Spent four hours on a single stair tread yesterday

Had a job in a split-level house with these weird curved bottom steps. The carpet just would not stretch right at the curve, kept getting a bubble. Tried my regular knee kicker, then the power stretcher with a head adapter, nothing worked. Finally called my buddy Mike who said to cut a relief slit in the backing right at the bend before stretching. That did the trick, but the whole stair took me from 10 AM to 2 PM. Anyone know a better tool for tight curves like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

ward.jamie1mo ago

Sounds like one of those jobs where you earn your pay in life experience. Been there with a curved bullnose that fought back all afternoon. At least you got a good trick for next time out of it.

diana_black1mo ago

Curved bullnose fought back all afternoon?

milascott1mo ago

Cutting the backing is a solid fix, but man, that's a brutal time for one step. I'd have tried a curved stair tool first, honestly.