Rugs, Carpets and Carpeting - Install carpet gripper edge on concrete?

:help: My family room, consisting of a cement floor, extends to a wood floor kitchen. At present, the family room carpet is attached to a tackless strip that is secured on the wooden floor. I would like to shorten the carpet by 3 feet; thus, the carpet would have to be secured on the cement floor, distance of 12 feet or width of room, with what I believe to be a gripper edge. The carpet and pad was initially installed early 1986 and appears new. Now the questions...

1) Is a "gripper edge" the correct choice for securing the
carpet to cement? ...and is there a specific type
of "gripper edge" used on cement?

2) Due to cement, are special nails or screws used to attach
the "gripper edge"? If "yes", what type.

3) Any other tips as to my objective?

Explanation: I'm installing dura-ceramic tile in the kitchen and a portion of the family room due to an outdoor entrance. Any information, suggestions etc. are much appreciated.

Ok you are going to put down ceramic so you just need some concrete "gripper" tack strip and treat the tile edge like a wall 1/4 -3/8 gap btween the strip and ceramic with the pins on the strip facing the tile. Make sure you dont have any morter sticking out from under your tiles and try not to fill the edge with grout.
USE A DRIVE BAR TO NAIL IT unless your me youll end up shattering a tile and wear safety glasses-one concrete nail to the eye and your blind-no second chance.

Before you tuck your carpet into the gap-after you re-power stretched it -lay a bead of latex into the gap(not too much it squeezes out when you tuck it) and then tuck it nicely in. this will help keep it from coming untucked or unraveled down the road.

You could also glue the tack strip down with a strong construction adhesive be sure to leave your tuck in gap though.

Yes you should use the carpet gripper edge or tack strip. For concrete you will need to use concrete nails or you can drill holes (1/8" concrete bit with a hammer drill) through the gripper edge and into the concrete and then nail...I like to do this around sensitive areas like ceramic to keep the concrete from shattering, I also like to use roofing nails in the hole as they will expand as long as the hole is a bit shorter than the nail. You have several options for transition. Metals, rubber, wood....if you want to transition without having everyone look down at a bright shiny metal (which takes away from your decor) I like to use a Z-Bar which turns the carpet under without any fraying and the carpet will look like it runs right into the next floor. If it was a wood floor I would simply turn the carpet under at the edge and staple it. An installer (myself included) would like to do things the quickest and easiest way....but we all know that's not always the best way.