How do you remove carpet gripper from wooden flooring?

[MrsJREwing]

I would like the carpet removed as there is a solid wood origional floor beneath. Is it a big job to get the gripper wood removed and who would you get to do it, is it pricey?

[MaryMotherOfCheeses]

Dont you just lever it out? Try sticking a screw driver under ith and the the claw end of a hammer? It wont have big nails just pins.

[AgentProvocateur]

It's easy to do yourself - as Mary said, just lever it up with a flat-end screwdriver.

[MrsJREwing]

I am not very strong, I will give it a try, thanks.

[alcibiades]

I've done this a number of times and, as Mary and Agent say, it is quite easy to do. The wood that's used for carpet grippers is quite thin and breaks quite easily. I used a chisel rather than a screwdriver to lever out the gripper rods because I found the angled end was easier to push under the rods, and I could happily bash the handle end of the chisel with the hammer, as that's what they're designed for.

You don't need to be particularly strong to do this, because once you get the end of the screwdriver/chisel under the wood, you're pushing down rather than pulling up, if you see what I mean. Similarly with the claw end of the hammer to get out any remaining pins.

Some tips: Use the fattest, squishiest cushion to kneel on. Use gardening gloves to pick up the removed grippers, the upward spikes are quite ouchy. Most underlay is held in position by staples, so you'll need to check the floor for those, either a screwdriver or a pair of thin-nosed pliers works well. And a container to put removed pins/staples in as you go along.

Just take your time, it doesn't all have to be done in one day. The most important area is around the door and under the window, where people's feet might come into contact with the remaining gripper rods.

It's quite a satisfying thing to do, especially if you end up with a lovely wooden floor.

[Shakey1500]

alcibiades your username rings a bell, what's it to do with??

Sorry OP, no advice and apologies for slight hijack :)

[alcibiades]

Shakey - I have no idea where I found that name, I think I thought it was something to do with astronomy, but apparently it isn't. It is, however, the name of an ancient Greek.

However, as the internet seems to work on the "six degrees of Kevin Bacon" principle, if you've ever been on the imdb board for IWTB, I have posted there using a slight variation, but mostly in response to clyons aka pisher. I don't suppose that helps either.

[Shakey1500]

Got it! I did a play last year (one act) by the French playwrite Georges Feydeau and "Alcibiades" was the name of my characters husband (never seen in the play) slaps forehead for not remembering sooner, took me bloody ages to learn the script

Thanks :)

[MaryMotherOfCheeses]

Any joy op?

[MrsJREwing]

I have a man coming to decorate, I am going to ask him to pull the carpet up etc too. I had a peek and wooden floor looks good under there.