Taking Up Carpet Tack Strips

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

Taking up carpet tack strips.

Keep both hands on the knife to avoid cutting a free hand. Use a utility knife with a sharp new blade to cut through the carpet backing. After pulling up your carpet you will most likely have tack strips left around the perimeter of the room. Step 1 position the pry bar as close to the bottom edge of the tack strip as possible.

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 or carpet knife to slice the carpet into manageable strips and roll the strips up as you go. Removing these strips that once held your carpet is the most tedious part of carpet removal. One way to do this is to lift the carpet away from the floor as you cut.

Pull up a few feet of carpet and fold it over.