My dad started out watching me and said I was fighting the carpet instead of laying it

I've been installing carpet for 8 years and always had trouble with corners puckering. Last month my dad came to watch a job in Austin and told me I was stretching too aggressive on the first pass. He said to lay it in with the knee kicker at half tension then go back for the final stretch. I tried it on a 12x15 bedroom and it came out perfect with no wrinkles. Anyone else get a simple pointer from an old timer that changed how they work?

2 comments

2 Comments

gavinross18d ago

Kick it in half tension first then go back for the real stretch... changed everything for me too. That first pass sets the hook strip and lets the carpet relax into the corners way better. I used to pull so hard on the first go that the backing would ripple around doorways and shit. Now I do a light walk through with the kicker, then come back with full force and it lays flat every time.

taylor_mitchell8018d ago

That knee kicker tip is gold, my dad taught me the same trick with the half tension first pass and it saved my back too. The old timers always have those little details that just make sense once you try em.