw' and you will not gouge wood floor under it

 

[daannzzz]

I just did this on Saturday, in my dining room. I bought a flattened crow bar like tool, the name of which escapes me now, at Lowes and it worked well. You jest cram it under the tack strip and pry it up. Some of the nails that were used to fasten the tack strip down stayed in the floor but there was a notch on the tool to pry those up. It was actually pretty easy. The harder part was getting the hundreds of staples out of the wood floor that were used to tack down the pad!!!

 

[kbkids]

No wood floor to worry about. We're built on a slab, so it's just concrete underneath. I guess I'll go dig around for a big screwdriver - if not, off to buy a crowbar. Our pad is just laying there - not attached at all, so getting the carpet out was a piece of cake - just those darn tacks!!

 

[kbkids]

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Oh thanks! My very innocent thread is now doomed to get locked!!

 

[Taylor]

Make sure you wear heavy leather gloves. Tack strips are dangerous.