Can we talk about power stretcher technique for long hallways?

I tried using a knee kicker for a 40-foot hallway in a job near Austin last week and the carpet ended up rippling in the middle. My partner said to go back and use the power stretcher with the pole angled at 45 degrees, but I always thought straight pulls were better. Has anyone else had this problem with tight hallways or am I just doing it wrong?

2 comments

2 Comments

clark.joel2d ago

Hold up, are you saying you tried to do a 40 footer without a power stretcher? Thats rough. The 45 degree angle on the pole is key for hallways because it lets you lock the teeth into the tack strip better without hitting both walls. Straight pulls can make it slip if the carpet is tight against the wall. If the middle rippled, you probably didnt stretch it enough laterally first. I always do a sideways stretch with the power stretcher before I even think about pulling lengthwise.

grant9011d ago

Wait, what kind of backing was the carpet made of? That makes a huge difference in how the power stretcher grabs on a long pull. @clark.joel is right about the 45 degree angle for keeping the teeth locked in, but nobody's mentioned that if you're working with a softer backing like a latex or a cheap residential glue-down, that sideways stretch he mentioned can actually tear the carpet's edges if you don't go easy on the tension. I've seen guys snap tack strips clean off the wall trying to do that lateral pull on a laminate or vinyl floor transition too, so you gotta check your subfloor first before cranking it.