I finally stopped using a knee kicker for residential work

For the first 5 years I did carpet I swore by my knee kicker for stretching rooms, even big master bedrooms. Then I rented a power stretcher in Denver last spring for a 20x15 room and saw how much faster it was with way less callbacks. Anyone else make the switch later than they should have?

2 comments

2 Comments

uma_baker884d ago

My first few years of carpet work I tried to get by with just a knee kicker too lol. I remember doing a 16x20 basement room in Boulder and it took me almost two hours of crawling around and I still had ripples the next week. Borrowed a power stretcher from a buddy after that and it cut my time in half for big rooms, plus I haven't had a callback since. The knee kicker still has its place for small closets and stairs, but for anything over like 12x12 I wouldn't bother now. Live and learn I guess.

umac714d ago

Gotta push back on that a bit @uma_baker88. A power stretcher is great if you got the cash and space to store it, but for most DIYers or small jobs it's overkill. I've done a 15x18 living room with just a knee kicker and a good seam iron and it held up fine for years. The trick is stretching diagonally not just straight wall to wall. Plus power stretchers are heavy and awkward on stairs or in tight hallways where you can't even get it set up. A $50 knee kicker beats a $300 tool you use twice a year.