How to Replace the Carpet Gripper Edge on a Slab

Pull up a section of your carpet close to the gripper edge you want to replace with a pair of pliers. Once you've released the underside of the carpet from a few of the gripper's tacks, you should be able pull it up by hand. Be careful not to pull up more carpet than you need to. If you do, you'll be making extra work for yourself when you come to refit it.

Place the end of a chisel against the base of the gripper you want to replace. Knock the top of the chisel firmly with a hammer to separate the gripper from your slab. Throw the discarded gripper into your garbage immediately to stop anybody from treading on its sharp tacks.

Apply adhesive remover to any glue residue that's left on your slab. Allow this to stand as per the manufacturer's instructions, and then remove any glue with a paint scraper.

Wash over the area of flooring you're working on with warm water and detergent, and allow it to dry.

Measure the area you need to fit a new gripper to with a tape measure. Put on a pair of rubber gloves to handle your new tack strips.

Cut your gripper edge to size with a handsaw.

Apply carpet tack strip adhesive to the underside of your gripper, and press it firmly into place on your slab. Allow it to dry per the manufacturer's instructions.

Embed the teeth of a knee kicker into the edge of your carpet and stretch it into place over your gripper's tacks.