Taking Up Carpet Tack Strips

Use a utility knife with a sharp new blade to cut through the carpet backing.

Taking up carpet tack strips.

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. Pull up a few feet of carpet and fold it over. After pulling up your carpet you will most likely have tack strips left around the perimeter of the room.

Use a utility knife or carpet knife to slice the carpet into manageable strips and roll the strips up as you go. Keep both hands on the knife to avoid cutting a free hand. Gently tap the painter s tool with the hammer until it is underneath the carpet tack strip. 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.