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.

Taking up carpet tack strips.

Gently tap the painter s tool with the hammer until it is underneath the carpet tack strip. Removing these strips that once held your carpet is the most tedious part of carpet removal. Use a utility knife or carpet knife to slice the carpet into manageable strips and roll the strips up as you go. One way to do this is to lift the carpet away from the floor as you cut.

If you are trying to salvage the floor underneath make sure you do not cut grooves in the floor with the knife. Roll or fold the strip secure with duct tape and remove it from the room. Pick somewhere to start either a corner or a break between two tack strips. 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.