How to a Install a Carpet Strip on Cement

Tackstrip, also known as tackless strip or carpet strip, made possible the modern wall-to-wall carpeting we take for granted today. Although full-coverage carpet was used occasionally, it was fastened around the edges with upholstery tacks, which is why modern carpet strip is sometimes called "tackless." Carpet strip is easy to use on a wooden floor, but with many homes now built on a concrete slab, it is not uncommon to face the prospect of installing tackstrip on a cement floor. Fortunately, it's possible with the right tools and a little know-how.

Floor scraper
Broom
Shears
Hammer
Masonry nails

Instructions

- 1
  Scrape the floor with a floor scraper and sweep around the walls with a broom to provide a clean, smooth surface for installing the carpet strips.
- 2
  Place the carpet strip around the room along the walls, with the pins pointing toward the wall. Space it out from the wall a distance equal to 2/3 the thickness of the carpet. Follow the contours of the wall exactly, cutting each piece to length with the shears.
- 3
  Drive each nail with a single, well-centered blow with the hammer. A glancing blow will chip the concrete, rather than penetrating and sticking. Use at least two nails per section of strip. Some tackstrips have masonry nails built in; others require separate masonry nails. Either way, the nails must be hardened steel nails designed for use in concrete.

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