How to Remove Carpet Tack Strip

Tack strip quietly serves its purpose until one day someone decides to pull up the carpet because there is a hardwood floor hiding under it that they would like to refinish. Or, they decide that they want laminate flooring, tile, or vinyl. Or, there has been a flood and the carpet must be replaced. And, of course, you wouldn't want to put new carpet over wet tack strip with rusty tacks and nails.

The tools for removing carpet tack strip.

There are people that lay carpet for a living and have tools that do all the jobs associated with it, including putting down and pulling up tack strip. I do not have any special tools and the following list is what I had available and what I used.

• Heavy duty long handle flat head screwdriver (to drive under tack strip and use as leverage), mine isn't really a screwdriver, it is a long handled mechanics pry bar, but a large heavy duty screwdriver will work
• Short curve end pry bar (because those nails will not all come up with the tack strip), mine is a 12" long wide width two ended bar, one end is straight and the other is curved
• Claw Hammer (to assist screwdriver and pry bar when needed)
• Work gloves (wear them or get your fingers picked)
• Safety glasses or goggles (things tend to fly up when least expected)
• Knee pads (those tacks sometimes escape and kneeling on one is unpleasant at the least)

My process for removing carpet tack strip:

Locate the first nail head in the tack strip. Place the flat edge of the long handled screwdriver close to the floor at a shallow angle near the nail on one side or the other - not directly at the nail. Hit the handle of the screwdriver with the hammer to drive the flat head of the screwdriver under the tack strip. You want to be completely under the strip with the tip of the screwdriver. Now slowly pry up the tack strip. Depending on the condition of the tack strip, it may nicely pull up from the floor without breaking. Then you find the next nail head and repeat the process until you get to the end of the strip.

Unfortunately, because of time and moisture the tack strip does not always 'nicely' pull up from the floor without breaking. If it breaks, try going a little slower with the leverage next time, but don't be surprised if it just keeps breaking. The older the tack strip, the more moisture has collected in it and the more 'attached' it has become to the floor. It likes where it lives and it isn't leaving without a fight! When the tack strip breaks, it is usually at the nails - because the nails don't want to leave either. Use your screwdriver tip to knock away any wood left around the nail then use the pry bar to remove the nail. Yes, you can use the pry bar to drive under the strip instead of the long handled screwdriver. I prefer the long handled screwdriver because it gives me more distance and leverage. A crowbar will also work, but they are too heavy to suit me. Use what works for you.

Remember when I described the tack strip? I told you that there were two nails, short ones and longer ones. The longer ones can be problematic because the nail heads are thin and they like to strip out leaving you with nothing to grab onto to pull it out. Drat! After about four of these and having tried a number of approaches, I found that if you pry the nail on an angle instead of straight up, you won't strip out the head and it comes out easier.

If you are lucky and the strip comes up in nice long pieces, I hate you. But you will still want to break them up to put them in a large heavy duty trash bag because you do not want them lying around exposed. They are dangerous, nasty critters and kids think they are really interesting...ouch.

Things to remember:

• Keep a shallow angle on the long handle screwdriver to prevent damaging the floor or splitting the tack strip.
• Keep a heavy duty trash bag nearby and put the broken strips into it as you pull them up. If you step on them, they will stick in your shoes. If you lean or fall against them, they will pierce you. Besides, the clean up goes faster, if you clean as you go.
• Wear your safety equipment!
• When you are finished pulling up the strip, thoroughly sweep or vacuum the floor to pick up any loose tacks or nails that may have found their way off the tack strips.

Nail Removal Tip: If you have a nail that has lost its head and defies your pry bar and hammer, try a pair of side cutters. Grip the nail firmly with the cutters and turn the side cutters toward the right (or left if you are left handed) bending the nail. Continue to pressure the side cutters toward the floor and the nail will be leveraged out. It may take more than one attempt, depending on the length of the nail. If all else fails, drive the nail into the floor, then use a nail punch to put it below the surface. If you are refinishing a wood floor, fill the hole with wood putty.

Caution: It is important to remember that tools can break. When you are striking the end of the screwdriver, there is the potential that the handle could break and fly apart, especially if it is plastic. Be sure to wear safety glasses. I learned this the hard way when the end of my old mechanics pry bar flew apart and hit me in the eye. My neighbors spent about a week trying to decide if someone beat me up or if I just liked to play rough. When they looked at me funny I just said: "You should see the other guy."

Check out my other articles on home repair and renovation such as How to Repair a Hole in Drywall by going to my contributor's page.