remove nails from concrete floor?

Hi all. First time post.

Bought a house with a downstairs den. Pulled up the carpeting, pads and tack strips from a concrete floor with the ultimate goal of installing laminate flooring. However, we have about 80 nails that held in the tack strips to the concrete. As I see it, I have 3 options:

1. Cut nails flush
2. Pound nails in
3. Use prybar to remove nails

And from what I know, #1 is a PITA. #2 has the downside that the floor won't be waterproof and #3 creates pockmarks.

I'm leaning towards doing #3 and getting concrete filler to patch the holes. Since the den is on the lowest level of the house, I'm concerned about any moisture but don't know if the moisture barrier I'm putting below the laminate would be enough. Also, could I pound them in and still use the patch to create a seal above the hole?

Any feedback or anything else I'm missing?

 

Welcome to the forums!

#1 Cut them off with a grinder and a cut off wheel. Much faster!

#2 Nails on a tack strip are not that long and will never go through the slab. Concrete is not water proof anyway. If you hit them sideways they will likely break off.

#3 This also works but is the most work IMO

 

Like Tolyn said, you can just hit them on the side with a hammer and they will come out. They will leave a divot but that is inevitable. Skim coat with a cement patching material. Your floor is not waterproof to begin with so that is not the issue. Laminate is not rated for basement installations below grade. Your underlayment needs to be a moisture barrier also. Have you taped down some plastic to the slab and seen if it collects moisture? Look into an engineered wood floor that is rated for below grade installations.

 

Bad idea to put laminate in a basement. There will be no warranty.