Power stretcher tension: are we overdoing it in Florida rooms?

I keep seeing guys cranking the power stretcher to max on slab installs, especially in the Tampa market, and then the seams open up within 6 months when the humidity drops. My rule is to keep the pin depth at 3/4 inch and read the backing tension, not just rely on the tool's kick. Am I wrong for easing off, or are we just chasing a tight look that works against us in the long run?

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2 Comments

violag801mo ago

Watched a guy snap a slab seam last July, blamed the glue not the crank.

5

pat_roberts551mo ago

That crank's exactly why that seam let go, heat and humidity do the rest.

3