How to Use a Carpet Tack Strip

Some foam-back carpets simply lie on the floor, but most standard jute-back carpets are laid over a separate pad and are stretched and attached to the floor along the perimeter. The key material for this traditional method is the carpet tack strip. When the tack strips are nailed, screwed, or glued to the subfloor with the tacks angled toward the wall, the tacks will grip the carpet backing and hold the carpet in place as it is installed. The strips hold the carpet in place and also keep it stretched and free of wrinkles. It's possible to add or remove carpet track strips yourself.

How to Install Carpet Tack Strips

In a normal installation, the tack strips are installed around the perimeter of the room before the padding is laid down. The procedure usually goes like this:

1. Measure the perimeter of the room.
2. Cut appropriate lengths of tack strips.
3. Attach the tack strips around the perimeter of the room tack-points-up so the sharp points are angled outward, toward the walls.
4. Cut carpet padding sheets and attach them to the subfloor with staples or double-faced tape.
5. Unroll the carpet over the padding, cut it to fit, then hook it onto the points of the tack strips.

How to Remove Carpet Tack Strips

When removing carpet tack strips, you'll want to take care to make sure you don't damage the floor.

1. Place a painting prep tool underneath the corner of the tack strip.
2. Use a hammer to push the tool further underneath the tack strip. This will help create enough space for a plybar.
3. Pry out the tack strips and dispose.

Where to Purchase Tack Strips

Tack strips are available at carpet specialty stores but are also commonly available at most hardware stores and home improvement centers. In professional installations, the cost of the tack strips and their installation are part of the quoted cost of installing the padding and the carpet.