carpet strip tack::I suppose all those tacks are needed, but they are sure a pain to remove when a carpet is retired carpet strip tack

carpet strip tack::I suppose all those tacks are needed, but they are sure a pain to remove when a carpet is retired.
After the carpet and pad are removed, you face the task of carefully pulling up the tack strip.
This nasty device is used to hold your rug in place and is located at every edge of the room.
Placed a soft, thin wood strip on the floor.
He then carefully placed a flat bar under the end of the tack strip and lifted it up a bit.
He now can slide the flat bar along the thin protective wood strip while gently prying up the tack strip.
Do not rush this process.
Notice that his right hand is covering up the other end of the flat bar.
That part is curved and has a fairly sharp edge.
Yes, i learned this the big time hard way the next picture shows you all the staples left behind when the padding is removed.
Each of these bubbas has to be removed very carefully.
By the way, when sweeping the floor after removing the pad, do not sweep clean the staples.
Leave a little bit of pad so you can find each one easily.
Trust me, finding left behind staples with you bare feet is.
You could use a pair of pliers and simply yank each staple out.
They take extra effort to remove.
Here you see another thin, soft piece of wood placed on the floor first.
A pair of vise grips have been turned over so that the curve of the pliers can rock on the wood piece.
I adjust the pliers so they clamp onto the tack, lock in place, then roll the pliers onto the wood piece to pull out the staple.
Most of the time, the pliers never touch your wooden floor.
This method does not always work.
Sometimes i have had to use a cutter to slice through the middle of the staple, then use a thin knife blade to pry up each half.
Then i go back to the vise grips as above.
No matter what method you use, get all those tacks and staples out of the floor.
Most holes left behind will be too small to worry about.
They are the reason that throw rugs exist.
Sometimes you just cannot get a grip on a small tack.
It is simply too close to the surface.
Then, i slip a very thin knife blade under each section to lift.
Vise grips will now easily work again.
carpet strip tack::At first, it seems and essential, but ultimately
impossible task based on the solid, hard cement surface carpet strip
tack