Why does nobody talk about how bad cheap tack strip is?

I pulled up some carpet yesterday from a 3 year old install and half the tack strip was literally disintegrating. The nails were rusted and the wood just crumbled when I touched it. Found out the guy before me used the absolute cheapest stuff from a big box store, like 17 cents a strip. How much extra is it really to just get the decent 23 cent stuff that actually holds? I ordered some freud strips for my next job after seeing that mess.

2 comments

2 Comments

jamie6425d ago

...and that's just how it goes with the cheap version of literally anything these days. People see two price tags and pick the lower one without thinking about why it's cheaper. It's the same with garbage bags that split open the second you put them in the can, or light bulbs that burn out in three months. You save twenty bucks now but pay for it later in time and frustration. Sometimes the more expensive thing is actually the cheaper option in the long run.

rodriguez.cora25d ago

@jamie64 I get what you're saying but cheap tack strip isn't just about saving a few bucks, its about not knowing there's a difference until you're pulling rotted nails out of the floor. The real problem is nobody selling that 17 cent strip bothers to warn you it'll fall apart in a couple years.