Tool to Remove Carpte Tack Strips

[dkroth]

What's your preferred tool to remove carpet tack strips?






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[PugetDude]

What's your preferred tool to remove carpet tack strips?






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Old 16-20" flat pry and a rip claw framing hammer.
Use the prybar like a chisel/scraper to remove the wood tack strips and most of the "easy" nails; rake any embedded nails out with the rip claws on the hammer.

 

[Nixon]

Edging shovel. By far the best way.

 

[marineman]

Old 16-20" flat pry and a rip claw framing hammer.
Use the prybar like a chisel/scraper to remove the wood tack strips and most of the "easy" nails; rake any embedded nails out with the rip claws on the hammer.

Pretty much the same method I've always used

Edging shovel. By far the best way.

Never even thought of it but now I want to try it

 

[unslow1]

I've always used a claw hammer and flat pry bar. Now I want to see how well a roofing shovel/shingle remover would work.

 

[sberry]

Its a job I hate for some reason, the roofing shovel sounds good.

 

[NeubCont]

Flat Bar

 

[MoonRise]

K12?

Just a few? Hammer and pry/flat bar.

 

[Dave in Mass]

Old 16-20" flat pry and a rip claw framing hammer.
Use the prybar like a chisel/scraper to remove the wood tack strips and most of the "easy" nails; rake any embedded nails out with the rip claws on the hammer.

...and Band-Aids

 

[supermenz]

Long handle floor scrapers. Heavier the better. Start from one end and work your way down, while standing! Only way to go.


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[PittsburghTim]

If the tack strip is over hardwood and you hope to refinish down the road, use the pry bar to get between the nail heads and the strip itself and pry against the strip. I never understood the drive people had at some point to cover beautiful hardwood floors with wall-to-wall carpet. I have removed the carpet and refinished the floors in my whole house except for my kids' rooms. When they move out, I will do the same there.

 

[beamrider]

If the tack strip is over hardwood and you hope to refinish down the road, use the pry bar to get between the nail heads and the strip itself and pry against the strip. I never understood the drive people had at some point to cover beautiful hardwood floors with wall-to-wall carpet. I have removed the carpet and refinished the floors in my whole house except for my kids' rooms. When they move out, I will do the same there.

Because, carpeting is cheaper. A properly maintained REAL hardwood floor will last much longer than carpet. However, the current craze is to carpet, or vinyl plank. Makes me want to cry. To each their own.

 

[dkroth]

OP here. Thanks for the guidance.

I used my Vaughn flat bar and a dead blow to pry those fuckers out. I touched up the bar on the belt sander to make sure it would slide under the strip instead of mashing through it.

Carpet installers must be sado-masochists. Masochists because they have to work with those damn strips all the time. Sadists because they lay down so many staples in the padding knowing some poor hump will have to pull them all some time down the road.

Thank goodness that job is done. On to stripping the wall paper!






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[Sine Swept]

Walking on hardwood is tough on the body, I can remember being sore for the first month or so after moving into our house.

 

[seber]

Roofers use a shovel like tool with notched end. It looks like a zig zag to catch the nails. I don't know if mine is commercial or home made, but it works as well on tack strips as it does no roofs.

 

[Al Borland]

Little blue flat molding bar.
Easy to pop nailers without marring the floor. They have them at Home Despot.

 

[lbpd716]

Stanley Wonder Bar - cheap, and was invaluable in the smaller areas. Have the harbor freight knock off as well which was a little cheaper but doesn't have quite the bend radius making it less comfortable over time.

 

[engineer2]

I second the Wonder Bar. I've even cut notches in mine for those 1/4" underlayment staples. You know, the ones you find with your kneecap.

 

[ozyborn]

My 10 year old son with flatbar and pliers. My knees love this way.