How to Remove a Tack Strip From Terrazzo Floors

Terrazzo floors are made from a cement-like material into which small chips of granite, quartz or marble are mixed. The floor is poured in place, and once it's dry lasts for many years. If you have a terrazzo floor that was previously covered in carpet, you will find wooden tack strips along the edges once the carpet is removed. Detaching the tack strips from terrazzo is different from removing them from other floor surfaces. If they're not removed properly, the nails will damage the terrazzo floor.

Safety glasses
Work gloves
Pry bar
Hand-held rotary tool with grinding blade
Broom

Instructions

- 1
  Put on safety glasses and work gloves before beginning the removal process.
- 2
  Walk to the edge of the terrazzo floor and examine one of the wooden tack strips. Identify two nails in the top of the strip, and insert the flat edge of a pry bar under the wood in between the nails.
- 3
  Press the opposite end of the pry bar down toward the floor to press up on the wood and break it. Grasp the broken wood and pull it free.
- 4
  Repeat the process around the entire perimeter of the floor, breaking off all of the tack strip wood but leaving the nails in the floor. Place all of the broken wood pieces in the trash.
- 5
  Attach a metal grinding wheel to a hand-held rotary tool. Go to one of the nails still in the terrazzo floor and cut it off flush with the floor, using the grinding wheel. Repeat the process all the way around the room, being careful not to damage the terrazzo as you do so.
- 6
  Sweep the entire room to remove any remaining wood splinters and all of the cut-off nail heads.

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