Rugs, Carpets and Carpeting - Removing tack strips from hardwood

I'm ripping up an old wall-to-wall carpet and, since the underlying hardwood floors are in good condition, I'd like to just have an area rug in the center of the room. My question is: What's the safest method of prying up the tack strips that are nailed to the floor around the perimeter of the room? I don't want to crack or splinter my beautiful hardwood.

Also, a related questions is how to undo the rolled edge near doorways to uncarpeted areas and the brick in front of the fireplace (flush with the hardwood floor)? Those areas are nailed down real well and so far, I've just cut my way around them, leaving a 2-3" band of carpet behind.

Thanks.

tack strips will usually break at the point it was nailed and pull out from under the nail head. a little carefull work with cat's paw or small pry bar will not damage the floor much. you can also pry open the rolled portion of the clampdown strip. the carpet is tucked in and grabbed by nails like the tack strips have. the clampdown will be harder to remove. an extreme solution would be to grind the nail heads down, remove the strip, countersink the nail shank into the hole and fill. good luck

Use a 6 inch wide painters putty knife / spatula to lay flat on the wood to pry against.