Hardwood/Laminate floors

[Dave]

I own a 1998 fleetwood and decided that I was sick of the "sculptured" carpet and had the carpet in the bedrooms replaced with high quality carpet and padding and you would not believe the difference!

Here is the rub; I also had the rest of the carpet removed (living room and hall way) so that I could put a hardwood/laminate "floating" floor in these high traffic areas and discovered one of the ways manufacturers cut corners to safe costs. The carpet was not held down by the traditional tack-strips but rather by thousands of staples, about four different sizes. Has anyone else done this, and how did you get all of those freaking staples out of the floor? I have been at it for two weeks with a screwdriver, a pair of pliers and a fencing hammer. It wouldn't be so bad if EVERY stinkin' staple didn't have a chunk of carpet/pad locked under it so that it has to be pulled up instead of hammering it flat.

I gotta tell ya, these people (builders) should be shot with their staple guns....a few thousand times.

[Bill]

I hate to tell you Dave, but you're removing the staples the only way I know of. I did the same thing to some rooms in our house and my sisters' house. I think the guys in the assembly plants have a staple machine gun and just blast away until it's empty. Just keep working at it and be patient it'll look a lot better in the end.

[Bill Fry]

Carpet tack strips are not used that much in MF housing(just another place to pinch pennies).
The easiest way to get those staples out is to use a short pry bar that is flat on one side.Scrape that edge back and forth on the plywood where the staples and pad are attached.It will break the staples off & make things easier.Make sure you get them all off if you are putting a floating floor in.They will ruin the laminate if you don't.

[Dave]

Bill Fry,
That sound alot better than what I've been doing. I'm gonna give it a try tonight!

Thanks,
Dave

[melane]

I just finished doing the same thing in my kitchen/dining room. I also cursed the staple gun guys! The laminate was the payoff though. Huge difference in the whole look of the house- I am thrilled! Now I am looking at replacing the carpet with the Legato carpet system squares from Home Depot. If it is as nice as I think it is it could go down as one of the best inventions yet. Carpet and padding together in puzzle like peices that you don't have to glue to the floor. Much better that traditional carpet squares. These actually look like wall to wall when it's done. So many benefits for the do it yourselfer. Check it out at H.D..
I am not looking forward to living room, hall and 3 bedrooms worth of staple removal!