Finally tried power stretching vs knee kicking on a big commercial job

I've been knee kicking carpet for like 5 years now on residential jobs. Last week I had to do a 2,000 sq ft office space and figured I'd rent a power stretcher. Night and day difference. No more sore knees and the carpet laid down way smoother with no ripples. I'm thinking about buying my own now. Anyone use a specific brand they like for power stretchers?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_lucas18d agoTop Commenter

Wait, how big are the rooms you're doing that you don't see any ripples? Like, are we talking small 10x10 bedrooms or are you doing some wider open spaces too?

christopherwilson18d ago

Honestly is it really that serious? I've been knee kicking forever and my carpet looks fine.

oscar74317d agoMost Upvoted

Hold on a sec, knee kickers are for stretching carpet after it's installed, not for keeping it tight forever. If you've been using it to re-tension carpet that's already laid down, you're probably just shifting the ripples somewhere else instead of fixing them. A power stretcher hooks onto the tack strip on the far wall and pulls the whole carpet smooth, which is why pros use those for big rooms. Knee kicking only works for small spots, like a closet or a corner, not for keeping the whole floor looking flat over time.