From 
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1. Lift a
corner of the carpeting free of the tack strip with a pliers and then peel back
the carpet. Once it’s started, it’ll release easily, like pulling on a
zipper.
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2. Dig the staples out of the carpet pad with a screwdriver or a needle-nose pliers. Be
patient and get them all. Otherwise the pad will
rip.
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3. Pry out as many 4-ft. sections of tack strip with a pry bar as needed to clear the new
built-in. Then discard them.
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4. Cut new tack strips to length with a pair of tin snips. Wear gloves to protect your
hands from the needle-sharp tacks.
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5. Space the tack strips about 1/2 in. away from the baseboards and nail them into place
with the gripping nails pointing toward the walls. Use a cold chisel or pry bar
and mallet to sink nails under toe-kicks.
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6. Use a utility knife to cut the padding to fit tightly against the tack strip. Then
staple the padding back in place with 5/16-in. staples spaced about every 3 in.
around the perimeter and along the seams.
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7. Mark the carpet at outside corners and cut angled clearance cuts with a utility knife.
Then trim off most of the excess carpet, leaving about 3 in. extra along each
side.
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8. Plant the power stretcher against the opposite baseboard and add extension sections until
the gripping head is about 6 in. away from the wall. Push down on the lever and
embed the carpet backing on the tack strips with your hand.
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9. Stretch any remaining tight areas with the knee kicker. Rest the teeth about 6 in. back
from the wall or built-in and “kick” with the spot above your kneecap. Then
embed the carpet with your hand.
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10. Hold the carpet cutter tight to the built-in (or baseboard) and cut through the front
side of the carpet.
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11. Use a
utility knife to finish the cuts in corners and to trim around projections and
other tight areas. Cut from the backside, leaving the carpet about 1/8 in.
overlong to tuck tightly against the built-in.
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12. Embed the carpet edge firmly in the tack strip and under baseboards by forcing the front
edge of the carpet cutter into the carpet and dragging it along the
wall.
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