Remove Staples and Tack Strips

What happens in this clip

With the carpet and pad removed, the subfloor will likely have numerous staples and the sharp tack strips along the perimeter. Work in small sections to locate all staples. Use a small pry bar or a flat-head screwdriver to lift any stubborn staples, then remove them completely using needle-nose pliers or a specialized nail puller. You may also encounter nails sticking up; use a hammer to pound these flush with the subfloor. Be cautious when handling tack strips as they are very sharp. Use a pry bar to carefully lift and remove the entire tack strip sections. Place removed staples and tack strips into a bucket immediately to prevent injury.

Goal: Carefully remove all staples from the subfloor using prying tools and pliers, and then pry up and remove the sharp tack strips from the room's perimeter.

What's used

Tools

• Flat-head Screwdriver
• Hammer
• Nail Puller Husky
• Needle-nose Pliers
• Small Pry Bar

Materials

• Bucket

About the full video

This video provides step-by-step instructions for the manual removal of old carpeting and its associated padding from a subfloor. While the video specifically demonstrates carpet removal, the techniques for preparing the subfloor by removing staples, tack strips, and debris are fundamental to any old flooring removal process. This thorough subfloor preparation, including manual cleaning of residual elements, is a crucial step before installing new flooring.

Step 4 of 6: Remove Staples and Tack Strips

Inspect the subfloor for any staples left behind by the carpet installation. Use a pry bar or pliers to remove them. Then, locate and carefully pry up the tack strips that were used to hold the carpet edges in place. Be sure to remove all pieces so the surface is smooth.

Open this step in the guide

Every video in How to Remove Carpet from a Stair Landing

1. Step 1: Prepare the Stair Landing Area

   • 0:00–0:58 Assess Existing Carpet and Secure Workspace
   • 0:14–0:23 Initial Cleanup and Debris Removal
   • 0:16–0:24 Clean and Prepare Staircase Substrate

2. Step 2: Score the Carpet Edges

   • 0:33–0:43 Cut Carpet into Strips
   • 2:37–4:28 Cut and Roll Carpet Strips
   • 0:21–0:50 Remove the Carpet

3. Step 3: Remove Carpet and Padding

   • 0:00–0:09 Remove Carpet and Padding
   • 0:00–0:09 Remove Carpet and Pad
   • 0:01–0:40 Remove Carpet and Padding

4. Step 4: Remove Staples and Tack Strips

   • 0:55–1:00 Remove Tack Strips
   • 1:15–2:15 Remove Staples and Tack Strips (this video)
   • 3:04–4:13 Remove Tack Strips and Staples

5. Step 5: Clean the Subfloor

   • 0:12–0:14 Clean the Subfloor
   • 0:13–0:14 Clean the Subfloor
   • 0:18–0:23 Clean the Subfloor

6. Step 6: Dispose of Old Carpet and Padding

   • 0:31–0:38 Remove Carpet Padding
   • 3:40–4:43 Dispose of Old Carpet and Padding
   • 0:54–1:02 Remove Carpet Pad