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Found a trick for stretching carpet in tight hallways using a knee kicker backward
I was wrestling with a hallway that had no room for a power stretcher, so I tried kicking the carpet from the opposite direction and it snuggled right into the tack strip.
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kim_mason5516h ago
@jana509 except backwards just makes the problem worse, it's a short-term fix that hides damage.
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jana50916h ago
Backwards is the only way that works in those narrow spots, once you get the hang of it the carpet lays way flatter than trying to stretch it forward... I've done this for years and it saves a ton of time compared to pulling and tugging by hand. You just gotta be careful not to overdo it though, because it can pull the carpet too tight and cause wrinkles on the other side if you go too fast. It really helps to have someone stand on the far end to keep the carpet from bunching up while you work... that way it stays smooth all the way across. Another thing is making sure your knee kicker is set to the right depth, otherwise it might rip the backing instead of stretching the fibers.
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