Taking Up Carpet Tack Strips

Gently tap the painter s tool with the hammer until it is underneath the carpet tack strip.

Taking up carpet tack strips.

Use the 6 in 1 painter s tool and a hammer to lift one end of one of the strips. After pulling up your carpet you will most likely have tack strips left around the perimeter of the room. If you are trying to salvage the floor underneath make sure you do not cut grooves in the floor with the knife. Use a utility knife with a sharp new blade to cut through the carpet backing.

Keep both hands on the knife to avoid cutting a free hand. Step 1 position the pry bar as close to the bottom edge of the tack strip as possible. One way to do this is to lift the carpet away from the floor as you cut. Removing these strips that once held your carpet is the most tedious part of carpet removal.

Pick somewhere to start either a corner or a break between two tack strips.