PSA: I stopped using a power stretcher for every single room and it's been fine.

Everyone says you absolutely need one for every install, but on a small 10x12 bedroom last week, I just used a knee kicker and a ton of careful tack strips. The carpet is tight as a drum and the homeowner was thrilled. Has anyone else found a power stretcher is overkill for small, simple spaces?

4 comments

4 Comments

henry_murray1mo ago

What happens when that drum-tight carpet relaxes in six months? You're risking callbacks and unhappy customers by skipping the proper tool.

dianam191mo ago

Have you ever had a callback from that?

maxl9310d ago

Henry's got a point, I've seen it happen. A guy in my neighborhood did a whole living room with a kicker and a knee, looked perfect for three months. Then a hot summer hit and there were ripples by the baseboards. He had to re-stretch the whole thing for free. It's not worth the headache for a few extra minutes with a power stretcher.

corah751mo ago

My buddy tried that on a sunroom once. Got a callback eight months later for a huge wrinkle right down the middle.