Switched from knee kickers to power stretchers last month in a condo job

I used to think knee kickers were fine for most rooms until I did a 12x15 bedroom in a downtown Austin condo and the seams kept creeping open after a week. The homeowner called me back twice before I borrowed a power stretcher from a buddy and the job sat perfect. Anyone else fight with seams on long runs before making the switch?

3 comments

3 Comments

max_cooper217d ago

Man, that's rough. Honestly, I feel for you and @jason_stone59 is right about the old school guys. I had a similar thing happen on a 15x20 living room in a new build. The seams just wouldn't hold until I got a real power stretcher on it. Now I won't do anything bigger than a 10x10 without one.

brooket437d ago

Did your buddy warn you about the difference before you borrowed it? My buddy Jake had the same issue on a 14x20 master bedroom in a San Antonio high rise. He fought with seams for three weeks using a knee kicker, and the homeowner even threatened to sue. After he borrowed a power stretcher, the whole room locked in like concrete and he never touched a knee kicker again.

jason_stone597d ago

Did you ever read that forum post from the old school carpet layer who swore by knee kickers in every room no matter what? I saw that a while back and thought he was crazy, but hearing about Jake's nightmare makes me see why power stretchers are the way to go for big rooms.