Talked to a old-school installer who changed how I lay carpet

Ran into a guy at the supply house last week who's been doing carpet since the 80s. He saw me grab a power stretcher and just said 'you're gonna fight that all day on that pad'. He was right, I was using too much force on the wrong spots. He showed me how to read the pad density by feel and adjust my knee kicks accordingly. Saved me maybe 30 minutes on a 12x15 bedroom I did the next day. Anyone else pick up a random trick from a stranger that stuck with you?

2 comments

2 Comments

kevin_wells4628d ago

Watch the subfloor moisture too, that old timer probably forgot to mention it.

troy_adams28d ago

Toss your power stretcher aside and grab a knee kicker on that high density pad. You'll wreck the backing if you over stretch it. The trick is to feel the pad first, if it's firm you barely need any force. Loose pad means you gotta lean in harder but not too much or you'll bubble it. I learned that the hard way on a customer's stairs, had to redo the whole landing because I tore the gripper.