Remove Tack Strip From Concrete Without Damaging Floor

The tack strips used to secure carpeting to a concrete slab are equipped with small hardened nails that penetrate and grip the concrete.

Remove tack strip from concrete without damaging floor.

I did remove tack strips from a terazzo concrete floor before refinishing the floor with an acid wash. This will avoid damage to the hardwood floors from grit and debris trapped beneath the tack strips. Once you have all of the tack strips up it is time to remove any staples on the floor from the carpet pad. Carpet tack strips are wooden boards installed around the perimeter of a floor to hold carpet in place.

If the floor is made of concrete you are left with unsightly holes along the perimeter of the room. You must not pull out the nails. Roll or fold the strip secure with duct tape and remove it from the room. If you plan to polish the concrete and use it as the floor surface fill these holes with masonry caulking or leveling compound.

A lot of times i can just use the pliers to get the staples up but some staples are so close to the floor that i need to use the wonder tool to get them started. Carpet tack strips can usually remain in place but look for rust rot or other damage. For safety place each strip in a box or trash can as you remove it. Since these tack strips are nailed into the floor there will be small holes in the floor when you are done but it is important to cause as little damage as possible in the process.

You can take the woode out from around the nails and then. If you decide to remove the carpet you must also pry up the tack strips which are held in place with nails. Sweep the entire floor as soon as the tack strips have all been removed. Begin at the top of the stairs.

If you are pulling up carpet from stairs. These small nails must be pried out as the tack strip is removed and they typically chip out the concrete gripped by them. If your floor is concrete then you can take a pry bar or the back of a hammer and place it under the strip directly next to one of the nails in it.