Two different ways to stretch carpet - what do you use?

I've been installing carpet for about 12 years now, and I keep seeing guys argue over power stretchers vs knee kickers for big rooms. I had a job last week in a 20x15 living room and used my power stretcher, got it tight with no wrinkles. But my buddy swears by just using a knee kicker for everything, says power stretchers are overkill and can damage the tack strip. I think for rooms over 12 feet you need the power stretcher to get proper tension, but he's been doing this 20 years and his work looks good. What's your take on this, do you ever use a knee kicker on a big room or always break out the power stretcher?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_thomas16d ago

Power stretchers all the way on anything over 12 feet, knee kickers just can't get that tension right.

the_robert16d ago

Yeah but honestly I disagree a little. I've been using knee kickers on 15 foot walls for years and they work fine if you know what you're doing. The trick is really about how you work the carpet into the tack strip not just how hard you kick it. Most guys rush through that part (which is a huge mistake). A power stretcher is great don't get me wrong but it's not like a knee kicker is useless past 12 feet. I'd say it's more about the installer than the tool honestly.